What is a Faamati?

What is a Faamati?

The Fa’amati is an occasion to behold especially for women members of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa. Since the beginning of the week, church members in Samoa and all over the world, have been walking the talk when it comes to giving to the church. The event is annual one.

What is the matai system?

A matai in Samoan is a chief, a person empowered through possession of a chiefly name or title, with authority (pule) over lands and people.

What are the two types of matai?

Matai System There are two categories of matai: The Aliʻi who are the high chiefs of the county, village, and family. The Tulafale who are talking chiefs for the county, village, and/or his family.

What does matai mean in Samoan?

chiefs
matai is presented as the specific Samoan word which has always been used. to designate ‘chiefs’. There is even a tendency to say that this specifically. Samoan notion embodies the whole culture.

What is a Tulafale?

Definition of tulafale : a Samoan chief functioning as an adviser and debater on matters of public policy and expected to be thoroughly informed on matters of traditional lore.

How do you become a matai?

How does one become a matai, or Samoan chief? The process is a fascinating mix of inheritance and election. You have to be an heir to a title – but all Samoans are heirs to at least one matai title – and then your family has to elect you to the role. That’s generally how it works, but not always.

How is matai chosen?

However, the right to stand for elections remains with matai, who are themselves selected by consensus of their families, including non-matai family members. Therefore, every Samoan Member of Parliament is also a matai, performing dual roles as a ‘chief’ as well as duties in the Samoan parliament.

What is the role of a Tulafale?

The Samoans, one of the largest Polynesian populations in the world, cherish the importance of storytelling and tradition by appointing a select family member as an orator chief, known as a “tulafale.” The tulafale holds the major responsibility of spreading the word about the death of and funeral for the leader, the …

What do Samoans call their chief?

Samoan society is based on a collectivist system of governance known as ‘fa’a Matai’. In this system, society is organised by extended families (aiga), with each family having its own ‘Matai’ (‘chief’ or ‘leader’) titles that are connected to certain districts, villages and plots of family land.

How many matai are there?

In 2011, there were 1,766 female matai, 10.5% of the 16,787 matai living in the country. A woman can hold a matai name and have the pule (authority) of the family but this does not often occur.

Who was the first king of Samoa?

Malietoa Laupepa

How do you address a Samoan chief?

Here’s the main idea: To greet a matai ali’i or a titled taupou, we say, ‘Afio mai lau afioga,’ and then say his or her title name. For a matai who is a tulafale, or orator, we say, ‘Susū mai lau susuga,’ plus the title name.