Gaga'emauga
Encyclopedia
Gaga'emauga is an electoral district
on the island of Savai'i
in Samoa
. The district is situated on the central north side of Savai'i. The name Gaga'emauga literally means: “near side of the mountain” meaning the eastern side of the mountain chain running through the centre of Savai'i.
The traditional centre of the district is Saleaula
, where the district chiefs (matai
) and orators meet at Vaitu’utu’u malae.
Like most villages in Samoa, the villages in Gaga'emauga are situated by the sea although there are some settlements inland, including Patamea
and Samalae'ulu
.
Reverend George Pratt
(1817–1894), a missionary with the London Missionary Society
, lived in Matautu
(1839–1879) and authored the first grammar and dictionary of the Samoan language
, "A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan Vocabulary", which was first printed in 1862 at the Samoa Mission Press.
The village of Saleaula maintains strong traditional connections with Safotulafai
to the east, through the paramount chiefly title of Letufuga. Safotulafai is the capital of the political district Fa'asaleleaga
.
, following the resettlement of villages destroyed during volcanic eruptions of Mt Matavanu
in the early 1900s. These exclaves are Le'auva'a
and Salamumu
villages which remain politically part of Savai'i despite their relocation.
, situated about 11km inland from Matautu
on the central north coast. Lava flows from eruptions destroyed villages in its path, including Saleaula and Salago villages, transforming the northern half of this district into lava fields which are still visible today, especially at Saleaula. The people of the affected areas were evacuated to Upolu, where they established the villages of Le'auva'a
and Salamumu
. Despite the move, they still retain their traditional links and fa'alupega (geneaology) affiliations to Gagaemauga. The names Leava'a and Salamumu denote the events of the 1905 Mt Matavanu eruption. In recent years, a few families have re-built houses on the lava fields where vegetation is still sparse.
, the village of Fagamalo
, a sub-village pito nu'u of the larger Matautu
village, had a wharf and anchorage and was the main government administrative centre on Savai'i. Fagamalo was also the home of the colonial resident commissioner of Savai'i when Allied forces were defending the South Pacific against Japan. In modern times, the government administration on Savai'i has moved to Tuasivi
in the Fa'asaleleaga
district, where there's a hospital, police station and judicial court offices.
Districts of Samoa
Samoa is made up of eleven itūmālō . These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival...
on the island of Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. The district is situated on the central north side of Savai'i. The name Gaga'emauga literally means: “near side of the mountain” meaning the eastern side of the mountain chain running through the centre of Savai'i.
The traditional centre of the district is Saleaula
Saleaula
Sale'aula is a village on the central north coast of Savai'i island in Samoa and is the traditional center of the Gaga'emauga political district...
, where the district chiefs (matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
) and orators meet at Vaitu’utu’u malae.
Like most villages in Samoa, the villages in Gaga'emauga are situated by the sea although there are some settlements inland, including Patamea
Patamea
Patamea is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. While most villages on Savai'i are situated near the sea, Patamea is situated inland, away from the coast...
and Samalae'ulu
Samalae'ulu
Samalae'ulu is a village on the northeast side of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga I which includes the neighbouring villages of Patamea and the smaller settlement of Mauga which is built around a volcanic crater.The population of Samalae'ulu is...
.
Reverend George Pratt
George Pratt (missionary)
Reverend George Pratt was a missionary with the London Missionary Society who lived in Samoa for forty years from 1839–1879, mostly on the island of Savai'i. Pratt was from Portsea in Hampshire, England....
(1817–1894), a missionary with the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
, lived in Matautu
Matautu
Matautu is the name of different villages in Samoa. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, Upolu and Savai'i.-Matautu, Upolu Island:On Upolu island;...
(1839–1879) and authored the first grammar and dictionary of the Samoan language
Samoan language
Samoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
, "A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan Vocabulary", which was first printed in 1862 at the Samoa Mission Press.
The village of Saleaula maintains strong traditional connections with Safotulafai
Safotulafai
Safotulafai is a traditional sub-district at the east end of Savai'i island with historical and political significance in Samoa's history. It is the traditional centre of Fa'asaleleaga political district....
to the east, through the paramount chiefly title of Letufuga. Safotulafai is the capital of the political district Fa'asaleleaga
Fa'asaleleaga
Fa'asaleleaga is a district of Samoa situated on the eastern side of Savai'i island. It has a population of 12,949 .The traditional capital is Safotulafai where district chiefs and orators meet at Fuifatu malae...
