Pacific Magazine > Magazine > June 29, 2007

Samoa

No King, But A Great Leader Still

Bidding Farewell To Malietoa Tanumafili II

By Michael Field, Auckland

Samoa’s independence in 1962: New Zealand Prime Minister Keith Holyoake and Samoa’s Joint Heads of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese Meole.    PHOTO: National Archive/National Publicity Studios

Samoa’s Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II, died on May 12 leaving the nation he led for 45 years a question of succession most of its citizens have never had to tackle. His funeral at Mulinu’u, on the western edge of Apia Harbor, turned into a dignified celebration of his 94 years; gratitude rather than grief.

Born on January 4, 1913, he became the Malietoa, one of Samoa’s four tama-a-aiga or princely titles in 1939 and became the O le Ao o le Malo or Head of State at independence from New Zealand in 1962. The small and always dignified man was perfect for the task. Tama-a-aiga translates as “paramount” or “princely.” It also means father of the family and as Head of State for 45 years he most certainly was that.

Malietoa always rejected the idea of being called a king because he knew that in Samoa every man thought of himself as king. Like other leaders of his generation, Malietoa recognized that it had been the colonial concept of kingship that had seen Samoa plunge into 50 years of civil war and lose its independence in the 19th Century and spend much of the 20th Century trying to recover it.

Malietoa and the gracious Tupua Tamasese Me’ole,  were both appointed as Head of State for the rest of their lives. The two grand families of Samoa united in the newly restored nation.

At Independence on January 1, 1962, Malietoa found himself with the burden alone, but the country was content with little to stress it.

In the late 1970s, however, party politics began and severe tensions arose. He managed the political crises with calmness that was infectious; after 20 minutes with him any warring politician became a devotee.

Malietoa’s death poses a unique question for Samoa, a young nation where no one under the age of 45 has ever known the country without him. Two key decisions will be made: who will be the next Head of State and who will next be bestowed with title of Malietoa. They are not one-in-the-same.

The next Head of State is almost certain to be another paramount chief, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi. In the 1970s he was prime minister and was known as Tupuola Efi.

Under the constitution, the Fale Fono or Legislative Assembly was expected to elect the next head of state for a five-year term in June. The presumption, not stated in the Constitution, is that the post will go to a tama-a-aiga and a member of the Council of Deputies.

The appointment of a new Malietoa will be a two-stage process. The first will involve defining those who have the pule or authority within the Sa Malietoa, the extended family, to name a successor.

By tradition, authority rests with the nine senior matai or chiefs of Malie, west of Apia, in the district of Tuamasaga, on the island of Upolu. In theory, they must also consult the district of Safotulafai in Savai’i and the island of Manono.

But the Sa Malietoa is large and diverse, and those excluded can be counted on going to the Lands and Titles Court at Mulinu’u. There, some brave judge will make the decision on who can make the next decision. Thus empowered, the matai will go off and consider who will be so blessed.

Nothing is automatic, and titles do not always pass to the first born of the next generation. It could take years; or the successor could emerge quickly.

Malietoa’s greatest gift to Samoa was his commonsense and longevity; he recognized too the collective wisdom of those who drew up Samoa’s constitution and steadfastly acted in accordance with it. He leaves a nation blessed with good governance and a bright future; something that cannot be said for its neighbors Fiji and Tonga.