matai system
E818141
Samoan social institution
indigenous governance system
kinship-based leadership structure
traditional chiefly title system
The matai system is the traditional Samoan chiefly title and village leadership structure that organizes family, land, and political authority in Samoan society.
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Samoan social institution
ⓘ
indigenous governance system ⓘ kinship-based leadership structure ⓘ traditional chiefly title system ⓘ |
| alsoPracticedIn | American Samoa (with variations) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| basedOn | extended family (ʻaiga) ⓘ |
| coreConcept |
collective decision-making
ⓘ
consensus ⓘ respect (faʻaaloalo) ⓘ service to family (tautua) ⓘ |
| country | Samoa NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| culturalContext | faʻa Samoa (the Samoan way) ⓘ |
| culturalSignificance |
central to Samoan identity
ⓘ
framework for social order in Samoa ⓘ |
| genderAspect | both men and women can hold matai titles ⓘ |
| governs |
allocation of customary land
ⓘ
ritual and ceremonial roles ⓘ use of family resources ⓘ village dispute resolution ⓘ |
| hasPart |
aliʻi titles
ⓘ
matai titles ⓘ tulāfale titles ⓘ |
| historicalContinuity | pre-colonial Samoan society ⓘ |
| influences |
Samoan land law
ⓘ
Samoan legal system ⓘ Samoan social hierarchy ⓘ village council (fono a aliʻi ma faipule) ⓘ |
| language | Samoan ⓘ |
| leaderRole | matai ⓘ |
| legalStatus | formally recognized in Samoan law ⓘ |
| linkedTo | parliamentary representation in Samoa ⓘ |
| organizes |
family authority
ⓘ
land tenure ⓘ representation in national politics ⓘ village politics ⓘ |
| recognizedIn | Samoan constitution NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| region | Independent State of Samoa NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| selectionBasis |
family consensus
ⓘ
genealogical ties ⓘ service record to family ⓘ |
| selectionProcess | family meeting (fono a le ʻaiga) ⓘ |
| titleHolderResponsibilities |
manage family lands
ⓘ
organize family contributions to ceremonies ⓘ protect family welfare ⓘ represent family in village council ⓘ |
| usedBy | Samoan families ⓘ |
| usedIn | Samoan villages ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.