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CultureGrams
Kids Edition
Independent State of
2014
Samoa
Malo Tuto’atasi O Samoa I Sisifo
Samoa’s ocean waters are home to nine hundred kinds of fish and two hundred kinds of coral.
Fa’a Samoa, or the “Samoan way,” means living a relaxed and peaceful life that also respects tradition and one’s
elders.
For two days each year, a worm called the palolo leaves its home in Samoa’s coral to spawn (deposit eggs) in the
ocean. Samoans catch the worms in nets and eat them as a special delicacy, either raw, or fried in butter and
spread on toast.
Many Samoans live in fale, which are houses that have thatched or corrugated tin roofs, wooden or cement
platforms, and no walls.
A lavalava, which is a colorful, often flower-patterned knee-length cloth wrapped around the waist, is worn by both
women and men.
Kava, a drink made from a root, is an important part of meetings and ceremonies.
In 1962 Samoa became the first Pacific Island nation to gain independence.
The nation’s capital, Apia, is the only city in Samoa.
The Puleimelei Mound, or Star Pyramid, is the oldest and largest ancient structure in Polynesia. Located on the
island of Savai’i, the pyramid is made of basalt stone and is close to one thousand years old.
Famous Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last years of his life on the island of Upolu, where he
owned a 400-acre estate. The local people called him Tusitala, which means “teller of tales.”
Flag
The stars on the flag resemble the Southern Cross constellation, which has guided
Samoan sailors for generations. Red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and
white symbolizes purity.
National Image
Samoa’s national flower is the teuila, or red ginger. Each year, the Teuila Festival is
celebrated with dancing competitions, choir competitions, fautasi (long canoe) races,
fire-knife dancing, tattooing demonstrations, and a Miss Samoa Pageant.
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Samoa
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 1,093
Area (sq. km.): 2,831
Found in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Hawaii, Samoa is a group of nine islands: two
main islands (Savai’i and Upolu) and seven smaller islands. The islands are covered with tropical rain forests in the
center and beaches and lava rock around the edges. Samoa is slightly smaller than Cape Verde or the state of Rhode
Island. The majority of the population lives on Upolu, which is also home to the capital city of Apia. Savai’i is the largest
of the Samoan islands. Samoa lost much of its forests to lumbering, crop farming, cattle ranching, and hurricanes, but
reforestation and preservation efforts have helped restore them somewhat. Mount Silisili, on Savai’i, is the nation’s
highest point, with an elevation of 6,096 feet (1,858 m). The weather in Samoa is pleasant almost all the time. Temperatures are usually between 75°F (24°C) and 85°F
(29°C). Samoa is also called Independent Samoa and is separate from American Samoa (which is a U.S. territory).
Population
Population: 195,476
Most Samoans (nearly 93 percent) are Polynesians, descendants of the first people to
live in the region. About 7 percent of the people have both Polynesian and European
ancestors. Approximately one in four Samoans live in or around Apia, the capital. The
rest of the population lives in villages scattered along Samoa’s coasts.
Language
People in Samoa speak Samoan. It is the oldest Polynesian language still spoken today. English uses 26 letters, but
Samoan only uses 14 letters including five vowels and nine consonants. Three more letters (h, k, and r) have been
added so that Samoans can pronounce foreign words. All consonants are separated by a vowel and all vowels are
pronounced. Spelling is phonetic, with words written exactly the way they sound. Many Samoans in the capital city of
Apia also speak English, but some people living in rural (countryside) villages do not speak English that well. There is a
formal version of Samoan used in traditional ceremonies and in conversation with elders or important guests.
Can You Say It in Samoan?
Hello
Malo
(mah-LOW)
Good-bye
Tofa
(tow-FAH)
Please
Fa’amolemole
(FAH-ah-MOH-leh-MOH-leh)
Thank you
Fa’afetai
(FAH-ah-feh-TAI)
Yes
Ioe
(ee-OY-yee)
No
Leai
(lay-EYE)
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Religion
Almost all Samoans are Christian, and religion plays an important role in daily life. Most businesses are closed on
Sunday. Every village has at least one church and some villages have as many as six or even seven churches. In the
evening, every village outside of the capital city observes Sa. Each village church rings a bell signaling that it is time for
everyone to go to their homes. Then ten minutes later the bell rings again, signaling that prayer time should begin. No
one is allowed on the village roads at that time. Families pray and sing together for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then a bell
rings to signal that Sa is over.
