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Tuamasaga | |
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District | |
 Satellite image of Upolu island showing Tuamasaga district. (NASA photo, 2006 | |
 Map of Samoa showing Tuamasaga district | |
| Country |  Samoa |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 95,907 |
| Time zone | +13 |
Tuamāsaga is adistrict ofSamoa,[1] with a population (2016 census) of 95,907. This makes it the most populous district in Samoa. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part ofUpolu island, and includes the capital,Apia.
The paramountmatai title of Tuamasaga is theMalietoa title. Led by Auimatagi, Sa Malietoa and the nine senior orators ofMalie are responsible for the election of the Malietoa titleholder at Niuʻula in Malie. Given that the district ofAiga-i-le-Tai (Manono andApolima) and the district ofFaʻasaleleaga onSavaiʻi are two key footholds of the Aiga Sa Malietoa (Malietoa clan), Malie often consults with Manono (capital of Aiga-i-le-Tai) andSafotulafai (capital of Faʻasaleleaga) in the election of the Malietoa.
The village of Malie is the seat of the Malietoa.
At a national level, the Malietoa title is one of the fourTama-a-Aiga (noble families) titles.Apia, the nation's capital, is situated in the north of the district. The national parliament also sits atMulinuʻu to the west of Apia, and the main seaport is situated atMatautu to the north of Apia around the shores of Apia harbour.
Afega, Safata and thepāpā titles
The paramountpāpā titles of Tuamasaga are Gatoaitele and Vaetamasoalii. Afega is the seat of Gatoaitele. Once a decision is made, the village of Afega, through the chiefs Fata and Maulolo, must lead the bestowal process on behalf of the Fale Tuamasaga (the parliament of Tuamasaga). Safata is the seat of the Vaetamasoaliipāpā. These pāpā titles are usually bestowed upon the highestmatai of Tuamasaga and one of the fourTama-a-Aiga (noble families) of Samoa.
Historically, the Fale Tuamasaga meets atAfega (malae a Vaitoelau) in times of war and at Malie (malae a filemu) in times of peace.
Together with thefaleiva ofLeulumoega and thefaleono ofLufilufi, the lead orators of Malie & Afega (collectively called'Tuisamau ma Auimatagi') comprise the group oftulafale alii (orator chiefs) who speak on behalf of Upolu on matters of state, the Tumua.
Archaeology in Samoa has uncovered earth mounds and archaeological remains at the village ofVailele in the sub-district of Vaimauga, on the central north coast to the east of Apia.
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| Electoral constituencies:Faipule Districts |
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13°55′S171°48′W / 13.917°S 171.800°W /-13.917; -171.800
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