King Mata'afa of Samoa
Name/Title
King Mata'afa of SamoaEntry/Object ID
2000.1E.191Description
Black and white photograph of the image is a portrait of a Samoan talking chief, likely taken in the late 19th or early 20th century. The subject is possibly Mata'afa Malietoa Tuiatua, a prominent Samoan leader. The individual is wearing a traditional sala (ula) made of flowers or leaves around his neck. He is holding a fue, a fly whisk used as an orator's symbol of authority and status in Samoan culture. The background appears to be woven material, possibly a traditional Samoan fale (house) wall or matting.Ethnography
Culture/Tribe
Samoan