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Malietoa Tanumafili II

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His Highness Susuga
Malietoa Tanumafili II
GCMG CBE
Tanumafili in 1962
O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa
In office
1 January 1962 – 11 May 2007
Serving with Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole until 5 April 1963
Prime Minister
See list
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byTui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Malietoa
Tenure
7 January 1940 – 11 May 2007
Preceded byMalietoa Tanumafili I
Succeeded byMalietoa Faamausili Molī
Personal details
Born(1913-01-04)4 January 1913
German Samoa
Died11 May 2007(2007-05-11) (aged 94)
Apia, Samoa
Resting placeMulinu'u
Spouse(s)Le Afioga i le Masiofo, Lili Tunu
Children11 (including Papalii Laupepa)
Parent(s)Malietoa Tanumafili I
Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea

Malietoa Tanumafili II GCMG CBE (4 January 1913 – 11 May 2007) was a Samoan paramount chief who was O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa from its independence in 1962 to his death in 2007. Appointed to the title of Malietoa in 1940, on Samoa's independence he became head of state for life with Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole, who died on 15 April 1963, after which he remained the office's sole occupant until his own death.[1][2] He was also the first head of state to be a follower of the Bahá’í Faith.[3]

Early life

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Tanumafili was born on 4 January 1913 as the son and third child of his parents, Malietoa Tanumafili I and Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea.[4] He inherited the royal title of Malietoa in 1940, following the 1939 death of his father, Malietoa Tanumafili I,[5] though some media reports claim that he received the title of Malietoa in 1939. The Malietoa is one of the four tama-a-ʻaiga (maximal lineage) titles, alongside the Tupua Tamasese, Mataʻafa and Tuimalealiʻifano.[6]

He was educated at the government run Leififi School in Samoa. He went on to enroll at St. Stephen's School and Wesley College in Pukekohe, both of which are in New Zealand.[7]

Public career

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Soon after becoming Malietoa, he was appointed to serve as a special adviser (Fautua) to the New Zealand administration over Samoa, until independence in 1962.[5][8]

Chiefdom of state

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Upon Samoa's independence in 1962, Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole became O Ao o le Malo (heads of state), jointly appointed for a lifetime term. Tanumafili and Meaʻole would serve jointly for just sixteen months. When Meaʻole died in 1963, Tanumafili became the sole head of state. He is often credited for providing much of the stability that Samoa has enjoyed post independence.[1]

He became a follower of the Baháʼí Faith in 1973. He was the first serving head of state to be a member of the religion.[9][10] In 1976, he visited the graveside of Shoghi Effendi, first and last Guardian of the Baháʼí Administrative Order, in London.[11] In January 1979 he laid the foundational cornerstone of the Baháʼí House of Worship in Tiapapata, eight kilometres from the country's capital of Apia.[12][13] The temple was subsequently dedicated by him at completion in September 1984.[14]

Malietoa travelled extensively during his tenure as O le Ao o le Malo. He travelled to the People's Republic of China for an official state visit in September 1976.[15] He also visited Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Tonga and West Germany. He was among the foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral of Japanese Emperor Shōwa in 1989.[7]

In August 2004, he bestowed the chiefly title of Seiuli upon professional wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson, during a meeting with him and his Samoan mother Ata Maivia.[16][17]

Death

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Malietoa Tanumafili II died at the age of 94 at 18:45 on 11 May 2007 (local time), at the Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole National Hospital at Motoʻotua in Apia, where he was being treated as a patient for pneumonia.[18] He was the oldest incumbent state leader at the time of his death.[19] His funeral took place on 18 May in Apia.[20]

Following an extended period of deliberation, the Malietoa title passed to his eldest son, Malietoa Faʻamausili Molī, having formally being decided by a court ruling in 2017.[21]

Honours

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Elizabeth II visited Samoa for a single day in 1977 as part of her visit to the South Pacific on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. While in Samoa, she presented Malietoa with the Collar Badge and Star of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.[22]

Also bestowed on Malietoa was the title of Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire during his life.

