"island notes"
Curated Audiovisual Essays

What a blessing to have been asked to do this! As a child growing up in Samoa, I witnessed multiple title bestowment ceremonies including my father, Chester Bentley’s title bestowment ceremonies for his tulafale ali’i title To’omata in the late 1980s and his ali’i title, Leota To’omata in 1997 at his maternal grandfather’s village of Solosolo. It never occurred to me that one day, I would experience it firsthand.  Yet, here I am, a female matai with two chiefly titles by birth right, living in the diaspora in New Zealand.

Family Legacy: Weaving Past and Future

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I always believe that everything that happens in one’s life is timed even if it is only realised retrospectively and not in the moment as they transpire. 

Intergenerational transmission of values

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In August 2022, my father called our family group chat from Samoa to inform us of a talanoaga with our extended family on his maternal grandmother’s side. It was decided at this talanoaga that descendants of my great grandmother, Eti Pusi Papali’i, and her siblings’ descendants would prepare for the Sooalo and Laupu’e chiefly title bestowments to be conferred in December of that year. Hence, my father asked if any of my five siblings (John, Dwayne, Jasma, Fagamalama, and David) and I would be prepared to take this up. My two siblings (Dwayne, and Fagamalama) who live in Samoa confirmed that they would not as they had just been conferred chiefly titles the month before on my father’s maternal grandfather’s Malietoa side in which my brother, Dwayne, was conferred the Seiuli title and my sister, Fagamalama, the Galumalemana title. 

Therefore, a decision was made that my youngest brother, David, would be the one to take up the Sooalo title, which made sense because of our Sooalo family’s connection to Vanuatu (pp 121-122) and that he was then engaged to his now wife, Leona, who is half-caste Ni-Vanuatu. As the second oldest, and out of respect for my older brother, John, I suggested that he should be bestowed the Laupu’e title and that my other sister, Jasma, and I would wait for the next calling. My father did not wish to force anyone and said it was their decision but to let him know as he had to relay this message to our extended family. My youngest brother, David, quickly confirmed that he would be honoured to be conferred the Sooalo title and prepared for the trip because he lives in Canberra. My oldest brother, John, however, was not prepared for it at that time. In December 2022, my youngest brother (David) and his fiancé, Leona, arrived in Samoa but they were told just before they travelled that the Sa’o Matai, Paramount Chief (Samoa Law Commission, 2016), of our family who is my paternal grandmother’s first cousin and holds the Sooalo title, Sauoaiga Sooalo Tina Tofilau, was unwell and would be seeking medical treatment in New Zealand. Therefore, the planned ceremonies were postponed for the following year. 

However, the occasion did not take place and again, our extended family awaited the call to confirm another date for the saofa’i. In late 2023, members of our extended family in Samoa met, in which my father was present to confirm that the saofa’i would take place on the Friday after Easter in 2024. In late November, my parents returned to New Zealand, and it was then that my father raised the matter during a casual conversation with my mother, Pauline, and my husband, Tupuola F. George. Unfortunately, my youngest brother, David, could no longer commit as his wife, Leona, was carrying and they were expecting their first child around the same time, which meant they could not travel. Previously, Samoans living abroad could opt to tapa le ipu, which means someone else could be present, physically, in their absence to receive the blessing and drink the kava on their behalf. However, it has been legislated that all matai title bestowments should take place in Samoa only. Hence, it is illegal for any such ceremonies to occur abroad, which means anyone receiving a chiefly title will need to travel to Samoa to have their titles conferred through a saofa’i. 

Why this matters - My children’s future choices

I thought about the matter a lot since my father approached my siblings and me in 2022 and always said that I would be prepared to step in if needed. I wanted to honour my father and pay homage to my ancestors as well as ensuring my children know their fa’asinomaga. Therefore, with the support of my husband, I told my father and mother during a conversation with my parents, that I would be blessed to be conferred the Laupu’e title. I could see my father’s face light up and he quickly suggested I take both the Sooalo and Laupu’e titles, which was deeply moving to hear. Hence, my father was very happy when I confirmed that I would be honoured to receive both titles knowing that I had the support of my husband who also holds two chiefly titles: an ali’i title, Tupuola on his mother’s side from Tanugamanono and the tulafale title, Faleao on his father’s side from Satupa’itea.  

My husband and I had many conversations about the significance of me being conferred the two titles. For us, this was a blessing to ensure our children will know that they belong in Samauga and regardless of them living in New Zealand, my titles confirm that Samauga is part of their heritage. Also, it was about honouring my father and late grandmother and great-grandmother. My late great-grandmother, Eti Sooalo Pisimaka was one of *four siblings to their parents Sione Tolo Laupu’e of Samauga and Leitu Emosi A. Afamasaga of Satupa’itea. My great-great-grandfather, Sione Tolo Laupu’e, was the son of Sooalo Laupu’e Agaimalo of Samauga and Tafi’ai A’eau Saga of Falealupo. 

*I am still finding out whether my great grandmother had three or more siblings because the descendants of four are recognized. However, there are mentions of other siblings who passed away when they were young.