About one-third of Samoans are associated with the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, established in the
early 1830s by missionaries sent by the London Missionary Society. Other major denominations include the Roman
Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Seventh-day Adventist
Church.
Time Line
Before 1000 BC Polynesians migrate to Samoa from the west
AD 1
ca. AD 95
Tongans invade Samoa; many Samoan tribes hide in caves during the
invasion
ca. 1250
Samoans drive out the Tongans
1700
1722
The Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen visits the islands
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1830
The first Christian missionaries arrive in Samoa
1889
A hurricane destroys nearly all of the American and European warships
near Apia
1899
An agreement between Britain, Germany, and the United States gives
Western Samoa to Germany
1900
1908
The Mau Movement is organized to fight German rule
1909
The Germans send away leaders of the Mau Movement to the island of
Saipan
1914
New Zealand takes Western Samoa from the Germans during World
War I
1919
An influenza outbreak kills 8,500 people, one-fifth of the population
1929
Eleven Samoans are killed in a demonstration in Apia
1939-45
United States troops are stationed in Western Samoa during World
War II, but no battles are fought on the islands
1947
A legislature (lawmaking body) is created with local members
1962
Western Samoa becomes an independent nation
1990
Universal suffrage (the right to vote) is extended to all Samoans
1997
Western Samoa changes its name to the Independent State of Samoa
2000
2002
New Zealand apologizes for its mistreatment of Samoans during New
Zealand’s colonial rule
2007
Chief Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II dies after 45 years as the reigning
monarch; he was the world’s third-longest reigning monarch after King
Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II
2009
Samoa switches to driving on the left side of the road like other South
Pacific countries; an earthquake causes a tsunami which hits the
southwest coast of Upolu, devastating four villages and killing over 150
people
2011
Samoa crosses the international dateline (imaginary line running
between the north and south poles that separates one calendar day
from the next), losing a day in order to bring its workweek closer to that
of its neighboring countries
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2012
Samoa
Samoa celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from New
Zealand
PRESENT
Ancient Samoa
The first people arrived on the Samoan islands more than three thousand years ago, having journeyed there from other
parts of the Pacific Ocean. These early Samoans were excellent sailors and built beautiful canoes and longboats. They
also constructed piles of earth, which they shaped like stars and used as platforms for the royal sport of pigeon
catching. These star mounds can be found still in Samoa today. Most of what is known about these early inhabitants
comes from stories and traditions passed down orally (by word of mouth) through families.
European Arrivals
Samoans had little contact with the world beyond the Pacific until Dutch and French
explorers arrived in the early 1700s. Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen was the first
European to visit the islands, in 1722. The early explorers named the island the
Navigator Islands because the islanders were known for their superb navigating skills in
their canoes and longboats. Decades later, Europeans began moving to Apia. Many of
these early settlers were Christian missionaries, and Samoans quickly adopted
Christianity as their new religion. European settlers also established rubber, coconut,
and cocoa plantations.
World Powers Collide
By the end of the 1800s, the nations of Britain, Germany, and the United States had
claimed land in Samoa. Each wanted control of all the islands—and they were ready to
fight to get it. But after a powerful hurricane destroyed their warships near Apia, they
agreed to divide the islands instead. Britain didn’t get any of them but was promised
other Pacific islands. The eastern Samoan islands went to the United States (and today
are called the Territory of American Samoa). The other Samoan islands, including
Upolu and Savai’i, became the German colony of Western Samoa. The monarchy was
officially abolished (done away with).
Samoa for Samoans
When Germany lost World War I, New Zealand took over Western Samoa. The people
of Western Samoa had disliked the Germans, but they didn’t like the New Zealanders
either. The leaders of what was called Mau a Pule, or the Mau Movement, put pressure
on New Zealand to allow Western Samoans to govern themselves. “Samoa for
Samoans” was the movement’s slogan, and as time went by, Samoans slowly were
given more control in the government. Finally, in 1962, Western Samoa became its own
nation. In 1997, it changed its name to the Independent State of Samoa.
Samoa Today
Today Samoa is still primarily an agricultural society. Many young Samoans choose to leave their home and move to
nearby New Zealand or American Samoa in order to find work in different fields. The Samoan government is trying to
encourage its youth to stay home by developing other industries such as tourism, but many still choose to emigrate to
other countries. Western clothing and T-shirts with a lavalava (a one-piece cloth worn from the waist down) or shorts
are now popular with young people, male and female.