Personal life

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Malietoa was an active athlete during his younger years. His favourite sports included boxing, rugby and cricket.[7] Malietoa's interest in sports continued throughout his life and he was an avid golfer well into his 90s. He could often be seen driving his golf cart around Samoa.[1]

His wife, Lili Tunu, whom he married in 1940, died in 1986.[23][24] Tanumafili had eleven children during his life; one child died in infancy, while two of his sons, Papalii Laupepa and Papaliitele Eti, died in 1985 and 2005 respectively. His eight other children are his sons Suʻa Vainuupo, Afioga Malietoa Papaliʻitele Faamausili Molī (the current holder of the Malietoa title), Papaliʻitele Titiuatoa, Papaliʻitele Ioane, Papaliʻitele Douglas and his daughters Seiuli Tutai, Lola Tosi (mother-in-law of Tongan prince Lord Ma'atu) and Momoe. At the time of his death, he had four surviving children – two sons and two daughters.[25][26][27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Malietoa Tanumafili II (Obituary)". The Economist. The Economist print edition. 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  2. ^ Western Samoa Products and English, Samoan Languages Archived 23 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Funeral and memorial service planned for Samoan head of state | BWNS". Bahá’í World News Service. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Genealogy". Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Photos: Samoans farewell their king and 'father'". The New Zealand Herald. 20 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  6. ^ Western Samoa. Land and Titles Court. (1949–1990). Documents relating to Tamaʻaiga titles disputes, Tuimalealiʻifano title. OCLC 39644002.
  7. ^ a b c "Samoa's King Malietoa Tanumafili II, 94". The Honolulu Advertiser. Associated Press. 13 May 2007. Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
  8. ^ Otto, Michael (22 May 2007). "Samoa's solemn farewell". Manukau Courier. Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  9. ^ Tanumafili II, Malietoa (30 March 1973). "Office of the Head of State". The Baháʼí World. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  10. ^ Universal House of Justice (7 May 1973). "To the Bahá'ís of the World". Bahá’í Reference Library. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  11. ^ "THE FIRST VISIT BY A Bahá'í REIGNING MONARCH TO THE RESTING PLACE OF SHOGHI EFFENDI". The Baháʼí World. 17: 69. 1976.
  12. ^ "His Highness lays stone". Samoa Observer. 1 February 1979. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  13. ^ "The Institution of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár". The Baháʼí World. 30 March 1973. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  14. ^ Tanumafili II, Malietoa (1 September 1984). "Text of the address of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II". The Baháʼí World. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  15. ^ Martin, Peter (20 May 2021). China's Civilian Army: The Inside Story of China's Quest for Global Power. New York: Oxford Academic. p. 127. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197513705.003.0008.
  16. ^ "Samoa gives chiefly title to actor Dwayne Johnson". RNZ. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Now it's Seiuli The Rock". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  18. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (12 May 2007). "Samoan Head of State Passes Away". Pacific Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  19. ^ "Samoa's king, one of world's longest reigning monarchs, dies". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  20. ^ "Thousands farewell Samoan leader". ABC News. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Court rules in favour of Fa'amausili Moli as the next Malietoa". Samoa Observer. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Samoa King Dies". Herald Sun. Associated Press. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  23. ^ "King Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa dead at 94". The Honolulu Advertiser. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Samoans farewell their king and "father"". Reuters. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Government of Samoa - Official Website". Archived from the original on 20 May 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2007. Profile
  26. ^ "Samoan king dies at the age of 94". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  27. ^ Tautua-Fanene, Deidre (17 August 2018). "Malietoa title bestowed at Malie". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
[edit]
Political offices
Office established O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa
1962–2007
Served alongside: Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole (until 1963) 		Succeeded by
Regnal titles
Preceded by Malietoa
1939–2007 		Succeeded by
Malietoa Molī
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