Sātele Explained

Sātele Tapumanaia, son of Queen Salamāsina, born in the 16th century, is thought to be the first holder of the chiefly "Sātele" title (alternately spelt as Lesātele^[1] or Tapusātele) of the village of Sālani in the Faleālili subdistrict of Ātua,'Upolu.^[2]

The popular legend is that Tapumanaia was abducted by High Orators Talo and Tofuiofo'ia of Salani, Faleālili to establish a high chief for their village. However, other historians believe that the queen permitted her son to be raised by people of Faleālili in order to help strengthen alliances and for other political purposes.

Tapumanaia's leadership and lineage would lend to the title's migration and establishment of branches throughout the Samoan Islands in the following villages:

Sātele of Alao, Tutuila^{[3] [4]}

Sātele of Sālani, Upolu^[5]

Sātele of Salesatele, Upolu^[6]

Sātele of Sataua, Savai'i^{[7] [8]}

Sātele of Vailoatai, Tutuila^{[9] [10]}

In Samoan culture, people can be related either through blood or through title. As such, all who carry the Sātele name today can trace their roots to its original titleholder, Tapumanaia, le alo o Salamāsina.

See also

• Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr., American politician, educator, and government administrator

Notes and References

1. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press., Page 252
2. Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 51.
3. Methodist Church in Samoa (1985), O Le Tusi Fa'alupega o Samoa Atoa, Page 224
4. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press., Page 433
5. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press., Page 393
6. Methodist Church in Samoa (1985), O Le Tusi Fa'alupega o Samoa Atoa, Page 78
7. Methodist Church in Samoa (1985), O Le Tusi Fa'alupega o Samoa Atoa, Page 181
8. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press., Page 101
9. Methodist Church in Samoa (1985), O Le Tusi Fa'alupega o Samoa Atoa, Page 249
10. Krämer, A. (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa. Constitution, pedigrees and traditions--. United States: University of Hawaii Press., Page 448