Samoa

Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa

File:Westasmarms22.PNG Flag of Samoa Coat of Arms of Samoa
National motto: Fa'avaei le Atua Samoa (Samoa Is Founded on God)
Principal languages	Samoan, English
Capital	Apia
Head of state	?? Chief Malietoa Tanumafili II
Prime minister	Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 165th 2,944 km² 0.3%
Population  - Total (2004 est.)  - Density	Ranked 174th 177,714 60/km²
Independence	1962
Currency	Tala
Time zone	Universal Time -11
National anthem	The Banner of Freedom
Internet TLD	.ws
Country calling code	685

Samoa, is part of an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean that was known as Navigators' Islands before the 20th century — a reference to Samoan seafaring skills. In earlier centuries, a favourite Samoan pastime was warfare. There are two Samoas — the Independent State of Samoa, known simply as Samoa, which is the topic of this article, and American Samoa. Samoa is a deeply religious country with Christianity the main religion

Geography

Samoa is located east of the international dateline and south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. The total land area of the Samoas is 2934 square kilometres, consisting of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i, which account for 96 percent of the total land area, and eight small islets: Manono, Apolima, Nuutele, Nuulua, Namua, Fanuatapu, Nuusafee, and Nuulopa. While all of islands have volcanic origins, only Savaii has had recent eruptions and could be considered volcanically active. The last major eruption occurred in the 1700s and smaller eruptions in the early 20th century. The highest point in Samoa is Mauga Silisili at 1858 metres. The main island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population and its capital city is Apia. The climate is tropical with the average annual temperature of 26.5°C, and a rainy season from November to April.

History

The first Polynesians to arrive in the Samoan islands came island-hopping, over several generations, from Southeast Asia more than 4000 years ago. From there they migrated east toward the Society Islands, north towards Hawaii, and southwest towards New Zealand.

Samoa enjoys a rich history, preserved in folklore and myth, of ocean voyages, conquests of other islands, and war with the Kingdom of Tonga and Fiji. A temple found in the island of Manono has a a system of stone cairns, which is believed to be a record of over 150 wars. Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish author who spent the late years of his life in Samoa said: "War is Samoa's favorite pastime."

Until about 1860, Samoa was ruled by tribal chiefs known as matai. Contact with Europeans began in the early 1700s and intensified with the arrival of British missionaries and traders in the 1830s. Then, Samoans were perceived as savage and warlike, as they clashed with the French, German, British, and American soldiers who valued Samoa as a refueling station for coal-fired shipping. From 1860 to 1889, the chiefs were directed by American, British and German consuls, and from 1889 to 1899, it was governed conjointly by a "Three Power Pact," signed in Berlin in 1899. In an eight-year civil war, Germany, the U.S. and Britain supplied arms, training, war ships, and in some cases combat troops to Samoan groups. Conflict ended when a massive storm destroyed all three war ships in Apia harbour.

The Treaty of Berlin, signed in 1899, divided the Samoan archipelago into an eastern group, which became territories of the U.S., and western islands, by far the greater land mass, which became known as German Samoa. The British gave up claims in return for Tonga and Fiji.

German Samoa was occupied by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force when World War I started, in 1914, and became known as Western Samoa.

Map of Samoa

From the end of World War I, New Zealand controlled Samoa under trusteeship through the League of Nations until 1946, and the U.N. until 1962. In 1953, New Zealand offered a plan towards self- government and the first executive council was established. That plan was accepted in 1954, a New Executive Council was established in 1956,when the Legislative Assembly was reorganized. In 1958, New Zealand Reparation Estates were handed over to Samoan control, and in 1960, the Constitutional Convention with 174 delegates began process of independence. In 1961, adult Samoans vote overwhelmingly in a UN sponsored plebiscite to become independent.

Western Samoa became an independent sovereign state in 1962, the first Pacific Island state to regain its independence. Although never a member of the British Commonwealth, it enjoyed many of the benefits through its relationship with New Zealand.

In 1997, the Constitution was amended to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa. Neighboring American Samoa protested at the move, feeling that the change diminished its own Samoan identity. American Samoans still use the term Western Samoa to describe the Independent State of Samoa.

While the two Samoas share language and ethnicity, their culture has followed different paths with many American Samoans emigrating to Hawaii and the US and adopting many customs such as American football and baseball. Western Samoans have emigrated to New Zealand, resulting in rising popularity of the sports of rugby and cricket.

