Malietoa tanumafili biography of george michael

Malietoa

Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili IOBE (1879 – 5 July 1939) was the Malietoa in State from 1898 until his surround in 1939. After the termination of his father, Malietoa Laupepa, who was recognized as pretty of Samoa by many Novel countries, Tanumafili was immediately laurelled, with Tupua Tamasese Lealofi Distracted serving as vice-king.

Tanumafili was backed by the United States and United Kingdom, however Frg supported rebel chief Mata‘afa Iosefo who was eyeing the oversee. The battle between the connect made up the Second Land Civil War and in righteousness end caused the Tripartite Congregation that split the islands. Make sure of the war, Malietoa pursued tutelage in Fiji and then came back to Samoa, where crystal-clear was appointed as an consultant.

Personal and political life

Tanumafili was born in 1880 to Malietoa Laupepa and Sisavai‘i Malupo Niuva‘ai. He attended the London Evangelist College in Malua, before constant his education in Fiji.^[1]

He wed Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleiseā and confidential five children: Sisavai‘i Lupeuluiva, Vaimo‘oi‘a, Salamāsina, Tanumafili II, and Sāvea‘ali‘i Ioane Viliamu.

When his holy man died in 1898, Tanumafili was declared "King of Samoa" (Tafaʻifa) by William Lea Chambers, dispatch recognised by Germany, the Leagued Kingdom and United States.^[1] Nonetheless, this led to the uprising of the Second Samoan Lay War.^[1]

The vast majority of Island rallied behind the Matā‘afa-Sā Talavou party, including the Germans, authority Tumua of Ātua-A‘ana, the Mewl of Savai‘i (Keesing 1934:73), ‘Aiga-i-le-Tai, and most of Tuamasaga.

In times gone by again socio-religious factors came record play as the Sā Mōlī’s support came from the L.M.S. Tanumafili's royal house was vigorous up of four families: Matavai, Silliaumua, Tupuola and Fagafua, excellence last remaining dynasty in glory western part of Samoa. They were Congregationalists, while most precision Samoan Christians backed the Sā Talavou-Sā Natūitasina-Matā‘afa parties.

Perhaps leadership most adamant and well-known disputant of Tanumafili’s claim was Lauaki Namulau‘ulu Mamoe of Sāfotulafai, Savaiʻi, a famed orator who kill the Tonganmatapule title Lauaki (Gifford 149). He argued that sound only was Tanumafili too adolescent and inexperienced to rule, on the other hand that his installment as Malietoa was illegitimate and invalid according to Samoan custom.

The infinite majority of Samoans, including say publicly leading orator bodies of Ātua-A‘ana (Tumua), Savai‘i (Pule), Manono, deed Tuamasaga (Auimatagi) attested to greatness invalidity of Tanumafili’s claims just about the kingship and the Malietoa title but the foreign wits continued in their endorsement addendum Malietoa Tanumafili I. A intersection session of the Pule refuse Tumua assemblies held fono fashionable Leulumoega, A‘ana and declared Matā‘afa Iosefo "King of Samoa" rant 12 November 1898; this decision was ratified at a municipal council held on 15 Nov at Mulinu‘u.^{[2]: 425, 426–427}

Foreign intervention and indigenous opinion

The British and American consuls defied this declaration (as plain-spoken Tanumafili I and Lealofi I) and their naval ships post soldiers assisted in defeating Matā‘afa Iosefo as the year 1898 came to a close; Tanumafili I was declared King incessantly Samoa on 31 December.

Grandeur Tumua communities joined with character Sā Talavou and Matā‘afa parties in immediately protesting Tanumafili's engagement, prompting the One Day Fighting in which Tanumafili and Tamasese allies were defeated on 1 January 1899. Fearing for their lives, King Tanumafili I stream Vice-King Tamasese Lealofi boarded a-one British ship where they temporary for over two months obstacle avoid assassination attempts.

The Germans then declared Matā‘afa the "head of all chiefs" while depiction British and the Americanconsuls chosen Tanumafili as the ruler become aware of Samoa (Hart, Hart & Diplomat 105). Matā‘afa's parties declared him king once again in Jan, while "all the High Chiefs of Malietoa" Laupepa were confine exile in Tutuila and Malietoa Laupepa himself remained under glory protection of the British; connected with was no military opposition preempt the coronation that day.^[3]: 67

Tanumafili's extraordinary chiefs were allowed to answer from Tutuila in March 1899 and war parties were updated.

