Fa‘alupega or the naming of chiefly titles is a fundamental part of Sāmoan culture and custom, as it connects individuals and families to land and origins of their past. This book O le tusi fa‘alupega o Samoa was adapted from the work of Misi Kirifi Le Mamea, Te’o Tuvale, T. E. Faletoese, F. F. A. and Kirisome, F. L. with the first edition published in 1915. It includes key titles from Upolu, Savai’i, Apolima and Manono. This knowledge is usually acquired over time by matai (chief) and are recalled and acknowledged in speeches during special ceremonies and events.
The London Missionary Society established the Malua Theological College in Sāmoa in 1844, and along with the school, the Malua Printing Press which published the bible and written work like this book. In the introduction Harry Strong Griffin, supervisor of the press at the time, highlights the text as a “to‘oto‘o i le ua vaivai” – a help to those who are weak.
This book represents an important collection and moment in Sāmoa’s history, where indigenous Sāmoans collated the oratorical recollection of titles in written form. This was the first of its kind, as previous publications of fa‘alupega were published through the work of foreigners.
This edition was published in 1981. Previously it belonged to Reverend Ioane Akeli, a catechist working for the Catholic Mission in Sāmoa. It was brought to New Zealand by his son Suluape Visesio Akeli when he migrated with his family to Wellington in the 1980s.
How can I purchase a copy of this book?
I kindly request please poo le a le mafuaaga o le Faalupega o Vaimoso, my great grandfather is Tiufea and he passed away and I was born in Togafuafua and I was raised in Taufusi
How can i purchase a copy please?
Where in Auckland can I purchase a book please?.
Faafetai ma le fesoasoani.
Filda
I want to purchase a copy of the old Book of “Fa’alupega Samoa” and also a version of Tutuila and Manu’a fa’amolemole.
I’m so lucky i have these books, let me brag pls, 1st book of the Samoan Faalupega is 1915-1930 Savaii n Upolu also i have another copy of 1946 this copy has Only Upolu and Faalupega of American Samoa 1st release. Also i have a copy of 1956 Faalupega Samoa, think it’s the same with the Samoan Faalupega book 1981.With the new version Faalupega Samoa 2000 and short versions of the Faalupega Samoa. Thanks for reading. I can print n make copies of the Faalupega Samoa 1956 but i be in trouble under the copy right law tho.
Please i would love a copy. Ma le fa’aaloalo lava
Do you have any info on the Nanai Clan…my late grandfather was Nanai, Faao, I was born in Vailoa, Faleata but raised in Hawaii. Appreciate any info..male faaaloalo lava.
Beautiful, and I myself want the old Tusi Faalupega o Samoa. I strongly believe that changes have been and will not buy a new version of the Tusi Faalupega
Falefitu ole ati” Tagaloa. Please re-check and double check typing errors when you talk about faalupega o nuu Ma alalafaga
My father was the Late Muliaumalu Senio Pilia’e. In August 2015 dad passed away in Sydney, Australia. The Head of State Tupua Tamasese and Her Majesty Filia attended the Funeral. The Head of State described dad as the “Finest in Samoan Culture, Christian values and vision” I took these much for granted during my younger years. Now that dad has passed I have no knowledge of the Fa’a Samoa and feel that I have missed the bus. . I would like to get this book if I can. My dad has many books under lock at my brothers house. But only he and a few other Matai have access. The Head of State ending his speech by saying that dad was one of the chiefs that made Samoan people refer to a saying ” Ia ga o I Leulumoega e a’o mai ai tou amio” please help me to find my roots.
Thank you for your comment, and condolences on the passing away of your father. Unfortunately we don’t sell this book at Te Papa. however, you can purchase the Fa’alupenga o Samoa from this website http://www.pacificislandeducation.co.nz/samoan/information/
This is really interesting to read and to have you all share your knowledge of what you know about the title names of falelatai. I am a Taefu from falelatai. Malo lava le faasoa.
I was born in falelatai. O faalupega sao nei o pata. Afio Taiivao na aifilofilo. Alalatai galuefa ma ona nofo ituaiga ma le tagata o le vavau. Ma le mamalu ia te oe falelatai. oi latou nei e faasino iai galuefa. O Tologata, Tuisaua, Toomaga, Lefauaitu. E faasino le tagata o le vavau ia Vaatuitui..ma lou faaaloalo tele faafetai.
I’m kinda intresting in this conversation. Ou te manatua le faamatalaga e Lou grandfather ia matou le mafuaaga I le faalupega o le Vaatuitui. Fai mai ao faia pea taua I le va o Tuiaana Tamaalelagi ma Tuiaana Sagate, ua faasolo lava ina faiaina Tuiaana Tamaalelagi, ona alu ai lea o le umaga a leulumoega i faleupolu o le faleaana e fesoasoani i le taua. Ua o Pasese ma Umaga agai I Falelatai. Ua taunuu I le nuu o Pata. Fai mai me tala e taunuu atu, e le o iai nisi ae ua na o le tagata I loo nofonofo I le fanua ua taua nei o le taumaileoneonesa I lona uiga o i na taumaiiai le umaga a leulumoega. Ona fesili lea o tama nei i le tagata lea poo fea e sau ai ao ai foi lona igoa, ona tali lea I le tgt lea. O au na ou aau mai le sami ina ua tuia lo matou vaa I gatai o le nuu nei. Ona faapea loa lea o Pasese ma Umaga ua lelei ua ma ua Lou igoa o Vaatuitui, ona o lea na e sau I le vaa o Tagaloa o le ala lea ua maua ai ma Lou faalupega o oe o le tagata o le vavau
Afifio Le falefitu o Le aiga Taua’ana Ma la outou Tama. Afio mai Fasavalu Ma Le aiga Sa Fasavalu. Susu mai Lou tapaau o Le tagaloa. Maliu mai Galu e Fa, Ma Salogo Le tula o Sa Fasavalu. Maliu mai Le tagata o Le Vavau, Ma Le aifilofilo, Le matua o aiga, Ma Le susuga a Taiivao – Alaalatai Le mamalu ia te oe Falelatai.
