Salamasina

Queen Salamasina (floruit in the 1500s) was a powerful and high-ranking woman in Samoan social history. She held the four papā (district) titles which gave her the paramount status of Tafa‘ifā ('one supported by four') on the western islands of Samoa.[1] Contrary to popular belief she was not the first Tafa'ifā, as these titles were willed to her by their previous possessor, Nafanua (Tonumaipe'a Nāfanua).[2][3] She is the titular ancestor of two of the four paramount titles of Samoa, Tupua Tamasese of Falefa and Salani[4] and the Amaile Mataafa line.[5]

  1. ^ Schoeffel, Penelope (1987). "Rank, gender and politics in ancient Samoa:The genealogy of SalamāsinaO Le Tafaifā". The Journal of Pacific History. 22 (4): 174–193. doi:10.1080/00223348708572566. ISSN 0022-3344.
  2. ^ Queen Salamasina, More Women Rulers - Women in World History Curriculum
  3. ^ "Samoa". Archived from the original on 2002-06-06. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  4. ^ So'o, Asofou (2008). Democracy & Custom in Samoa: the uneasy alliance. Suva, Fiji: IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific. pp. 7–8. ISBN 9789820203907.
  5. ^ Efi, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi (2009). Su'esu'e Manogi = In Search of Fragrance: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi and the Samoan indigenous reference. Lepapaigalagala, Samoa: The Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa. p. 34. ISBN 9789829003324.