Tanumafili was able to concede Matā‘afa with the ammunition ride military aid of the Americans and British, and the transalpine consuls once again named Tanumafili as King of Samoa submit 23 March.

Foreign political influences by this time had convert deeply ingrained in the Land struggle for leadership. A council composed of the foreign consuls called together the leaders pattern both parties on 20 May well 1899.

Matā‘afa Iosefo, Malietoa Fa‘alata and Lauaki Namulau‘ulu Mamoe burst in on mentioned as high-ranking spokesmen freedom the Matā‘afa-Sā Talavou bloc for ages c in depth Tupua Tamasese Titimaea and Malietoa Laupepa headed the Tamasese-Sā Mōlī delegation.^{[3]: 75–76} The joint commission have possession of Germany, the United States talented Great Britain abolished the State kingship in June 1899 impressive placed Manu‘a and Tutuila junior to American control while Germany commonplace ‘Upolu, Savaii, Manono, and Apolima.

The official tri-nation "adjustment watch jurisdiction" was signed in President, D.C., on 7 November out any mention of Samoan acquiesce or opinion;^[4]: 276 no Samoan chiefs signed the convention nor survey there explicit indication that leadership Samoans were even aware acquisition the impending dissection of their island group.

Under this virgin government Matā‘afa Iosefo was person's name Ali‘i Sili ("Paramount Chief") search out Samoa while the German Emperor was declared Tupu Sili ("Paramount King") of Samoa. The callow Tanumafili – no longer Fray of Samoa – then sinistral for the BritishFijian islands fight back further his university education.

Tanumafili I and German administration

The Emperor sent Dr.

Wilhelm Solf convey govern German Samoa in Go on foot 1900. Solf seemed to assign supportive (or at least cognizant) of the native political shade that previous European consuls esoteric blatantly disregarded. In 1901 sharptasting oversaw a massive distribution magnetize 2,000 fine state-mats (‘ie ormation le mālō) which served change acknowledge the authority of understood chiefs while demonstrating a tier of cultural sensitivity on position part of the German Hegemony (Keesing 1934:84).

The ceremonial supplementary took several months to full and not all Samoan parties were satisfied with the acknowledgement they received and/or the certainty that the German administration oversaw the distribution. Other Samoan chiefs were upset over a professed "attitude" adjustment of their paramounts; in 1901, Matā‘afa announced:

...

the old days of Tumua and Pule are past, whose regimes have been absolutely guided by the laws and import charges of Samoa. But now available the present time I long to openly proclaim throughout green paper islands, that the honourable selection of Le Ali‘i Sili which I hold was received by means of His Majesty the Kaiser – the Great King (Tupu Sili).

Similarly, Malietoa Tanumafili disappointed many scholarship his followers when he refused to accept the kingly ‘ava (also known as kava) sports ground instead passed on his "rights and privileges" to the Germanic government.

In January 1903, acceptance arrived from Fiji, he declared:

let us all obey standing honour His Excellency the Guide, with him is the wail atoa ("total power"). The reliability and honour which Malietoa enchanted in days gone by advise belong to our Sovereign ethics Kaiser.... The words to which Samoa was accustomed ‘Let Island obey Malietoa’ has now ended....(86)

Solf and the German imperial team came to confide in Matā‘afa Iosefo and endorsed him introduce the legitimate leader of representation itū mālō.

Matā‘afa's actions ulterior in his term, however, know that his declared obeisance combat Germany was probably a facing for underlying motives and susceptibilities apprec (the type of togafiti extenuation that Solf frequently condemned). Count on order to maintain the at peace among "those who had distant been recognised, but who esoteric, in genealogical and recent chronological terms, equal rank," Solf besides allowed for the appointment stand for other paramount tama‘aiga to state offices (Meleiseā 1987b:50).

This mannequin was accomplished by installing rank acknowledged heads of the Sā Tupua and the Sā Malietoa as "Ta‘imua." The office signal Ta‘imua was an executive topmost advisory position first held outdo Tupua Tamasese Lealofi I unravel the Sā Tupua and Malietoa Fa‘alataitaua of the Sā Malietoa Talavou.

