Tui Fiti
Encyclopedia
Tui Fiti or Tuifiti is the name of a figure referred to in different legends in Samoan mythology
and in other parts of Polynesia
. In other stories,
'Tui Fiti' means 'high chief of Fiti.'
in Samoa
, a spirit deity called Tui Fiti resides in Fagamalo
, a village said to have once been settled by Fijians. The special abode of Tui Fiti was a mound within a grove of large and durable trees called ifilele (Afzilia bijuga). Tui Fiti's abode is called the vao sa, a sacred part of the forest which is tapu
in Fagamalo.
Tui Fiti is referred to as the ali'i (high chief) of Fagamalo. There are no other ali'i chiefly titles in the village where all the matai chief titles are of orator tulafale status. Fagamalo is one of the pito nu'u sub-villages of the greater Matautu
village on Savai'i island's central north coast.
The missionary George Turner wrote in Samoa, a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before (1884) that Tuifiti was the name of a village god in Savai'i who appeared as a man who walked about but was never visible to the people of the place. However, he could be seen by strangers.
In 1978, the Governor-General of Fiji, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, arrived in Fagamalo during a state visit to Samoa. The High Chief of Fiji had requested a visit to Tui Fiti's burial ground. Cakobau was bestowed the chief title of Peseta by the matai of Matautu
in recognition of Samoa's ancient connection with Fiji. The matai chief title of Peseta is referred to as a manaia title, one of the highest chief titles in Matautu. The title Peseta is included in the fa'alupega geneaology in Samoan oratory for the people of Matautu.
Samoan mythology
Samoan mythology tell stories of many different gods. There were gods of the forest, the seas, rain, harvest, villages and war. There were two types of gods, atua who had non-human origins and aitu who were of human origin. Tagaloa was a supreme god who made the islands and the people. Mafui'e was...
and in other parts of Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
. In other stories,
'Tui Fiti' means 'high chief of Fiti.'
Savai'i
On the island of Savai'iSavai'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...
, a spirit deity called Tui Fiti resides in 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 village said to have once been settled by Fijians. The special abode of Tui Fiti was a mound within a grove of large and durable trees called ifilele (Afzilia bijuga). Tui Fiti's abode is called the vao sa, a sacred part of the forest which is tapu
Tapu
Tapu, tabu or kapu is a Polynesian traditional concept denoting something holy or sacred, with "spiritual restriction" or "implied prohibition"; it involves rules and prohibitions...
in Fagamalo.
Tui Fiti is referred to as the ali'i (high chief) of Fagamalo. There are no other ali'i chiefly titles in the village where all the matai chief titles are of orator tulafale status. Fagamalo is one of the pito nu'u sub-villages of the greater 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 on Savai'i island's central north coast.
The missionary George Turner wrote in Samoa, a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before (1884) that Tuifiti was the name of a village god in Savai'i who appeared as a man who walked about but was never visible to the people of the place. However, he could be seen by strangers.
In 1978, the Governor-General of Fiji, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, arrived in Fagamalo during a state visit to Samoa. The High Chief of Fiji had requested a visit to Tui Fiti's burial ground. Cakobau was bestowed the chief title of Peseta by the matai of 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;...
in recognition of Samoa's ancient connection with Fiji. The matai chief title of Peseta is referred to as a manaia title, one of the highest chief titles in Matautu. The title Peseta is included in the fa'alupega geneaology in Samoan oratory for the people of Matautu.