Tamafaiga or Tamafainga (died 1829)[1] was a Samoan king.

Tamafaiga was a war-priest from Manono Island who usurped the throne after the death of Safeofafine.[1] He came to power after defeating Mataʻafa in 1827 or 1828.[2] He ruled as a tyrant, and was worshiped as a god.[1] The missionary John Williams reported that "he was the man in whom the spirit of the gods dwelt... the terror of all the inhabitants".[3] He was killed by the people of the village of Fasito'o Uta after attempting to claim a daughter of their high chief as his hundredth wife.[4] Following his death Malietoa decimated Aʻana as punishment, and eventually claimed the kingship.[2]

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 John B. Stair (1983). Old Samoa. Papakura: R. McMillan. pp. 77–78. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Albert Wendt (1965). 'Guardians and Wards' : (A study of the origins, causes, and the first two years of the Mau in Western Samoa.). Victoria University of Wellington. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ↑ John Williams (1837). A narrative of missionary enterprises in the South Sea Islands; with remarks upon the natural history of the islands, origin, languages, traditions and usages of the inhabitants. London: Snow. p. 85.
  4. ↑ Annabel Setefano (2019). The Fall of A'ana; Recollecting Pre-contact Trauma in Samoa (PDF) (M.Design). Auckland University of Technology. Retrieved 7 August 2021.


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