Tupua Tamasese

Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, leader of the pro-independence Mau movement
Mau leaders and Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III (centre, in white) in front of Mau office, Vaimoso 1929
Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III lies in state after being shot and killed during Black Saturday.
Samoa's former Prime Minister and Head of State and current holder of the title, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi

Tupua Tamasese, formally known as Tupua, is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa,[1] known as the tama a ʻāiga. It is the titular head of one of Samoa's two great royal families – Sā Tupua, the lineage of Queen Salamasina. The current holder of the title is Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi.

"Tupua" refers to Salamasina's descendant, King Tupua Fuiavailili, who was the first to unite both of Salamasina's descent lines in his personage and ascended to the kingship of Samoa in c.1550, upon the death of his adoptive father, King Muagututiʻa.[2] Tupua Fuiavailili was adopted by his aunt, Fenunuʻivao (daughter of Leutele and wife of King Muagututiʻa) and named as the King's successor. Tupua's rise also led to the first usage of the term tama a ʻāiga by the orator polity of Leulumoega and Lufilufi, in reference to his many genealogical connections to the great families of Ātua. "Tamasese" refers to his descendant, Tupua Tamasese Titimaea, whose prowess in battle and generosity won favour with many of his followers and whose actions restored the Salamasina line's prestige. All subsequent Tupua title holders thus carried the two names together.[2]

The seat of the Tupua Tamasese title is at Mulinuʻu ma Sepolataʻemo in Lufilufi. Three political families make up Sā Tupua – ʻAiga o Mavaega, ʻAiga Sā Tuala and ʻAiga Sā Fenunuivao. The ʻAiga Sā Fenunuivao of Falefa and Salani holds authority and custodianship of the title, deciding who from among the heirs it is bestowed upon.[2]

  1. ^ "Malietoa Tanumafili II (Obituary)". The Economist. The Economist print edition. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Soʻo, Asofou. (2008). Democracy and custom in Sāmoa : an uneasy alliance. IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific. ISBN 978-982-02-0390-7. OCLC 244005120.