Samoa: A country of friendly people
Oct 08, 2007
SAMOA is located between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. It governs the western half of the Samoa Islands archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is of volcanic origin and consists of two large islands of Upolu and Savai’i, and eight small islets.
SAMOA is located between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. It governs the western half of the Samoa Islands archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is of volcanic origin and consists of two large islands of Upolu and Savai’i, and eight small islets.
The people
Until the 20th century, Samoa Island was initially known as Navigators Islands because of the Samoans’ seafaring skills. A typical Samoan is open, friendly, hospitable and good-humoured.
Samoa suffers a population imbalance, with males outnumbering the females.
Samoans are the most populous full-blooded Polynesian race in the world.
A total of 98% of Samoans are Christians belonging to the Roman Catholic, Assembly of God, Methodist, Congregationalist, Latter-Day Saints and Seventh-Day Adventists church. Other Samoans belong to Bahai, Worship Centre and other unspecified religions. One of the seven Bahai houses of worship in the world is located in Tiapapata. It was completed in 1984.
Despite centuries of European influence, Samoans have maintained their traditional way of life. They are extremely proud of their culture and traditions. They lead a communal way of life, based on the hierarchical order. Although most are Christians, they pracitse their ancient beliefs side by side with Christianity. Tattooing is popular in Samoa and is done according to one’s gender.
Sports
Samoa has competed at every Rugby World Cup since 1991. Samoa won the Wellington and the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens in 2007 and the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who is also the chairman of the national rugby union, declared a national holiday.
Agriculture
90% of Samoa’s exports are agricultural products. They grow coconut, nonu fruit, rubber, copra, coffee, sugarcane, pineapples and bananas.
A brief history
The first people to arrive on the Samoan Islands came from the Lau Islands in Fiji and Tonga. From approximately 3,500 years ago, each century saw more people arrive in Samoa, either as exilees or travellers from war-torn Tonga. Samoa was their home for several centuries, until they moved out and settled around the Eastern Polynesian areas.
English missionaries and traders arrived on the island after 1830. By then, the Samoans were well-known for their savage and warlike character especially by the French, German and American forces, who used Samoa as a refuelling station for coal-fired shipping.
With time, America, Britain and Germany gained more interest in Samoa and even started sending troops to lay claim to the island.
As the conflict got worse, each country started supplying arms, sending warships and combat troops to Samoa. This eventually led to an eight-year civil war that threatened to boil into a big war until a storm ended the military conflict by damaging and destroying the warships.
The treaty of Berlin split the Samoan Islands into Eastern and Western Samoa. Eastern Samoa as a territory of the US (called American Samoa today) and Western Samoa as a German territory (called German Samoa). The British abandoned their claim on the islands.
When World War 1 ended, New Zealand took over the control of Samoa. An influenza epidemic hit Samoa between 1918 and 1919 and killed one fifth of Samoans, partly because the New Zealand authorities failed to enforce quarantine.
Samoa gained independence in 1962. Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufua Efi has been the head of state since June 17 2007.
Compiled by
Elizabeth Namazzi
The people
Until the 20th century, Samoa Island was initially known as Navigators Islands because of the Samoans’ seafaring skills. A typical Samoan is open, friendly, hospitable and good-humoured.
Samoa suffers a population imbalance, with males outnumbering the females.
Samoans are the most populous full-blooded Polynesian race in the world.
A total of 98% of Samoans are Christians belonging to the Roman Catholic, Assembly of God, Methodist, Congregationalist, Latter-Day Saints and Seventh-Day Adventists church. Other Samoans belong to Bahai, Worship Centre and other unspecified religions. One of the seven Bahai houses of worship in the world is located in Tiapapata. It was completed in 1984.
Despite centuries of European influence, Samoans have maintained their traditional way of life. They are extremely proud of their culture and traditions. They lead a communal way of life, based on the hierarchical order. Although most are Christians, they pracitse their ancient beliefs side by side with Christianity. Tattooing is popular in Samoa and is done according to one’s gender.
Sports
Samoa has competed at every Rugby World Cup since 1991. Samoa won the Wellington and the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens in 2007 and the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who is also the chairman of the national rugby union, declared a national holiday.
Agriculture
90% of Samoa’s exports are agricultural products. They grow coconut, nonu fruit, rubber, copra, coffee, sugarcane, pineapples and bananas.
A brief history
The first people to arrive on the Samoan Islands came from the Lau Islands in Fiji and Tonga. From approximately 3,500 years ago, each century saw more people arrive in Samoa, either as exilees or travellers from war-torn Tonga. Samoa was their home for several centuries, until they moved out and settled around the Eastern Polynesian areas.
English missionaries and traders arrived on the island after 1830. By then, the Samoans were well-known for their savage and warlike character especially by the French, German and American forces, who used Samoa as a refuelling station for coal-fired shipping.
With time, America, Britain and Germany gained more interest in Samoa and even started sending troops to lay claim to the island.
As the conflict got worse, each country started supplying arms, sending warships and combat troops to Samoa. This eventually led to an eight-year civil war that threatened to boil into a big war until a storm ended the military conflict by damaging and destroying the warships.
The treaty of Berlin split the Samoan Islands into Eastern and Western Samoa. Eastern Samoa as a territory of the US (called American Samoa today) and Western Samoa as a German territory (called German Samoa). The British abandoned their claim on the islands.
When World War 1 ended, New Zealand took over the control of Samoa. An influenza epidemic hit Samoa between 1918 and 1919 and killed one fifth of Samoans, partly because the New Zealand authorities failed to enforce quarantine.
Samoa gained independence in 1962. Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufua Efi has been the head of state since June 17 2007.
Compiled by
Elizabeth Namazzi