the Samoan Way of War | A Brief Description of Warfare in Samoa The Malietoa Talavou perspective.

This is the general battle order for the Samoans back in the day.

The Samoan War party.

I am a descendant of the Maota O Pouesi, or the descendants of Malietoa Talavou, Talavou was the Military commander of the Malietoa Forces from Savaii and Manono who led skirmishes throughout Aana and Atua Villagees from the sea. We had conquered the Aana and the Atua Warriors during the taua o le Fa'atasiga from 1830 and the intermittent battles in consolidating the Sa Malietoa tutelage rule over the entire Samoan Islands. Malietoa would consolidate the Tafaifa Title after conquering Atua and Aana and later still would launch raids onto Manu'a and Tutuila in the usurpation of the Tui Manu'a Chieftains. Overall, the Maota O Pouesi would in turn resort to a family feud after the brother of Vainuupo ascended the Tafaifa upon the passing of Malietoa Vainuupo. When Malietoa Gatuitasina (brother of Vainuupo) passed away, Moli or the Maota O Poutoa ascended and became the Malietoa whereas the Warriors who had fought for Malietoa Vainuupo supported Malietoa Talavou, since he was the Commander of the Malietoa War Parties during the military campaigns throughout Upolu. The ensuing conflict between Malietoa Talavou and Malietoa Moli's son would split the Malietoa amongst the Maota O Pouesi and Maota O Poutoa which remains today. Currently, the descedants of Malietoa Moli from the Maota o Poutoa remain the Malietoa. The descendants of Malietoa Talavou have effectively been discontinued and we are scattered throughout the world today. We are from the Sa Tuiletufuga family from Apia, the direct descendants of the Malletoa Talavou's second marriage whose son married a Taupou from Apia Village, the first Afioga Papalii Tuiletufuga from Apia Village. As I would describe Malietoa Talavou, as the General and commander in Chief of Malietoa Vainuupo's Forces during the 19th century and the nemesis for Tui Aana and Tui Atua.

I am a direct descendant of Malietoa Talavou.

Malietoa Talavou is my fifth Great grandfather on my mother's father side, from Apia Village. Malietoa Talavou, mai o le Maota O Pouesi, would best be described as the General and the Commander in Chief of his Father, Malietoa Vainuupo's, armed forces, from Savaii Island, Manono, Apolima, and Tuamasaga, from Upolu Island, during the war against the Tui Atua and the Atua District, and the Tui Aana, and the Aana District, from 1830 till the end of the Eighteenth Century.

The battle order would be described more as intermittent skirmishes rather than all out battle formations on an open battlefront. Overall, the skirmishes were mostly fought in hand to hand combat in close quarter battle using nifo oti and various clubs and spears. No projectiles were known to have been used during these battles apart from throwing of stones or perhaps sling shots were used and the throwing of sharpened spears at an adversary. Overall, the nifo oti was the weapon of choice.

Overall, the Malietoa Warriors subsequently had conquered and overwhelmed the Atua and Aana Warriors in an war of vengeance and utter devastation meted out on the vanguished enemy. The spoils of war would lead to the consolidation of the Tafaifa titles to Malietoa Vainuupo and onto his descendants. Unfortunately, the rites of ascension would be contested as history would reveal with the family feud resulting in devastating civil war between siblings and their respective descendants.

Today, the descendants of Malietoa Moli, or the Maota O Poutoa, have ascended the Malietoa Title whereas the descendants of Malietoa Talavou, or le Maota O Pouesi, remain the last true Tafaifa of Samoa, since the Samoa Islands would be divided between American Samoa and Samoa in 1889 with the Berlin Tripartite Treaty. The Tafaifa can never be invoked nor a Kingdom of Samoa ever be considered possible whilst Samoa is divided between American Samoa and Samoa today. Therefore, the last true Tafaifa or a semblence of a King of Samoa, was my ancestor, Malietoa Talavou.

The Gafa of Tim Brian Tufuga, aka Tim Brian Tauvae

My Great Grandfather Le Afioga Tuiletufuga Liuomavaega, the Great Grandson of Malietoa Talavou. (Born 1898 died 1939)

My mother's father, my Grandpa, Tauvae Tuiletufuga, the son of Le Afioga Tuiletufuga Liuomavaega. (Born in Apia 1922 died 2006)

Mum, Mema Tauvae Tuiletufuga, the Daughter of Tauvae Tuiletufuga. Aka Mema Tufuga, Born in Asau, Savaii, 1945 died Logan City, 2002.

Tim Brian Tufuga Tim Brian Tufuga

Tim Brian Tauvae Tuiletufuga aka Tim Tufuga.