Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has been honored with a matai (chief) title in Samoa. The ceremony took place yesterday in Leauva’a Village, which has now become Mr. Rabuka’s Samoan home. He received the ‘tagaloa’alagi’ title, a prestigious chief title in Samoan culture.
King Charles III is the only other leader expected to receive a chiefly title during the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 (CHOGM). The event included a short service led by the Archbishop and the leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa, followed by a traditional kava ceremony to officially present the title to Mr. Rabuka. The tagaloa’alagi title refers to one of Samoa’s kings from the pre-missionary era.
Mr. Rabuka expressed unity among church leaders, stating, “We aspire to continue to demonstrate and show to the world the close kinship we have in our part of the world.”
A sense of community and kinship marked the day, as villagers from all ranks gathered to celebrate Mr. Rabuka’s arrival with greetings and Fiji flags. During the ceremony, he was presented with three elei shirts, a Samoan-made tanoa, a fue (fly switch), and a to’oto’o (wooden staff), all significant in Samoan culture and traditional ceremonies. The fue represents the 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, concluding with “Ni sa bula!”
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