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The word matai means chief, and is an honour that is bestowed upon someone. The role of the matais is very complex and interwoven deep into the fabric of Samoan culture and history. Matais have family, civic, political and prior to the arrival of the European, religious duties to perform. | {{CountrySidebar | ||
|Country=Samoa | |||
|Name=Samoa | |||
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|Topic Type=Records | |||
|Records=Nobility | |||
|Rating=Acceptable | |||
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| link1=[[Samoa Genealogy|Samoa]] | |||
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The word '''matai''' means chief, and is an honour that is bestowed upon someone. The role of the matais is very complex and interwoven deep into the fabric of Samoan culture and history. Matais have family, civic, political and prior to the arrival of the European, religious duties to perform. | |||
A matai title can be given to either men or women, although you will find far more men with titles than women. It is usually given to someone in acknowledgment for services that have been rendered. A family might give a title to a relation who has been able to support them through hard times or village might give a title to someone that has done something that has been of benefit to the village as a whole. However currently there appears to be a tendency to give a matai title to someone in order to receive favours in return, be they of a financial or other nature. | A matai title can be given to either men or women, although you will find far more men with titles than women. It is usually given to someone in acknowledgment for services that have been rendered. A family might give a title to a relation who has been able to support them through hard times or village might give a title to someone that has done something that has been of benefit to the village as a whole. However currently there appears to be a tendency to give a matai title to someone in order to receive favours in return, be they of a financial or other nature. | ||
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The Samoan system of titles of nobility is very complicated, but ocasionally one chief, through alliances and ward, can acquire the title of Tupu-o-Samoa, or king of all the islands. When the last king died in 1841, rivals for his title began a series of wars that lasted for years. These continual contests played into the hands of the growing European community. | The Samoan system of titles of nobility is very complicated, but ocasionally one chief, through alliances and ward, can acquire the title of Tupu-o-Samoa, or king of all the islands. When the last king died in 1841, rivals for his title began a series of wars that lasted for years. These continual contests played into the hands of the growing European community. | ||
Samoans began selling more and more of their land to the Europeans and Americans to get money to finance their wars. Europeans always preferred to have one paramount island leader to deal with, and different European factions began supporting different chiefs. | |||
Ironically, the | Ironically, the Tupu-o-Samoa was mostly a title of ceremony and prestige, and not one that could exercise political or administrative control over the villages. Eventually, the white community began pressuring their different home countries to take charge and bring stability to Samoa. | ||
Britain, the United States, and Germany all became involved. The islands became a colony of Germany in 1899. Because Samoans did not like the German administration of their islands, they began the Mau Movement, which sought independence for Samoa. | Britain, the United States, and Germany all became involved. The islands became a colony of Germany in 1899. Because Samoans did not like the German administration of their islands, they began the Mau Movement, which sought independence for Samoa. | ||
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After World War II, control passed to New Zealand. The New Zealand administrators looked down on the Samoan traditional leaders. This led to a continuation of the Mau Movement. | After World War II, control passed to New Zealand. The New Zealand administrators looked down on the Samoan traditional leaders. This led to a continuation of the Mau Movement. | ||
Western Samoa became a United Nations Trust Territory after World War II, administered by | Western Samoa became a United Nations Trust Territory after World War II, administered by New Zealand, which by then was preparing Samoa for self-rule. In 1962, Samoa became independent. | ||
[[Category:Samoa]] | [[Category:Samoa]] | ||
[[Category:Nobility]] | |||
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