 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
 |
|
In about 1300 AD a group of settlers
from Samoa colonised the Tokelau islands, explaining the similarity between
the two languages.
Dutchman, Jacob Roggeveen, was the first European to sight the islands,
in 1722
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, French explorer, named the islands the
Navigator Islands in 1768, after encountering Samoans in ocean-going canoes.
Western Samoa was the first Polynesian state to gain, indepedance obtaining
it from New Zealand in 1962.
In 1970 it became a member
of the Commonwealth.
In July 1997 Western Samoa formally adopted the name "Samoa". |
 |
|
 |
|
Independent Samoans are very tradition-oriented, very steeped in a complex
set of social hierarchies, courtesies and customs that regulate their
social, religious and political life. Independent Samoan culture is based
on fa'amatai, a system of government that has a chief, or matai, governing
an entire aiga or extended family.Wealth and food are distributed on a
needs basis and honou and social standing is shared or shouldered equally
by all members of the aiga. The matai represents the family on the village
council, metes out justice, and makes sure that all customs are properly
observed. In fact Independent Samoa has more rules of etiquette than a
finishing school for young ladies and a keen sense of propriety and respect.
The matai is also a living archive, responsible for remembering the ancient
folk lore, the family genealogies, and the stories of the old gods, and
passing them onto his successor. |
|
 |
 |
|
Samoa
is a group of islands (formed about 7 million years ago) in the Pacific
Ocean, roughly 15 degrees south of the equator and some 8 degrees east
of the International Dateline, that is about 1700 miles north east of
New Zealand. It is made up of nine islands. The two largest Savai'i and
Upolu, account for most of population with only two others, Manono and
Apolima, being inhabited. The other five are called Fanuatapu, Namu'a,
Nuutele, Nuulua, Nuusafee.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Western
Samoa's climate is tropical. Although it is in the southern hemisphere,
because of it's proximity to the equator there is no major seasonal difference
such as the summer and winter that occurs in more temperate regions. There
is however a rainy and a dry season and a slight difference in temperature
associated with these. Another effect of being in the tropics is that
the days and nights are of almost equal length, so if you want to get
the most out the day you should really be an early riser. |
| |
|
|
|
|
