Atua (district)


Ancient Principality of Samoa.
Ātua is an ancient political district of Samoa, consisting of most of the eastern section of Upolu. Ātua is ruled by the Tui Ātua together with the group of six senior orators of Lufilufi and 13 senior matai from throughout Ātua, comprising the Fale Ātua. The fono of Atua's rulers takes place in Lufilufi on the great malae of Lalogafu'afu'a.
The TuiAtua was taken from the Tagaloa dynasty by Lu. It does not mean King of Atua, it means King of the Gods. It existed long before there was an Atua region of Samoa. This was when Lu defeated Tagaloalagi who gave his daughter as Lu's wife so Lu would spare his life. That was the end of the Tagaloa dynasty's power.. This was 2,000 years ago. His son was Leifi who was the Tui Atua. Leifi, is the younger relative and one of the 2 original Kings of Samoa. The TuiManua and Leifi the TuiAtua. But Leifi held the power to also give out the lesser TuiAtua. Only Leifi has a post opposite the TuiManua in the meeting house in Ta'u Americam Samoa. Leifi's Island was Tutuila and he was the Defender of Manu'a. Much later he moved to Atua. and lived at his malae, Lalogafu'afu'a, the malae of Kings. Leifi is the TuiAtua Fa'anofonofo and also gave out a lesser TuiAtua to the people later called the Tama Aiga. Leifi is the Matua. This was done at his malae of Kings, Lalogafu'afu'a. He later moved to lalomanu and changed his name to Fuataga, and still exists there today. He originally created then destroyed the Vaetamasoali'i and the Gailetoatele, when he created the TuiAana and gifted it to the people of A'ana for services rendered to him. Later these lkesser titles were recreated by others first as womens names then as titles. Tamasoalii and Gatoitele. And others later joined these into the papa. There are various claims as to history, but the oldest are long before the existence of The TuiToga and Tuifiti, before even there was a Tonga.
The paramount pāpā title and sovereign of Ātua is the Tui Ātua. The title traces its lineage to Pili, son of Tagaloa-a-lagi. The first Tui Atua was Tui Atua Leutelele'i'ite of Falefa, who according to oral tradition, is said to have been part aitu and part tagata. He lived around 1170 AD. It is from his lifetime that the known pre-European history of Samoa associated with the Tui Ātua and its holders began. The current Tui Ātua is former Prime Minister, Head of State and tama-a-aiga, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.
The two paramount matai titles of Ātua are the two Tama-a-aiga titles of Tupua Tamasese and Matā'afa, respectively belonging to the two main noble lineages of Ātua: Sā Fenunuivao of Falefa and Salani; and Sā Levālasi of Amaile and Lotofaga.

History

According to one legend, Tagaloa-a-lagi, entered Upolu, Savai'i and Tonga from Manu'a island on the eastern tip of the Samoan archipelago. The political divisions of Upolu are said to be traced to his son, Pili. Pili had three sons - Tua, 'Ana and Saga, after whom the political divisions of Upolu are named. Tua founded the political district of Ātua, which comprised the eastern third of Upolu island. 'Ana founded Ā'ana, a political district on the western third of the island. The third son, Saga, was born after the twins and so the district he founded was called Tuamasaga. This was the geographical region between Ā'ana and Ātua districts. Since then, the three political districts of Upolu have been called Ātua, Ā'ana and Tuamasaga.

Governance

The Tui Atua governs from his traditional residence at Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo, in Lufilufi, the capital of Ātua. Lufilufi itself is governed by the Faleono orator group, who are vested with the authority to appoint the Tui Atua and whose authority is reflected by its title as Matua o Ātua,. These six tulafale also summon the Fale Atua, to ascertain its members views on a prospective holder of their papa title when the title is vacant. This 'parliament' comprises the six tulafale of Lufilufi and 13 other matai of Ātua. Of those 13 matai, nine are tulafale and four are ali'i. The members of Ātua's governing parliament form an exclusive group, as only the most senior matai in Ātua can sit in it. The people of Lufilufi were left by Leifi to be caretakers of his malae. They never had any authority over the appointment of a TuiAtua, and Kranmer noted but could not understand why no TuiAtua could be made unless Fuataga was present. This is because Fuataga as the TuiAtua Fa'anofonofo is the only one who had the power to appoint the TuiAtua. Recently in Land and Titles court cases, espeiclly in the last 30 years the govt has changed and ruled to transfer power to those who originally had none.
The Fale Atua decide with the Tui Ātua in matters of war and state. The Fale Atua comprises the six orators of Lufilufi as well as the respective rulers of Falefā, Solosolo, Lalomanu, Lotofaga, Luatuanu'u. Samusu, Saoluafata, Saleaumua, and also Lepā.

Holders of the Tui Atua

The line of Tui Atua extends far back into the early history of Samoa, beyond that of Queen Salamasina's reign, to the sons of Pili, descendant of the Tui Manu'a. According to legend, Tagaloa-a-lagi, entered Upolu, Savai'i and Tonga from Manu'a island on the eastern tip of the Samoan archipelago. The political divisions of Upolu are said to be traced to his son, Pili. Pili had three sons - Tua, 'Ana and Saga, after whom the political divisions of Upolu are named. Tua founded the political district of Ātua, which comprised the eastern third of Upolu island. 'Ana founded Ā'ana, a political district on the western third of the island. The third son, Saga, was born after the twins and so the district he founded was called Tuamasaga. This was the geographical region between Ā'ana and Ātua districts. Since then, the three political districts of Upolu have been called Ātua, Ā'ana and Tuamasaga.
From the first Tui Atua to Queen Salamasina and then from her to her descendants, the title has passed down along these lineages according to the prevalent power of the time. Prior to the reign of Queen Salamasina, the Tui Atua was held at different times by the ranking alii of Atua, including Lufasiaitu of Fagaloa, Leutele of Falefa, and the paramount tulafa-alii polities of Fuataga and Tafua in Aleipata. Since the rise of the tama-a-aiga Tupua Tamasese and later, Mata'afa, the Tui Atua mantle has remained exclusively between these two, with the exception of Malietoa Vainuupo and Malietoa Moli holding it in the aftermath of multiple conflicts.

Tui Atua from Salamasina to Tupua Tamasese Efi

Here is the list of Tui Atua from the time of Tafa'ifā Salamasina onwards:

'O le ao tetele o Atua

Tulouna 'oe Lufilufi
tulouna 'oe le Tumua
tulouna lo outou Faleono
tulouna le afio o le Tui Atua
ma Tupa'i ma Ta'inau
tulouna 'Togia'i, 'o le Tui Atua ave au malaga ia te oe, Lufilufi pe a lafalafatūga
tulouna Leausa ne itu'au ai e alataua ai
tulouna ao o Atua
tulouna uso o Atua
tulouna i'u o Atua
tulouna le fetalaiga a Tuu'u na itu fā ai Atua
tulouna le āiga Sā Levalasi
tulouna le āiga Sā Fenunuivao
tulouna a tulaniu o Atua.

Population

The district has a population of 22,769.