Land Area 2,830 sq. Samoa was discovered and settled by their Lapita ancestors (Austronesian people speaking Oceanic languages), with New Zealand scientists dating remains in Samoa to about 2900–3500 years ago.These were found at a Lapita site at Mulifanua and the findings were published in 1974.. The capital city is Apia. )", "Wartime administration – capture of German Samoa", "History and migration: Who are the Samoans?
Samoa, the first small-island country in the Pacific to become independent, joined the Commonwealth of Nations on 28 August 1970.
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Immerse yourself in ancient customs and colourful traditions. The main island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population, and to the capital city, Apia. The German colonial administration governed on the principle that "there was only one government in the islands.
Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole died in 1963, leaving Malietoa Tanumafili II sole head of state until his death on 11 May 2007.
The paramount pāpā title of A'ana is the Tui A'ana. There are more than 25,000 matais in the country, about 5% of whom are women.
"Western Samoa Time" are a time zone abbreviation used all year round (including in DST).
Pineapples grow well in Samoa, but beyond local consumption have not been a major export.
American Samoa, a neighboring group of islands, shares the same culture, and much of the same history.
The United Kingdom had vacated all claims in Samoa and in return received (1) termination of German rights in Tonga, (2) all of the Solomon Islands south of Bougainville, and (3) territorial alignments in West Africa. Population 176,908 (2006 estimate) 3. [42][43], Travel writer Paul Theroux noted marked differences between the societies in Western Samoa and American Samoa in 1992. [72] 4 smaller parts also on Upolu (Salamumu, incl. Forty-seven are matai title-holders elected from territorial districts by Samoans; the other two are chosen by non-Samoans with no chiefly affiliation on separate electoral rolls. [33] Samoa suffered the most of all Pacific islands, with 90% of the population infected; 30% of adult men, 22% of adult women and 10% of children died. Ātua has its capital at Lufilufi. Two other paramount chiefs at the time of independence were appointed joint heads of state for life. [55], A measles outbreak began in October 2019 and is currently ongoing.
Schnee, Dr. Heinrich (former Deputy Governor of, This page was last edited on 23 November 2020, at 09:12. Find all the transport options for your trip from Samoa to New Zealand right here. The Samoan government provides eight years of primary and secondary education that is tuition-free and is compulsory through age 16.[82]. Notable figures in Samoan history included the Tui Manu'a line, Queen Salamasina, King Fonoti and the four tama-a-aiga: Malietoa, Tupua Tamasese, Mata'afa and Tuimalealiifano. [74], Samoa reported a population of 194,320 in its 2016 census. By 1918, Western Samoa had a population of some 38,000 Samoans and 1,500 Europeans.
Coffee grows well, but production has been uneven. The country is also home to several branches of the multi-national University of the South Pacific and the Oceania University of Medicine.
The main sports played in Samoa are rugby union, Samoan cricket and netball. [93] At the 2003 world cup, Manu Samoa came close to beating eventual world champions, England.
[49] This made Samoa the first country in the 21st century to switch to driving on the left. km (1,093 sq miles) 10. Her first feature film Apron Strings opened the 2008 NZ International Film Festival. Samoan New Zealanders are Samoan immigrants in New Zealand, their descendants, and New Zealanders of Samoan ethnic descent. They also took home the cup at Wellington and the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens in 2007—for which the Prime Minister of Samoa, also Chairman of the national rugby union, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, declared a national holiday. Discover delicious new flavours, freshly prepared. A 2002 article from ESPN estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan or a Samoan living in the mainland United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American. Those hot temperatures are moderated by the Pacific Ocean trade winds. Highest Point Mt. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 180–199. [citation needed].
Tourist arrivals have been increasing over the years with more than 100,000 tourists visiting the islands in 2005, up from 70,000 in 1996. [90], The arts organisation Tautai is a collective of visual artists including Fatu Feu'u, Johnny Penisula, Shigeyuki Kihara, Michel Tuffery, and Lily Laita.[92]. [50], At the end of December 2011, Samoa changed its time zone offset from UTC−11 to UTC+13, effectively jumping forward by one day, omitting 30 December from the local calendar. [15], Visits by American trading and whaling vessels were important in the early economic development of Samoa.
[71], The country's currency is the Samoan tālā, issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Samoa. Cultural customs such as the Samoa 'ava ceremony are significant and solemn rituals at important occasions including the bestowal of matai chiefly titles. Hip hop has had a significant impact on Samoan culture.
For males, it is called the Pe'a and consists of intricate and geometrical patterns tattooed that cover areas from the knees up towards the ribs. The sovereign state is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations as a Commonwealth republic.
Samoan forces loyal to Prince Tanu were besieged by a larger force of Samoan rebels loyal to Mata'afa Iosefo. The Electric Power Corporation has a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2021. Sixty percent of Samoa's electricity comes from renewable hydro, solar, and wind sources, with the remainder from diesel generators. The Salem brig Roscoe (Captain Benjamin Vanderford), in October 1821, was the first American trading vessel known to have called, and the Maro (Captain Richard Macy) of Nantucket, in 1824, was the first recorded United States whaler at Samoa. )", "Measles death toll rises to 68 in Samoa", "Latest update: 4,357 measles cases have been reported since the outbreak with 140 recorded in the last 24 hours. The 2011 film The Orator was the first ever fully Samoan film, shot in Samoa in the Samoan language with a Samoan cast telling a uniquely Samoan story.
Rugby union is the national sport in Samoa and the national team, nicknamed the Manu Samoa, is consistently competitive against teams from vastly more populous nations.