Kinship and Social Structure

Kinship

The Samoans follow the Hawaiian Kinship Terminology.  In Samoa they follow descent groups through the first born, and usually the first born male. They also follow the descent groups through the father’s side. Each descent group has its own place in the village and where the matai regulates and rules.

Social and Political Structure

Samoa society has always been based off of the aiga, or large extended family, with the matai as the leader. The matai can be either male or female but is most commonly male.

The matai is elected through the consensus of the group. However, the matai is usually elected because of a blood relation. Rarely an outsider can be elected if he brings impressive gifts or donations. The matai takes care of responsibilities such as: the aiga’s land, their trade, their economy or distribution and for the village’s belongings. He also acts as a sort of judge when it comes to dealing with confrontations within the clan. People go to him when they need to settle disputes. He is the leader of the aiga’s social obligations, and he is also the clan’s representative on the fono, or village council. However, a pulenu’u or village mayor is appointed to look over the fono. About 85 percent of the population is ruled over directly by the matai. This society is somewhat democratic and has worked for the Samoans for many, many years.

A village is made up of a number of aiga’s; there are 362 villages that are located near the seashore. An orator or talking chief called a tulafale and a high chief called ali’i. During ceremonies the ali’I is considered too grand and sacred to speak so the tulafale does it for him. He can head village debates, give speeches, and are the true sources of authority in the village.

The height of the Samoan’s roof on their houses shows social standing. The height of the roof compared to other houses in the village show how high they are on the social scale and how respected they are among the people of the village. A person’s social standing is extremely important in Samoan culture.