The family of Taitu’uga, Manu Samoa Isamaeli of Sapunaoa, Falealili welcomed 60 new matai titleholders yesterday.  

Thirty-three of the new titleholders were bestowed the “Taitu’uga” title and 27 were bestowed with the Manu Samoa title.

One of the elderly members of the Taitu’uga family, Taitu’uga Tuiloma Fa’alolo’u said their family is growing and there was a need to have more chiefs to look after the family.

“This ceremony has been in the pipeline since 2016,” he told the Sunday Samoan yesterday.

“So this morning (yesterday), the Taitu’uga title will be bestowed and blessed first, while the Manu Samoa title will be conferred later on today (yesterday).”

“The reason being is that both titles cannot be bestowed together, it’s just how it is from the beginning, so this morning (yesterday) as you can see the place is filled with our extended families coming over to witness this special occasion.”

“In the past years, there were three members who looked after our family at the time because other Taitu’uga holders they resided overseas,” he said.

“However, there was just one person who was looking after our family here was my brother the late Taitu’uga Esau Rokeni, he passed away in 2016.”

“So when he passed away, the High Chief of our family, Taitu’uga Talaolema’agao, said we needed to have more matais to look after our family because most of us live overseas.”

Taitu’uga Tuiloma added the last time his family held a similar ceremony was in 2001.

“We won’t be looking at any time soon to have a ceremony such as this because we have enough people to look after our family now.”

Reverend To’alua Perese of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Sapunaoa, Falealili conducted the service followed by traditional formalities.