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Games and Sports
Samoans love to play their own version of cricket, which they call kilikiti. People of many nations enjoy cricket, a game
similar to baseball that is played on a round field with a bat and ball. But with Samoan kilikiti, the bat has three sides
(instead of the usual two sides), which makes the ball harder to hit. Also, instead of having just the typical 11 players
on a team, Samoans allow more players so that everyone gets a chance to play. Throughout each game the players
dance, sing, and clap to keep spirits up. They celebrate good plays and encourage each other. At the end of the game,
the losing team must perform a dance in front of the winning team. Rugby is another very popular sport in Samoa. Most village boys and young men play rugby several times a week, and
it is becoming popular for girls as well. Most villages have at least one rugby field, and village- and district-wide
competitions are a very popular weekend activity. Most villages have nightly Bingo games at some churches and
community fale. Bingo is used to raise money for new church buildings, uniforms for a church choir, or school supplies.
Women and girls play Bingo often, but most men do not. Many Samoans recycle their Bingo sheets to use as toilet
paper.
Holidays
The second Sunday in October is known as White Sunday. It’s a day to celebrate kids. People dress in their best white
clothing to go to church, and children are allowed to lead the church services and perform skits, dance, and recite Bible
verses. Sometimes the church service lasts four or five hours. Afterward, everybody goes home to have a large feast
with family members. That feast is the only time when kids are allowed to eat before the adults. Parents also give their
children gifts. The Swarm of the Palolo is celebrated each year when the palolos (coral worms) emerge to spawn (usually in late
October and early November). The palolos rise at night to the surface of the lagoons when the moon and tides are just
right. To gather the palolos, considered a delicacy, Samoans take lanterns and paddle their canoes into the lagoons,
capturing the worms in nets. Samoans enjoy them raw or cooked.
Food
Samoans make delicious food with ingredients such as bananas, fish, taro, coconut
cream, chicken, breadfruit, and rice. Most evenings a member of the family (usually a
teenage boy) makes coconut cream by scraping all the coconut meat out of a husk and
squeezing the flesh to get the cream out. A typical evening meal consists of fresh fish
or chicken soup, with boiled taro or breadfruit covered in coconut cream. For breakfast
or lunch, many Samoan villagers have leftovers from dinner the night before: a bowl of
hot koko-alaisa (rice with pounded, roasted cocoa beans) or bread and butter
sandwiches. Samoans living in Apia, the capital, might get a take-out lunch of fish and
chips or chop suey and have hot, fresh-baked doughnuts for breakfast.
The best meal of the week is on Sunday after church. The teenage boys in the family
get up at four in the morning to prepare the umu, an underground oven made with hot
lava rocks covered with banana leaves. They roast a whole suckling pig in the umu.
After church, the family shares a huge to’ona’i (brunch), often including a Samoan
specialty, palusami. Palusami is made of coconut cream and onion wrapped in young
taro leaves and baked inside banana leaves in the umu. Kids like to snack on guava,
mangos (when they are in season), ice blocks (like popsicles in a plastic baggie), or
chips or candy from the small village shops. Doughnuts, soda, and cookies are special
treats.
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Samoa
Schools
Adult Literacy: 99.7%
The Samoan government wants to make sure that every kid goes to school until they
are fifteen, but a lack of money, materials, school buildings, and teachers make this
difficult. Also, many families need help from their children during the day to do chores,
keep a grandparent company, or sell trinkets or housewares at the bus station in the
capital. This means that many village children don’t get to attend school very often. The
village schools are usually poorer than the schools in Apia (the capital), and sometimes
the students are punished very harshly for misbehaving. Many Samoans see the
problem with punishment in schools and want to change this, but change takes a long
time. Many students go to school in the capital city because the schools are often
higher quality. They live with their extended families in Apia during the week, and then
take the bus home to see their parents on the weekends.
Most students are taught in a combination of English and Samoan. Many students don’t
complete all thirteen years of education and drop out between 8th and 12th grades. In
school, students study math, Samoan, science, business, social studies, and English.
All schools have uniforms, and each school’s uniform is a different color or style. At
some schools, girls have to wear the same color hair ribbon or they are sent home for
the day, and boys have very strict rules about the length of their hair. It must be kept
very short.
