Samoans: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Indigenous Polynesian people of the Samoan IslandsSamoa}}

| group = Samoans<br>{{nobold|''tagata Sāmoa''}}

| population = {{circa}} 650700,000-700800,000

| regions = [[Oceania]]

| pop1 = [[Samoan Americans|204243,600682]]

| pop2 = c. 202205,506557

| pop4 = [[Samoan Australians|75 98,755029]]

| ref4 = <ref name="ABS Country of Birth">{{cite web| |url = http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=0&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=0&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=POLTD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Country%20of%20Birth%20of%20Person%20(full%20classification%20list)%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=Birthplace& |title = 20680-Country of Birth of Person (full classification list) by Sex -– Australia |format = Microsoft Excel download |publisher = [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] | work = 2006 Census| |access-date = 2008-06-02 |archive-date = December 25, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225044257/http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/cowsredirect |url-status = dead }} Total count of persons: 19,855,288.</ref>

| pop5 = c. 5047,000910

'''Samoans''' or '''Samoan people''' ({{lang-langx|sm|tagata Sāmoa}}) are the [[Indigenous peoples of Oceania|indigenousIndigenous]] [[Polynesians|Polynesian people]] of the [[Samoan Islands]], an archipelago in [[Polynesia]], who speak the [[Samoan language]]. The group's home islands are politically and geographically divided between the [[Samoa|Independent State of Samoa]] and [[American Samoa]], an [[unincorporated territory]] of the [[United States|United States of America]]. Though divided by national border, the culture and language are the same.

The Samoan people and culture form a vital link and stepping stone in the formation and spread of Polynesian culture, language and religion throughout Eastern Polynesia.<ref name="Best 1918 169–182">{{Cite journal|last=Best|first=Elsdon|date=1918|title=Polynesian Navigators: Their Exploration and Settlement of the Pacific|journal=Geographical Review|volume=5|issue=3|pages=169–182|doi=10.2307/207638|jstor=207638|bibcode=1918GeoRv...5..169B |issn=0016-7428}}</ref>

TheA rolematai ofis expected to take his or her place amongst a ''network of other matai'' isthat govern a veryvillage largeor anda important onefamily. HeDepending on the type of matai title he or she isholds, expectedand how that title ranks amongst other titles, each matai should lend their voice to providedeliberations leadershipand indecisions allmade aspectsby ofthe village or family lifecouncil. They encourage warm family relations, offer advice, direct religious participation, and oversee disputes. As well as watching over the family land and representing the family in village affairs. Overall, a ''matai'' must have different demeanor than everyone else, especially other males in the family. ''Matais'' are also in charge of economic situations. For example, a ''matai'' must manage the amount of food his family brings in and must store some away for when times are hard. The ''matai’s'' job as a leader is one that is very important in Samoan culture and helps the overall structure stay in place.<ref name="culture sketches"/>{{rp|219}}

Once this task is completed the newly elected ''matai'' is officially considered the ''matai'' of his household and will hold the position for the rest of his life, should he leadled correctly. In certain cases where a ''matai'' is deemed cruel or ineffective, the title is stripped and a new ''matai'' is elected. However, a more often occurrence is the current ''matai'' becoming elderly or ill and requesting that a new ''matai'' be elected in order for there to be a more stable and effective leadership in place.<ref name="culture sketches"/>{{rp|219}}

Although the Samoan natives (Tagata Māo‘i) have long claimed to be the indigenous people of their islands — holding firm to the belief that Samoans were birthed from a tear in the heavens (Lagi, Lani) [[special creation]] in Samoa — it has been theorized by many linguists and anthropologists, based on linguistic commonalities as well as archaeological findings, that migrants from [[Maritime Southeast Asia]] via [[Island Melanesia]] arrived in the Samoan Islands approximately 3500 years ago, settling in what has come to be known as [[Polynesia]] further to the east.

* [[Uvea (Wallis and Futuna)|Uvea]] (France)

Marriage ceremonies are important Samoan cultural events. Marriage involves the transfer of property of the femalewoman, the toga, and the maleman's property, the oloa. It is a village event, with two ceremonies and a feast at the conclusion. In the first ceremony, the bride and groom march through the village to a district judge. The judge then conducts a civil ceremony. Concluding that official ceremony, the newlyweds next gather in a church where a religious ceremony is performed by a member of the church. At a feast, families provide food from all over the village. After the conclusion of the wedding, the newlyweds choose which side of the family they would like to live with. After moving in with a particular family, they are expected to do work around the land and the house to help provide for their family.

