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17001762182418861948
Michael CarricoMichael Carrico
Updated:Apr 23, 2026
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The Samoan matai system and its transformations under colonial rule (c. 1700–1950)

The Samoan matai system and its transformations under colonial rule (c. 1700–1950)

  1. Matai authority anchors village and district governance

    Labels: Matai, Village fono

  2. General Act of Berlin establishes tripartite Samoa oversight

    Labels: General Act, Great powers

  3. Tripartite Convention partitions the Samoan archipelago

    Labels: Tripartite Convention, Partition

  4. German flag raised at Apia; German Samoa begins

    Labels: German Samoa, Wilhelm Solf

  6. German administration abolishes the Taʻimua and Faipule legislature

    Labels: Ta imua, Faipule

  7. New Zealand forces occupy German Samoa in World War I

    Labels: New Zealand, Occupation

  8. Influenza introduced via SS Talune; mass mortality follows

    Labels: SS Talune, Influenza epidemic

  9. Civil administration begins under Samoa Constitution Order

    Labels: Samoa Constitution, Civil administration

  10. League of Nations confers Class C mandate to New Zealand

    Labels: League of, Class C

  11. Samoan Offenders Ordinance empowers banishment and title intervention

    Labels: Samoan Offenders, Banishment

  12. Samoa Act comes into force, consolidating administrative power

    Labels: Samoa Act, Administrator

  13. Fono of Faipule legally recognized as advisory body

    Labels: Fono of, Advisory body

  14. Black Saturday killings intensify Mau resistance politics

    Labels: Black Saturday, Tupua Tamasese

  15. Labour government goodwill mission promises elected Faipule representation

    Labels: Labour mission, Faipule promise

  16. First Fono elections bring strong Mau representation

    Labels: Fono elections, Mau

  17. Faipule Election Ordinance formalizes matai-restricted franchise

    Labels: Faipule Election, Matai franchise

  18. UN approves Western Samoa trusteeship agreement

    Labels: Trusteeship Agreement, United Nations

  19. Legislative Assembly replaces Legislative Council under reforms

    Labels: Legislative Assembly, Samoa Amendment