PM Rabuka given Samoan Matai title

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is now a Samoan chief.

Mr Rabuka was bestowed with a matai (chief) title yesterday at Leauva’a Village in Samoa.

The village of Leauva’a is now the Samoan home of Mr Rabuka.

Mr Rabuka was bestowed the ‘tagaloa’alagi’ chief title, a high ranking chief title in Samoa.

The only other leader expected to be accorded a chiefly title during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 (CHOGM) will be King Charles III.

There was a brief service led by the Archbishop and the Leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa followed by a traditional kava ceremony as per normal Samoan custom to officially accord the chiefly title ‘tagaloa’alagi’ on Mr Rabuka.

The tagaloa’alagi is a title of one of Samoa’s King in the pre-missionaries period.

“The church leaders who are represented here, we are one,” Mr Rabuka said.

“We aspire to continue to demonstrate and show to the world the close kinship we have in our part of the world.”

Leauva’a villagers with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Samoa on October 23, 2024.

A scenery of kinship became the order of the day as the village, from the highest ranking chief to the young gathered to welcome Mr Rabuka and the delegation.

Placards displayed Bula Vinaka! and houses flying the Fiji flag.

Mr Rabuka was gifted three elei shirts, a Samoan made tanoa, fue or the fly switch, and a to’oto’o or the wooden staff.

These elements are sacred in the Samoan culture and are used in traditional ceremonies.

The fue symbolises wisdom of the orator while the to’oto’o signifies authority.

“May God’s blessings rest on us forever, I receive this yaqona on behalf of the leaders and the people of Fiji,” Mr Rabuka said.

“Ni sa bula!”

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