Samoan: Tamaʻāiga (meaning "sons of the families", alternatively spelled Tama-a-Aiga) is a Samoan term used to refer to the four high chiefly titles in the Samoan: [[faʻamatai]] systemspecifically, the Malietoa, Mataʻafa, Tupua Tamasese and Tuimalealiʻifano.
The term first emerged in the last quarter of the 19th century and formalized the status of the four then-dominant high chiefly dynastiesMalietoa, Mataʻafa, Tupua Tamasese, and Tuimalealiʻifano. The Samoan: tamaʻāiga co-existed with the older concept of Samoan: pāpā, which covered the four previously dominant dynastic titles of Gatoaʻitele, Tamasoaliʻi, Tui Aʻana, and Tui Ātua. From the 16th century, these four Samoan: pāpā titles, if held jointly by the same person, made that person the tafaʻifa, or paramount chief. Two notable Samoan: tafaʻifa cases were Nāfanua and Salamāsina, although this title ceased to be in common usage during the 19th century, when new lineages of Samoan: matai rose to prominence.[1] [2]
Since the independence of Samoa in 1962, the position of head of state (O le Ao o le Malo) has always been held by one of the Samoan: tamaʻāiga, in accordance with convention. Two other high chiefsFiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II and Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IValso each served as prime minister of Samoa.