The Mau Movement

A Samoan self-determination movement began in 1908. The Mau of Pule was a non-violent movement based in Savai'i resisting German rule. The movement’s leaders were exiled to the Marianas in the following year. The occupying New Zealand administration became the focus of the Mau movement, especially in 1918, when 8500 people, or 22 per cent of Western Samoa's population, died in an influenza epidemic. New Zealand authorities knew a ship, the Talune, which had arrived in Samoa, was carrying Spanish influenza, but they allowed people ashore. Under arrangements of the post-war Treaty of Versailles, Western Samoa became a 'C' class mandate of the League of Nations, administered by New Zealand. Those years were marked by political trouble since the Samoan traditional leadership did not accept the need for foreign rule. The Mau movement grew and includes Europeans, especially A. G. Smyth, a leading merchant, who was exiled. The Samoans refused to assist the administration and to pay taxes. In December, 1929, A. G. Smyth, returned to Samoa after three years in exile. Members of the Mau marched through Apia to greet him and were fired upon by police. Eleven people were killed, including a Mau leader, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi II. New Zealand banned the Mau until 1936, when a new Labour Government canceled the ban. Relations between Samoans and the New Zealand administration improved. In an effort to address past errors, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clark issued an apology to the Samoan people in June 2002, at a ceremony in Apia marking the 40th anniversary of Samoan independence.

Politics

The 1960 Constitution, which formally came into force with independence, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy, modified to take account of Samoan customs. At that time, two of Samoa's paramount chiefs (Tama Aiga) were given lifetime appointments to hold the office of head of state jointly, while a third became its first prime minister. Malietoa Tanumafili II has held the post of head of state alone since the death of his colleague in 1963. His successor will be selected by the legislature for a five-year term. Although it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from the high chiefs, this is not required by the Constitution. Therefore, Samoa is considered a republic rather than a monarchy.

The unicameral legislature (Fono) contains 49 members serving five-year terms. Forty-seven are elected from territorial districts by ethnic Samoans; the other two are chosen by non-Samoans on separate electoral rolls. Suffrage is universal but only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Samoan seats. There are more than 25,000 matais in the country, about five percent of whom are women. The prime minister is chosen by a majority in the Fono and is appointed by the chief of state to form a government. The prime minister's choices for the 12 cabinet positions are appointed by the chief of state, subject to the continuing confidence of the Fono.

Since 1982 the majority party in the Fono has been the Human Rights Protection Party. Its leader Tofilau Eti Alesana served as prime minister between 1982 and 1998, when he resigned due to poor health. He was replaced by his deputy, Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi. The most recent election was held on March 31, 2006. The Human Rights Protection Party won 29 seats, Samoa Democratic United Party won 12, while independents won eight. The next election must be held not later than March 2011.

The judicial system is based on English common law and local customs. The Supreme Court has highest jurisdiction. The chief of state appoints the chief justice, upon the recommendation of the prime minister.

Economy

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, noni, and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 25 percent of GDP. About 88,000 tourists visited the islands in 2001. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.

Samoa is a fertile, fruitful, productive country. In the period prior to the German annexation, it produced mostly copra. The Germans were active in introducing and developing new industries, notably cocoa and rubber. When the value of natural rubber fell drastically, about the end of World War I, New Zealand's government encouraged the production of bananas, for which there is a large market in New Zealand.

Due to variations in altitude, a large range of tropical and subtropical crops can be cultivated, but land is not generally available to outside interests. Of the total land area of 2,934 km², about 24% of it is in permanent cultivation and another 21% is arable. About 4% belongs to the Western Samoan Trust Estates Corporation (WSTEC).

The staple products of Samoa are copra (dried coconut meat), cocoa (for chocolate), and bananas. Production of both bananas and copra has been in the 13,000-15,000 metric ton range. If the rhinoceros beetle pest in Samoa were eradicated, the country could produce in excess of 40,000 metric tons of copra. The cocoa is of very high quality and used in fine New Zealand chocolates. Most cocoa trees are Criollo-Forastero hybrids. Coffee grows well but production has been uneven. WSTEC is the biggest coffee producer. Rubber has been produced in Samoa for many years, but its export value has little impact on the economy.

Other agricultural industries have been less successful. Sugar cane production, originally established by the Germans in the early 20th century, could be successful. Old train tracks for transporting cane can be seen at some plantations east of Apia. Pineapples also grow well in Samoa, but beyond local consumption they have not been a major export item.

In the late 1960s, Potlatch Forests, Inc. (a U.S. company) upgraded the harbor and airport at Asau on the northern coast of Savaii and established a timber operation, Samoa Forest Products, for harvesting tropical hardwoods. Potlatch invested about $US 2.5 million in a state-of-the-art sawmill and another $US 6 million over several years to develop power, water, and haul roads for their facility. Asau with the Potlatch saw millers and Samoa Forest Products was one of the busiest parts of Savaii in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the departure of Potlatch and the scaling down of the saw-milling operations has left Asau a ghost town.

Fishing has had some success in Samoan waters, but the biggest fisheries industry (headed by Van Camp and Star Kist) has been based in American Samoa. Star Kist Management announced that it was going ahead with the setting up of the blast freezer project at Asau that could be operational by 2002. This announcement has dispelled a growing suspicion about the genuine motives of Star Kist to move to Samoa. The proposed blast freezer operations in Asau are expected to bring this village back to life. ((ARE WE TALKING TUNA?))