Life as a Kid
To go to school, kids in Samoa usually have to wear simple uniforms. Girls wear
colored skirts. Boys wear lavalavas. Every school has a different colored uniform. When
not in school, kids do chores like pick up trash around their family’s house, sweep the
yard, help with fishing or in the plantation, help cook dinner, run errands around the
village, or help out at the pastor’s house. Many evenings, children help at the Bingo
games, take care of younger siblings, play with friends, or go to choir or youth group at
the local church. In their spare time, children love to play rugby or play at a nearby
beach or river. Children are responsible to their elders (even older siblings) and always
help serve dinner. After a meal, kids bring bowls of water to their grandparents or
parents to wash their hands off.
Government
Capital: Apia
Head of State: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Head of Government: PM Tuila'epa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi
Samoa was a monarchy until the death of Chief Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II in 2007. The head of state is now
chosen by the 49-member Legislative Assembly (called the Fono) for a five-year term. Samoa’s prime minister, who is
responsible for running the government, works with the Legislative Assembly to make laws and important decisions.
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For many years, the only people who could vote for the legislators (lawmakers) were the family leaders known as matai
, or chiefs. Only 5 percent of matai are women, but more and more families are recognizing the important role that
women play in Samoan culture. Sometimes teenagers are made matai at the age of 16 or 17, but usually people are
made chiefs in their 30s or 40s. Now, all adult Samoans can vote. The voting age is 21. Each village also has a mayor
and a council of matai.
Money and Economy
Currency: Tala
Most Samoans make a living by farming, and they raise much of their own food. Fishing
is important, too. Samoans also send coconut products, cocoa, bananas, and wood to
many parts of the world. In recent years, tourism has brought money to Samoa. Many
travelers visit each year to enjoy Samoa’s beautiful beaches, rain forests, and warm
climate. However, thousands of Samoans live and work in other countries so they can
send money back to members of their families.
Getting Around
Cars are not as common in Samoa as they are in North America. If people have to
travel short distances, they usually walk. For longer journeys, most Samoans ride the
bus. Boats and ferries take people from island to island. The families that have cars or
trucks are usually very generous and offer rides to friends and neighbors. Hitchhiking is
very common and safe, and can be an interesting way to travel back and forth to the
capital. Many trucks carry people in the back. People hold lavalavas over their head to
provide shade from the hot sun. Sometimes the only option is the bus, which can be
very crowded. People pile up on each other’s laps, sometimes four or five to a bench,
and many people ride in the aisles. Usually older people get a seat, but often students
have to crowd in the aisles or sit on each other’s laps. Even pigs get to ride in the back
of the bus, but they are wrapped up in burlap sacks.
Samoan Traditions
Samoans love to sing and dance, and dancing is a very important part of the Samoan
culture. Many Samoan villages host dances for other village youth or hold dances as
fundraisers. Young kids learn how to dance as soon as they can walk and are
encouraged to perform at dances for the entire village. At a Samoan feast, or fiafia,
people play guitars, ukeleles (small guitars), and drums. They perform skits or
traditional dances in which the dancers tell stories with their graceful hand motions.
Fire-knife dancing is also becoming more popular. Kids as young as four or five may
learn how to dance with knives on sticks, sometimes lit on fire. Kids perform elaborate
fire-knife dances at special events or for tourists. Samoan women also get together to
make colorful siapo fabrics and weave mats to sleep on called fala mats. Siapo is made
of the bark of a mulberry tree, and the ink patterns are made of mangrove tree juice
mixed with charcoal. These can take months to complete. They are given to neighbors
at special events such as weddings or funerals.
Some Samoans still get a traditional tattoo. The pe’a is for men, and the malu is the
tattoo that women get. The pe’a covers all of a man, from above the belly button to
below the knees. A man gets the pe’a to show that he is a matai (chief) or is otherwise
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highly respected in his family. The malu is composed of traditional patterns, passed
down from their ancestors. Women get it from their upper thighs to just above the knee.
It is considered sacred, and many men and women only show their tattoos while
dancing a special dance at a wedding or other important event. These tattoos are made
with sharks’ teeth or boars’ tusks and can take as much as a month to finish.
Learn More
Contact the Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa to the United Nations, 800 Second Avenue, Suite
400J, New York, NY 10017; phone (212) 599-6196; web site www.un.int/wcm/content/site/samoa. Samoa Tourism
Authority, phone (310) 545-3470; web site www.samoa.travel.
© 2014 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to
copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any
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