The descendants of Vui Seinafolava Maaleale in Vaovai, Lano Savai'i assembled on Saturday to celebrate and witness the conferring of new matai titles within their family lineage. 

The special ceremony marked a significant occasion as the members of the family and the village came together to acknowledge and embrace the newly appointed title holders.

Approximately 40 new titles were conferred to members of the Vui Seinafolava Maaleale family, hailing from both Samoa and various locations abroad. 

Among these newly conferred titles, only one individual received the chiefly title of "Vui"– Vui Seinafolava Maaleale Lupematasila Vaeluagaomatagi Mulitalo Eli. The holder of the Vui title traces their lineage to Paineto in Sa'asa'ai and currently resides in Hawai'i.

The other oratory titles bestowed on Saturday included 10 individuals honoured with the title Seinafolava, 16 with Mulitalo, 11 with Tupa'ilelei, and one with the Tapututagitele title. 

The high chiefs of the family, Vui Seinafolava Rimoni Ah Chong and Vui Seinafolava Laneselota Lameko, took the lead in conducting the saofa'i ceremony on Saturday at the family residence in Vaovai, Lano.

This event marked the first saofa'i for these specific titles since 2016. 

Expressing her gratitude, one of the newly appointed title holders, Seinafolava Flo Mulitalo Andersen, conveyed that she felt honored to receive a matai title from her paternal family in Lano, the very place where she was born.

"It was the first time I've been honoured by my dad's family with a matai title," Seinafolava told this newspaper. 

"I felt the presence of my dear dad Mulitalo Falefa during my bestowment and the rain fell, and so did my tears of happiness as if my dad was behind me the entire time.

"I am very honoured and grateful and will serve my family through this title and carry it with pride."

Seinafolava also holds the Lealaisalanoa title from her maternal side at Talitaliai in Saipipi and the Taimalieutu from Matautu Lefaga.