Demographics

Samoa has a population of more than 175,000. Ethnic Samoans make up 92.6 percent of the population, Euronesians, who are persons of European and Polynesian blood, make up 7 percent, and Europeans 0.4 percent. The Samoan language is the traditional language of Samoa and American Samoa and is an official language in both territories. It is a member of the Austronesian family, and more specifically Samoic branch of the Polynesian sub-phylum.

The language is comprised of only fourteen letters — five vowels, A, E, I, O, U, and nine consonants, F, G, L, M, N, P, S, T, V. The letters H, K, and R only occur in words of foreign origin. The Samoan language contains many introduced words, which have been distorted by added vowels or substituted consonants, so native speakers can pronounce them.

It has separate words for inclusive we and exclusive we, and distinguishes singular, dual, and plural. A unique feature of the language is that when the inclusive pronoun occurs in the singular as ta, it indicates emotional involvement on the part of the speaker.

Samoa is a deeply religious country with an ancient Samoan belief in aitu (spirits). Christianity is the main religion, and the many churches around the islands are often full on Sundays. Thirty five percent are Congregationalist, a denomination originally called the London Missionary Society Church, 20 percent are Roman Catholic, 15 percent are Methodist, 13 percent Latter-Day Saints, 7 percent are Assembly of God, 4 percent are Seventh-day Adventist, while other Christian sects make up 6 percent. Members of the Bahá'ís make up about 2 percent of the population. In addition to Malietoa Tanumafili II being a Bahá'í, Samoa hosts one of only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Samoa has a large sex imbalance, apparently caused by the large-scale emigration of women. The cause of this is not understood.

Culture

The Fa'a Samoa, or traditional Samoan way, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics. Despite centuries of European influence, Samoa maintains its customs, social systems, and language. Only the Maori of New Zealand outnumber the Samoans among Polynesian groups (although there are no longer any full-blooded Maori).

Samoans are typically friendly and welcoming people. They have a distinct culture in which they have great pride. They have a communal way of life with little privacy. The traditional fales (houses) have no walls. Blinds made of coconut leaves are used during the night or bad weather. Up to 20 people may sleep on the ground in the same fale. During the day the fale is used for chatting and relaxing.

Family is viewed as an integral part of life. The aiga or extended family lives and works together. Elders in the family are greatly respected and hold the highest status, and this may be seen at a traditional Sunday umu (rock oven).

Sundays are traditionally a day of rest, and many families congregate to share an umu together for a Sunday afternoon meal. In a traditional household, the older members of the family will sit and eat first, and as the meal continues the younger members and then children are invited to eat. The umu contains an abundance and variety of dishes ranging from fresh seaweed and crayfish to baked taro and rice. Coconut appears in many Samoan dishes, for example palusami, a parcel of corned beef, breadfruit, onions, taro leaves wrapped in breadfruit leaves and coconut cream and baked in the umu. This is eaten in its entirety including the leaves, and is rich in taste due to its coconut content.

Samoan handicrafts can be found at the craft market and some shops. These include the siapo (equivalent to the Fijian tapa) which is made from beaten mulberry bark, and then patterns or pictures are painted on with a natural brown dye. Examples of pictures depicted are: fish, turtles, hibiscus flowers. The siapo may be used for clothing, for wrapping objects and even simply for decorative reasons. Kava bowls are sturdy, round wooden bowls made of varying sizes, and have many short legs around it.

Kava is made up with water in the bowl and drunk socially using coconut shells to scoop up the drink. It is a ground natural extract from the pepper plant root and is used for medicinal and slightly anaesthetic properties. Other handicrafts are fine mats, ornaments or jewellery and hair accessories using naturally occurring materials such as sea shells, coconut and coir.

The traditional Samoan dance is the Siva. This is similar to the Hawaiian dance, with gentle movements of the hands and feet in time to music and which tells a story. Other types of dance are modern dance by the younger generations, at bars or nightclubs.

Traditional Samoan medicine is often practised as a first-line before hospital medicine. This is a type of alternative medicine using plant leaves to massage the affected area.

The traditional ladies clothing is the puletasi which is a matching skirt and tunic with Samoan designs. The lava lava is a sarong which may be worn by men or women. They are of different patterns and colours, but tend to be plain for men who may wear it as part of an official uniform. Some men have intricate and geometrical patterns tattooed onto their lower body and upper legs. The tattooing process is performed without any anaesthesia and is said to be painful.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Eustis, Nelson. 1979. Aggie Grey of Samoa. Hobby Investments, Adelaide, South Australia. 2nd printing, 1980. ISBN 0-9595609-0-4.

External links

• Map: district subdivision
• ChooHoo! - Online Samoan community featuring forums, chat, blogs, etc.
• Finding Samoa
• Jane's Samoa Home Page
• Samoan Based Contemporary Art
• Map server of Samoa
• Map of Samoa
• Official government Website
• Over 90 categorised profiles of relevant websites on Zeal
• Samoa Chat (news, forums, Samoan language)
• Samoa Tourism Authority
• Samoan Holiday
• Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before by George Turner, an eText available from Project Gutenberg
• Informations and Links to Samoa

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