Fasito’o-tai Village Presents Traditional Apology to Government

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 09 FEBRUARY 2022: The Chiefs and Orators of Fasito’o-tai village today performed the traditional apology – Ifoga seeking forgiveness and to maintain goodwill on behalf of a village matai’s offensive comments made on social media against the Prime Minister and the FAST-led Government.

Led by the traditional hierarchy of chiefs in the Aiga Taulagi, Ma’upū o le Tuia’ana ma le Matua o Usoali’i, the Orators of the Falefitu ma Upu ia Fasito’o ma Oulua na Ta’i, the village members arrived after 9.00am and set themselves in-front of the Government building.

Three senior village matais, Utuvai Oloaga Tua, Letoa Ameto and Serepesia Taufono Ioane sat covered under a huge fine mat – ietoga as a sign of remorse as the rest of the village chiefs and orators sat directly behind.

As soon as word got to the Government about the Ifoga, the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries who is also the FAST Party Chairman, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt walked up to where the village chiefs were seated and removed the fine mat as a sign of acceptance and invited the villagers inside the Government building.

Inside, the mood was sombre and the village chiefs and orators were welcomed by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa and members of Cabinet.

The Fasitoo-tai village matais meeting Cabinet.

The Fasitoo-tai village mayor, Tagoia’ena Maotua spoke on behalf of the village and sought the Prime Minister and government’s forgiveness due to the repulsive and offensive comments made by Manu Fainu’ulelei – one of the village matais.

The comments were made on social media and Tagoia’ena said they do not represent the views of the village leaders but that of “one dead fly” but the village is one hundred per cent in support of the Government.

The village MP, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, is the Minister of the Environment and Tourism and Tagoia’ena reassured the Government of their support and prayed that their village must not be left out of the Government development projects due to this mishap.

Catalyst for excessive social media posts
In response, the FAST Party Chairman, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao acknowledged and accepted the apology on behalf of Cabinet.

The Prime Minister in a gesture of forgiveness after the cultural presentations.

But he pointed out that that social media comments are far too excessive and defamatory and he hopes the initiative by the village against one of their own matais can be a catalyst for such in the future especially Samoans overseas.

“The world is watching where this is going and I thank you for your initiative in an effort to resolve this,” said La’auli.

The damaging posts had peaked during the 5 month political impasse following the April 2020 general elections and La’auli and the Prime Minister themselves had been subject of such vicious posts.

“Such offensive comments had punched holes in our bodies,” said La’auli. “As the saying goes, rocks and stones rot…. but not words.” “Ua pūpū o matou tino ona o upu ma tala, auā e pala le ma’a ae le pala le tala.”

“But we have turned our backs on those things and have turned a new beginning to develop the country and people of Samoa,” he said.

Then the village presented huge fine mats for the Prime Minister, Speaker, FAST Party Chairman and the village Member of Parliament and Cabinet reciprocated with funds for the villages travel back home.

Village penalizes Manu for repulsive comments on social media
Last Saturday, Fasitoo-tai village council met for the first time this year to plan the internal village affairs and the issue of the comments by Manū Fainu’ulelei on facebook was on the agenda.

Tagoia’ena said the words issued by Manu are too repulsive to be re-mentioned.

The village decided to penalize him with 100 aumatua – which was supposed to be paid the same day.

“However, Manu requested for time and the village allowed him two weeks to present his fine to the village,” said Tagoiaena.

“If he fails, then the next step is to banish him from the village,” he explained.

After the village dished out the penalty on Manu, they then decided to present a traditional Ifoga to the Government as they did this morning.

Meanwhile, another Fasitoo-tai matai had been mentioned for just as offensive comments made on an internet based Radio Programme called Maota o Viiga based out of Australia.

The programme regularly featured HRPP MPs and following the Fasitoo-tai village decision against Manu Fainu’ulelei, the programme is reported to have changed its name.

A few village councils have punished the local families of overseas based Samoans who post offensive comments targeting those in the villages in Samoa.

Today’s Ifoga is the first for a village to be made directly to a Samoan Government in office.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ifoga is an age old traditional ceremony of seeking forgiveness and forging peaceful relations between an offender and the offended party. Usually performed at dawn, the offender/s is/are seated covered by an ietoga – finemat infront of the offended party’s home until the offended party accepts and does so by removing the fine mat. Then the peace making speeches and presentations follow. While ifogas even for serious cases are now expected to be accepted, there have been cases in the past where the offenders come prepared with arms in anticipation of rejection and any violence that may follow.  Ifoga has been incorporated into modern law in the Samoa and New Zealand jurisdictions and as a mitigating factor in sentencing offenders.

Fasitoo-tai village mayor, Tagoia’ena Maotua (far right) and some of the village matais after meeting Cabinet and their apology accepted.