From what I know
O Pata o le nuu o Tulafale ma o le malaefono foi lea o Faletai. o le aiga Tauaana e puipui e ona tootoo e fa poo faleupolu taua e 4 poo aiga foi e 4 (Galu e Fa) e faasino lea i ona tootoo poo aiga e i ai le Fiu, Tologata, Toomaga, Lefauaitu…O le Vaatuitui e le o se galue ae o le tagata o le vavau..o lona uiga o le tagata e leai sona amataga poo sona gataaga i le afioaga. E afua lea faalagiga ona o le tagata na malaga mai le vasa ae ua lutia o ia i peau ona tu’ia lea o lona vaa i gatai o Falelatai. Agalelei lea i ai o le afioaga ma ave i gauta ma nofo ai. Mulimulia ane alu atu le umaga a Leulumoega e amia Latai ma Seela (afuaga o Falelatai ma Faleseela) e toe omai e faufau le malo o Tumua, ae tau atu le umaga e leai se tootoo na latou talia maia le umaga ae maua atu na o le tagata lenei na tuia lona vaa, ona tali lea e tagata mai le vasa lenei poo le tagata lenei e leiloa poo fea lona afuaga le umaga a Leulumoega. Fai mai na fesili foi i ai le umaga i le tagata lea na tuia lona vaa poo ai ia ae tali, o ia o le tagata malaga e sau mai le vasa o le tagata o le Tagaloa ae ua tuia lona vaa ona aumaia lea i uta ma noso ai. ona maua lea o lona faalagiga e faafetaia ai lona talia lelei o le savali poo le umaga a Leulumoega ma faapea ane o le a faalagi oe “o oe o le Vaatuitui poo le tagata o le Vavau” ona o lou talia lelei o le umaga a Leulumoega. E pine lea mau i leai o se afuaga o le tagata lenei i lauelelele. Ona pau lea o le tagata i le afioaga o Falelatai e leai sona eleele moni ona o le tagata o le vavau. E faitau fia eka le tele o fanua o suafa faasino o Falelatai sei vagana ai lava le tagata lenei. E leai foi sona saotamaitai (pe afai o ia o se Alii). ma nisi o pine e afua ona faamautu, o le Vaatuitui o le tagata lava o le vavau. A e fia malamalama atili tagai ane i le Faamasinoga a Lefauaitu Peapea vs Vaatuitui (le finauga o le pule o le suafa Lefauaitu pe tagai foi le finauga o le fanua i Leonesa i Pata lava i Falelatai)
Can you please explain how Toomaga family is part of the family of Galu e Fa? Toomaga name originates from the parents of Latai and Se’ela (O le Laulua a Too ma Maga). Too and Maga were from Fiji. They were the first people to settle in this area and the villages are named after their sons Falelatai and Falese’ela. Does Tagata o le Vavau not mean People of the the Land?
Latai had no ties to the royal bloodline, so his descendants were referred to as Tagata o le vavau. My father holds both the Tonumaivao title which is referred to in the Fa’alupega as “Le paia I le Tauaana ma le latou Tama” Tonumaivao was the father of the Falefitu. Falefitu is made up of his sons who are referred to as “le ati o Tangaloa” . He also holds Toomaga title (Latai – Tagata o le vavau).
I have heard him refer to the Galu e Fa as the 4 families that were cast away from somewhere in Savai’i and landed on the shores of Falelatai (sorry he has more details on this story which I will ask him about – I should try to pay more attention).
Look forward to hearing your feedback. It is very interesting to learn of my ancestory and being able to pass it to my family. Thank you.
Thank you Ruta for reading and commenting on this blogpost. Unfortunately, I am unable to expand on what you have written here as detail about the histories of these families and titles are outside my knowledge. Thank you for sharing a small part of your family history with us. Your comments and questions are a useful reminder that published collections of fa’alupega are only partial records of the histories of important chiefly families in Samoa…the oral record is also very important. I hope that FIL will be able to assist you further. Fa’afetai tele lava mo le fesili…
Thank you for making me understand this. O long yoga o vaatuitui e le o se galuega?
Thank you for making me understand.
Are you able to help please with the identification of “Galu e Fa”?
and how or why “Tagata o le Vavau” was given to Vaatuitui of Falelatai?
I am interested to know the origins of “Galu e Fa” and “Tagata o le Vavau” in the Faalupega of Falelatai?
Thanks.
I am interested in obtaining the Faalupega for the village of Falelatai. I am the grandson of Pita Anae who was born in Falelatai and immigrated to Hawaii.
Faafetai mole fesoasoani mai.
Talofa lava Bode,
Thank you for visiting our blog. I’ve included a link to a copy of the book which has been digitised by the National Library of Australia: http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview/?pi=nla.gen-vn6180833-s54-v
See pages 52-53 which reference Falelatai village. I hope this will be of some help for you.
Warmest regards
Safua
Le paia I le tauaana ma le latou Tama
Galu e fa ma le Tula o salogo.
Falefitu o le atu Tagaloa ma vae o le nofoafia,
Ma upu ia Falelatai”
Short n sweet, ho
Le paia I le tauaana ma le latou Tama
Galu e fa ma le Tula o salogo.
Falefitu o le atu Tagaloa ma vae o le nofoafia,
Ma upu ia Falelatai”
Short n sweet, hope that helps. There’s is a longer version if you want to collate all the corners of the district”
Manuia le aso
Can you send me a copy please (Faalupega)