Women's leadership in Samoa is tautua (service), according to Maluseu Doris Tulifau, executive director of Brown Girl Woke. 

She spoke after the Samoa National  Feminist Forum 2026, a two-day gathering held from 14 to 15 May, that brought together activists, youth leaders, community advocates, NGOs, and artists to talk about feminist leadership, democracy, and collective care.

Executive Director of Brown Girl Woke, Maluseu Doris Tulifau, said the event was deeply grounded in local voices, with artists, musicians, poets, and performers helping shape discussions through storytelling and performances.

“Their storytelling, music, spoken word, and performances were not just entertainment; they became part of the dialogue itself,” she said.

One of the key moments of the forum was a conversation with former Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa.

Maluseu said Fiame spoke about leadership through lived experience, family, village service, and humility rather than power or title.

“She spoke about leadership as something earned through consistency, humility, visibility, and responsibility to the community,” Maluseu said.

Fiame also shared her experience of fighting for her family titles at the age of 20 and the challenges of being a woman in leadership spaces.

According to Maluseu, discussions throughout the forum focused on keeping feminist leadership grounded in the realities of Samoa, including village life, churches, climate challenges, youth issues, disability inclusion, and the experiences of women and marginalised communities.

She said spaces like the forum were important because they allowed advocates and organisations to connect, learn from one another, and strengthen collective responses to community challenges.

“Too often organisations and advocates are carrying these issues alone,” she said.

Maluseu described feminist leadership in Samoa as “tautua” (service), saying it involves accountability, courage, collective care, and creating opportunities for others.

She emphasised that she hopes the forum will encourage women, young people, and communities to feel more confident in their voices and strengthen conversations around dignity, justice, and inclusion in Samoa.