Tanumafili I and dignity New Zealand Government

Tanumafili returned there Samoa and began reasserting cap claim to the Malietoa give a ring only after Malietoa Fa‘alataitaua esoteric died (Tamasese 1995b:75).

Hostilities arose between Tanumafili's Sā Mōlī, blue blood the gentry Sā Talavou parties, and Matā‘afa Iosefo over rights to leadership Malietoa title. Tensions were positive high that Malietoa Fa‘alata's offspring needed to be safeguarded be against rivals who wished to shed potential claimants. When Matā‘afa Iosefo died on 6 February 1912, he took the office have a phobia about Ali‘i Sili to his pressing and Malietoa Tanumafili regained root as Fautua and the lone Malietoa.

It is probably induce this year that Tanumafili further received the Tamasoāli‘i and Gato‘aitele supposedly carried by the Matā‘afa until 1912.

New Zealand’s Lieutenant-Colonel Logan elicited the German deliver up of the western Samoan islands in 1914 and began reorganizing Samoa’s government. New Zealand get the Samoan people that rectitude new government would be representing Samoa’s benefit, unlike the Teutonic regime which was instated put the lid on great cost to Samoan sovereignty and traditional authority.

After luck Samoa’s first banking institution bracket deporting most German citizens, leadership New Zealand administration appointed Malietoa Tanumafili and Tupua Tamasese Lealofi I as joint Fautua. Back end Tupua Tamasese Lealofi’s death cult 13 October 1915, Tanumafili served as Fautua along with Tuimaleali‘ifano Si‘u.

Under New Zealand discovery many Samoans began acting polish their desires for self-autonomy.

Patronize Samoan customs which had antique suppressed under German rule, much as ceremonial ‘ie toga exchanges and kilikiti matches, returned stain normal function. Local chiefs were also at liberty "to erect rules in the best interests of the village" and rural community fono began retaking administrative intelligence lost to the Germans (Meleiseā 1987a:112).

Tanumafili had been unadorned founding member of Apia's styled Toe‘aina Club which provided honoured Samoan chiefs a venue be intended for socialization and collaboration. The baton also gave Samoans a stiffen to resolve conflicts involving awards or property without requiring Fresh Zealand’s interference.

On 17 Dec 1920 the League of Goodwill granted British-New Zealand mandate diminish "German Samoa"^[5]: 62 and King Martyr V of the United Country became the titular King snatch Samoa.

Sir George Richardson's superintendence was widely opposed and indifferent to 1927 the leaders of magnanimity four Samoan royal families, surprisingly tama‘aiga, were divided in their opinions about New Zealand aspire. Matā‘afa Salanoa and Malietoa Tanumafili appeared to be loyal – "at least in public" – to the New Zealand polity (Meleiseā 1987b:142) while Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III and Tuimaleali‘ifano Si‘u supported the Samoan independence moving known as the Mau.

Rank Mau grew out of malaise with Richardson's policies and development distrust of foreign intervention unexciting Samoan affairs. The Mau was a nonviolent movement devoted agree to civil disobedience but it was opposed by some Samoans, that is to say those allied to the Malietoa families and villages, among them Vaimauga (Tuamasaga), Aleipata (Ātua) careful Falealili (Ātua).

In March 1928, Malietoa supporters around Apia took offense to the anti-government rallies conducted by a particular Mau group from Savaii and esoteric it not been for Tanumafili's intervention a tragic massacre doubtless would have taken place. Glory Malietoa factions did not resist the Mau because they required to be ruled by Latest Zealand.

Like all Samoans they longed for independence too, nevertheless the "non-Mau Samoans" (Meleiseā 1987b:145) were convinced that the Mau's opposition of New Zealand was a direct challenge to Malietoa authority since Tanumafili was Fautua of the foreign government.

Tanumafili was appointed to the Deliberative Council in 1929,^[6] and was appointed an honorary Officer disagree with the Order of the Land Empire, for services to illustriousness New Zealand government, in nobility 1931 New Year Honours.^[7] People moves towards self-government he quiet from the Legislative Council cut down 1937 to allow the recent Fono to select someone else.^[8]

He died in 1939 after 41 years as Malietoa.^[9]

Family tree

References