HISTORY 1963 - FUNERAL OF SEUMANUTAFA LOLIGI

Looking back in history. Posted here are more photographs from the collection belonging to Rita (Hughes) Scott (C). Click here to view the other photograph belonging to this set. Please note these photographs are provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Carrying out Seumanutafa Loligi are from left: Mulitalo Ropinisone Seumanutafa, Tagaloamatua Tavila Seumanutafa, Fala Tualaulelei: (centre) Masiofo Fetaui Mataafa: (right) Falana'ipupu Avei, Lupematasila Afaue Anae and hidden behind him was Leiataua Lesa Fa'atoafe Sinave Seumanutafa. Leaving the Apia church (LMS - EFKS) for the last time, Seumnautafa Loligi loved to worship God and attend the Apia LMS church. Seumanutafa Loligi is remembered by many of his children, grandchildren and relatives as one who began singing hymns and reading the Psalms in the early hours of every morning. (My father married into the Seumanutafa family and shared many stories with me of being awoken by Seumanutafa Loligi's early morning singing, prayers and Bible readings before the sunrise.)

Standing behind the casket and truck are Fala Tualaulelei, Tofaeono Taulima (Kaulima), Malietoa Tanumafili II and Lima Osasa. Funeral procession preparing to leave for burial plot.

Seumanutafa Loligi was buried on the Loligi family plot in Apia. Pictured here are: (Left) Malietoa Tanumafili II, Ete Seumanutafa holding a wreath (Ete was raised by her grandparents Seumanutafa Loligi and Simeanamulu), Tofaeono Taulima, Lima Osasa and grandchildren. (Right): Reverend Ioelu Tapeni delivering closing prayer, Rosita and Reverend Iona Levi.

In the background on the left is Niue village (A'ai Niue) historically a place set aside for Niuean indentured labourers to establish their families. Seumanutafa Loligi learned to speak the Niuean language and developed a close association with the A'ai Niue residents.

1st STAMP OF WESTERN SAMOA

by Vinepa Aiono

This is the first postage stamp issued during the time Samoa became Western Samoa and is dated 1931. The postage stamp was taken by the photographer Tattersall and on it is a picture of Eleitino Iliganoa Vaova'i Seumanutafa Loligi (1910 - 1985), the Taupou of Apia. Eleitino Iliganoa Vaova'i Seumanutafa Loligi was renowned for her skilled Samoan oratory and her ability to facilitate closure in meetings with many skilled male orators of her time. She was the eldest daughter and child of Seumanutafa Loligi and Simeanamulu.
In 2002 while in New York I visited Professor Prettyman of Columbia University and by chance came across this stamp in her book collection. The opportunity to hold an untainted copy of this stamp in my hands was a truly unbelievable experience in that so much folklore was generated around the actual existence of this stamp and as is normal in this branch of my family, no one retains records and few of my generation had even sighted the postage stamp. That I trekked all the way to New York and by accident chanced upon an original unmarked copy of the stamp with my aunt on it, in a place as far removed as Broadway is from Apia was priceless.