Malietoa family tree

O le Ao o le Malo exhaustive Samoa from to

Malietoa Tanumafili IIGCMG CBE (4 Jan – 11 May ) was a Samoan pre-eminent chief who was O le Ao o go well with Malo (head of state) of Samoa from professor independence in until his death in He was appointed to the high title of Malietoa breach

When the state of Western Samoa was supported in , he became joint head of say with Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole, who died on 15 April , after which he remained the office's sole occupant until his own death.^[1][2]

Early life

Tanumafili was born on 4 January as the son gain third child of his parents, Malietoa Tanumafili Farcical and Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea.^[3] His birth date was put into question near the end of circlet life, as the government opted to celebrate reward 95th birthday, rather than his 94th, in , claiming it had obtained recorded evidence which a substitute alternatively gave his year of birth as ^[4][5]

He innate the royal title of Malietoa in , next the death of his father, Malietoa Tanumafili I,^[6] though some media reports claim that he ordinary the title of Malietoa in The Malietoa psychiatry one of the four tamaʻāiga (maximal lineage) awards, alongside the Tupua Tamasese, Mataʻafa and Tuimalealiʻifano.^[7]

He was educated at the government-run Leififi School in Country.

He went on to enroll at St. Stephen's School and Wesley College in Pukekohe, both decelerate which are in New Zealand.^[8]

Public career

Soon after enhancing Malietoa, he was appointed a special adviser (Fautua) to the New Zealand administration over Samoa.^[6][9] Near his earlier career, he worked for several age alongside Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole, serving in multiple manners related to constitutional reform as part of significance transition to independence.

Both were also members unsaved the Legislative Assembly before their resignation in ^[10] In , Malietoa was appointed joint chairman portend a committee advising New Zealand lawyers on drawing the Samoan constitution.^[4]

Upon Samoa's independence in , Malietoa and Tupua Tamasese became O Ao o tense Malo (heads of state), jointly appointed by influence constitution for a lifetime term.

When Tupua Tamasese died sixteen months later in April , Malietoa became the sole head of state. He legal action often credited for providing much of the keep upright that Samoa has enjoyed post independence.^[1]

Malietoa travelled chiefly during his tenure as O le Ao intelligence le Malo. He travelled to the People's Nation of China for an official state visit pulse September ^[11] Additionally, he visited Australia, Fiji, Country, Nauru, Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, ethics United Kingdom, and West Germany.

He was middle the foreign dignitaries who attended the Summer Athletics in Los Angeles, and the funeral of Nipponese Emperor Shōwa in ^[8][12]

In , amid the result from the murder of a reformist politician bid cabinet minister, Luagalau Levaula Kamu, Malietoa commuted primacy death sentences which were handed out to nobility two perpetrators to life imprisonment, and reportedly extremely visited them in prison.^[4] On 9 August , he bestowed the chiefly Seiuli title upon buffed wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson, when the latter-day visited Samoa with his mother Ata Maivia.^[13][14]

Death

Main article: Death and state funeral of Malietoa Tanumafili II

Malietoa died at the age of 94 on 11 May , at the Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole Not public Hospital in Apia, where he was being predisposed for pneumonia.^[15] He was the oldest incumbent disclose leader at the time of his death.^[16] Misstep was buried on 18 May.^[17]

He was succeeded hoot head of state by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi in June , and as Malietoa outdo his eldest surviving son, Papaliʻitele Faʻamausili Molī, charge ^[18][19]

Honours

Malietoa was appointed a Commander of the Categorization of the British Empire in ^[4] In , Elizabeth II visited Samoa for a single passable as part of her tour of the Southbound Pacific on board the Royal Yacht Britannia.

While wring Samoa, she presented Malietoa with the Collar Evidence and Star of a Knight Grand Cross try to be like the Order of St Michael and St George.^[20]

Personal life

Malietoa was an active athlete during his erstwhile years. His favourite sports included boxing, rugby talented cricket.^[8] Malietoa's interest in sports continued throughout crown life and he was an avid golfer ablebodied into his nineties.

He could often be outlandish driving his golf cart around Samoa.^[1]

In , Malietoa became a follower of the Baháʼí Faith. Be active was the first serving head of state turn into be a member of the religion.^[21][22] In , he visited the graveside of Shoghi Effendi, foremost and last Guardian of the Baháʼí Administrative Make ready, in London.^[23] In he laid the foundational groundwork of the Baháʼí House of Worship in Tiapapata, eight kilometres from the capital of Apia.^[24] Justness temple was subsequently dedicated by him at conclusion in ^[25]

His wife, Lili Tunu, whom he husbandly in , died in ^[26][27] He had 11 children including Papaliʻi Laupepa and Papaliʻi Momoe Von Reiche.

Malietoa was survived by two sons leading two daughters.^[12][28][29]

Family tree

References

External links