[[File:Samoan Tattoo - front detail.jpg|thumb|Samoan Pe'a -– front detail]]

In Samoa's cultural past most males were tattooed between the ages of 14–1814 and 18, when it was determined they had stopped growing, so the designs would not stretch and suffer in beauty. Today, there has been a strong revival of traditional tattooing in the past generation, not only in Samoa but throughout Polynesia, often as a symbol of cultural identity.

Modern [[pop culture|pop]] and [[rock music|rock]] have a large audience in Samoa, as do several native bands; these bands have abandoned most elements of Samoan traditional music, though there are folky performers. Recently, the population has seen a resurgence of old Samoan songs, remixed in the style of [[reggae]] but with some traditional elements, such as the use of the pate and old chord structure.

In Samoa, music is a big part of their culture. Traditional Samoan music still has a purpose and a function in today's society, but has partially given way to contemporary or externally-influenced genre of Samoan music. Of them are high mixture of Reggae and Hawaiian music which can also illuminate as an important influence on Samoa. There are many popular musicians who hail from, or who are of Samoan descent. They include the likes of Reggae artist: J Boog, the hip hop group: [[Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.]], and one of the most recognizable bands of Samoa: [[The Five Stars]]. [[Opera]] singer [[Jonathan Lemalu]] was a co-recipient of the [[Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording]] for his work on "Britten: Billy Budd" at the 52nd [[Grammy Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/jonathan-lemalu/11824 |title=Jonathan Lemalu |work=Grammy Award Winners |date=November 23, 2020 }}</ref> Samoa is home to the guitar style of fingerpicking which is in known in the islands as “Le Igi”.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/GfPVPo_mclU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150915223721/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPVPo_mclU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPVPo_mclU| title = How To: Igi -– Samoan Guitar Picking | website=[[YouTube]]| date = October 2, 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> It hails from Hawaii and is known to their people as “Slack Key Guitar”. One traditional instrument of Samoa is known as the Fala. It is made up of rolled “wicker style mats” and is beaten with drum sticks to make the sound of a drum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acoustics.ac.nz/a-history-of-samoan-music/ |title=A History of Samoan Music |publisher=Acoustics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120005148/http://acoustics.ac.nz/a-history-of-samoan-music/ |archive-date=20 January 2018}}</ref> Another instrument popular in Samoa is a form of drum called the Pate. It is originally from Tahiti and introduced to Samoa about 500 years ago. It is made of wood from and carved with tribal references or designs.

[[Samoa]] is said to produce among the highest number of top-level [[rugby union]] and [[rugby league]] players per capita.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aylwin |first1=Michael |title=Samoa freak show ready to shock |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/sep/16/rugbyunion.rugbyworldcup20071 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2007-09-15}}</ref> [[American Samoa]] produces the highest number of [[National Football League|NFL]] players and has been dubbed "Football Island" by mainland coaches and media. It's estimated that a boy born to Samoan parents is 56 times more likely to get into the [[Nfl|NFL]] than any other boy in America.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pelley |first1=Scott |title=American Samoa: Football Island |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-samoa-football-island-17-09-2010/ |work=CBS News |date=September 17, 2010 |access-date=2010-09-17}}</ref> Wrestlers of Samoan heritage have had high representation within professional wrestling with Samoans winning championships across many major promotions including multiple world championships. Three Samoans have held the WWE Championship, one has held the WWE Womens championship, and one has held the AEW World Championship. A majority of these champions are members of the Samoan-American [[Anoaʻi family]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Anoa'i Family Tree (Samoan Wrestlers) |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/samoan-wrestlers#samoan-wrestlers-3 |website=Sportskeeda}}</ref> Eight Samoans have been inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]]. Samoans are also well represented in limited-contact and non-contact sports such as [[basketball]], [[baseball]], [[netball]], [[Association football|soccer]], and [[volleyball]].

[[Category:AmericanCulture Samoanof American cultureSamoa]]

[[Category:SamoanCulture cultureof Samoa]]