.
Exclaves on Upolu
Two small exclaves of Gaga'emauga district are situated on the island of UpoluUpolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
, following the resettlement of villages destroyed during volcanic eruptions of Mt Matavanu
Mt Matavanu
Mt Matavanu is an active volcano on the island of Savai'i in Samoa.The most recent eruptions from Matavanu occurred between 1905 - 1911 with lava flows on its northern side flowing towards the island's coastline and into the sea in the district of Gaga'emauga....
in the early 1900s. These exclaves are Le'auva'a
Le'auva'a
Le'auva'a is a village on the island of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 3,041. Although the village is geographically located on Upolu, the village is politically part of the political district of Gaga'emauga on the island of Savai'i.The settlement was relocated to Upolu in the early...
and Salamumu
Salamumu
Salamumu is a village on the south west coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village has two settlements, Salamumu Uta and Salamumu Tai ....
villages which remain politically part of Savai'i despite their relocation.
Volcanic eruptions 1900s
The relocated villages of Gaga'emauga district on the main island Upolu was a result of 1905 - 1911 volcanic eruptions of Mt MatavanuMt Matavanu
Mt Matavanu is an active volcano on the island of Savai'i in Samoa.The most recent eruptions from Matavanu occurred between 1905 - 1911 with lava flows on its northern side flowing towards the island's coastline and into the sea in the district of Gaga'emauga....
, situated about 11km inland from Matautu
Matautu
Matautu is the name of different villages in Samoa. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, Upolu and Savai'i.-Matautu, Upolu Island:On Upolu island;...
on the central north coast. Lava flows from eruptions destroyed villages in its path, including Saleaula and Salago villages, transforming the northern half of this district into lava fields which are still visible today, especially at Saleaula. The people of the affected areas were evacuated to Upolu, where they established the villages of Le'auva'a
Le'auva'a
Le'auva'a is a village on the island of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 3,041. Although the village is geographically located on Upolu, the village is politically part of the political district of Gaga'emauga on the island of Savai'i.The settlement was relocated to Upolu in the early...
and Salamumu
Salamumu
Salamumu is a village on the south west coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village has two settlements, Salamumu Uta and Salamumu Tai ....
. Despite the move, they still retain their traditional links and fa'alupega (geneaology) affiliations to Gagaemauga. The names Leava'a and Salamumu denote the events of the 1905 Mt Matavanu eruption. In recent years, a few families have re-built houses on the lava fields where vegetation is still sparse.
Itu o Tane
Gaga'emauga and the neighbouring political district Gagaifomauga are together referred to as Itu-o-Tane, 'The Side of Men.' The term Itu-o-Tane originates from the bravery of this north coast side in war, and in particular the 1830 war with A'ana. In contrast, part of the island's south coast is known as Itu-o-Fafine, 'The Side of Women.'Government administration
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the village of Fagamalo
Fagamalo
Fagamalo is a village situated on the central north coast of Savai'i in Samoa. It is a sub-village or pito nu'u of the larger traditional village enclave of Matautu in the political district of Gaga'emauga....
, a sub-village pito nu'u of the larger Matautu
Matautu
Matautu is the name of different villages in Samoa. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, Upolu and Savai'i.-Matautu, Upolu Island:On Upolu island;...
village, had a wharf and anchorage and was the main government administrative centre on Savai'i. Fagamalo was also the home of the colonial resident commissioner of Savai'i when Allied forces were defending the South Pacific against Japan. In modern times, the government administration on Savai'i has moved to Tuasivi
Tuasivi
Tuasivi is a village situated on the north east coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is in the electoral political district of Fa'asaleleaga.Tuasivi is the main centre for government administration on Savai'i...
in the Fa'asaleleaga
Fa'asaleleaga
Fa'asaleleaga is a district of Samoa situated on the eastern side of Savai'i island. It has a population of 12,949 .The traditional capital is Safotulafai where district chiefs and orators meet at Fuifatu malae...
district, where there's a hospital, police station and judicial court offices.