Lufilufi is a historical village situated on the north coast of
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximate ...
island in
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
. The village is part of the electoral constituency (''Faipule District'') Anoamaa East which is within the larger political district of
Atua
Atua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian people such as the Māori or the Hawaiians (see also ). The literal meaning of the Polynesian word is "power" or "strength" and so the concept is similar to that of '' mana''. Many of the atua ...
. The village's population is 949.
Lufilufi is the traditional center of the
Atua
Atua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian people such as the Māori or the Hawaiians (see also ). The literal meaning of the Polynesian word is "power" or "strength" and so the concept is similar to that of '' mana''. Many of the atua ...
district and is the residence of the royal Tui Atua ''pāpā'' title. Governed by the 'Faleono' (House of six) orator group, it is also vested with the authority to appoint the Tui Atua. Lufilufi's honorific salutation includes the title of '''Matua o Atua, (the Head, or Elder of Atua).
Origins
Lufilufi was part of the older territory of
Falefa
Falefā is located on the north eastern coast of Upolu island in Samoa. It was the ancient capital during the ('government') of (King) Fonoti after defeating his kin Vaafusuaga Toleafoa and Samalaulu for control of Samoa. King Fonoti chose t ...
until the reign of Tui Atua Polailevao. A chief by the name of Velova'a (also called Tautaifau in other versions) was out fishing and having caught enough fish, prepared to head to Asau to visit his father, Tufuga. As he passed through the area, he was hailed by the Tui Atua and summoned into his residence - ''Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo'' - where the boy Seleanamani was present, serving the Tui Atua. Seleanamani was then ordered to divide the fish and distribute it to the three great districts of Atua: Anoama'a along the northern coast, Itu Salefao along the southern coast, and Aleipata on the Easter end. The head of the fish was to be sent to Aleipata, the body to remain in Anoama'a, and the tail was given to Itu Salefao, on the south coast of Atua.
Having been pleased with Seleanamani's skill at dividing the fish, the Tui Atua hailed him as Selelimalelei and designated the place of this event as Lufilufi (which means the cutting up of food). The charter and salutations of Atua make reference to this story in its salutations to the three respective districts of Atua, salutations based upon the origins of Lufilufi:
''Tulouna ao o Atua (Aleipata)''
''Tulouna uso o Atua (Anoama'a)''
''Tulouna i'u o Atua (Itu Salefao)''
Seat of power
Lufilufi is the political centre of
Atua
Atua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian people such as the Māori or the Hawaiians (see also ). The literal meaning of the Polynesian word is "power" or "strength" and so the concept is similar to that of '' mana''. Many of the atua ...
. The sovereign of Atua is the Tui Atua, who both resides and has its investiture ceremony at Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo in Lufilufi. Within Lufilufi is the ''Faleono'' (House of six), six families whose orators govern Lufilufi are vested with the authority to appoint the Tui Atua. Lufilufi's ''Faleono'' and its attendant privileges mirror that of its Tumua counterpart ''Faleiva'' in Leulumoega. Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo is also where the ''tama-a-aiga''
Tupua Tamasese
Tupua Tamasese, formally known as Tupua, is a State (polity), state dynasty and one of the four paramount Fa'amatai, chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the ''Tamaʻāiga, tama a ʻāiga''. It is the titular head of one of Samoa's two ...
title investiture ceremony is held.
Lufilufi's authority in Atua is reflected by its title as ''Matua o Ātua'', (the elder of Ātua). The six orators of Lufilufi also summon the ''Fale Atua'' (what can be called the 'parliament' of Ātua), to ascertain its members views on a prospective holder of the ''pāpā'' Tui Atua title when the title is vacant. The Fale Atua decides with the Tui Ātua in matters of war and state. This 'parliament' comprises the six tulafale of Lufilufi and 13 other senior matai of Ātua - the respective rulers of Falefā, Solosolo, Saleaumua, Luatuanu'u. Samusu, Lotofaga, Saoluafata and Lepā. Of those 13 matai, nine are tulafale and four are ali'i. The members of Ātua's governing parliament form an exclusive group, as only the most senior matai in Ātua can sit in it.
At various times throughout its history, Lufilufi has been the seat of the ''malo -'' executive power. This has been contested between Lufilufi and Leulumoega throughout Samoa's history, with notable exceptions to this norm from Manono during the rule of Tamafaiga.