IFOGA (Ritual Apology)

Mareta  Falani

Alena Balmforth                                                    

Writing 0900-015

11/27/2010           

Ifoga (ritual apology)

I would like to begin with a short introduction of the island of my birth (American Samoa). American Samoa is a territory of the United States since April 17, 1900 and is located 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii.   Samoan islands are politically connected today through the chiefly system and also through family connections that are as strong as ever. The culture faa-Samoa means respect for all individuals and honoring of the chiefly system as well as the bonds between neighbors.                                 

The tradition that I have chosen has a lot to do with the chiefly system as well as the strong connection of families; it is called the IFOGA (ritual apology). Ifoga is a formal traditional submission ceremony involving the offender and it has started since centuries ago. The IFOGA demonstrate remorse by begging for forgiveness from the offended party;” the victim of abuse”.  A submission ceremony is considered as an act of surrender and a true repentance. A serious crime committed such as death or near to death and any crime involving major injuries to the body are considered severe off course.                                         

        The very important part included in the submission is the” fine mat”. The offender has to have a“fine mat “with him covering his head demonstrating respect for the family. What is a fine mat?  A very unique and a special fine material that is made out of a pandanus tree plant and it is woven by hand; the most valued possession of our culture. It is also used for many occasions such as; weddings, funerals, festivals, dances, higher rank gatherings and the event of the tradition (IFOGA).
        Where, when, and how did the Ifoga with a fine mat become a tradition?  According to the Samoan history, it started in the island of Tonga in centuries. Tonga is one of the Polynesian island and the South Pacific’s last Polynesian kingdom. Here is the map of where Tongan is located.

          A girl name Fuka (the daughter of an ordinary family) started the talent of weaving mats in Tonga, but a woman name Tauoloasii after seven generations invented the Ifoga with the mats. How it all started?  Tauoloasii is a Samoan woman and was a resident in Tonga. She was dating two men; the Samoan and the Tonga men. The two men seem to not know about her two affairs; one day the Tonga man name Lautivagia commit suicide because of heart broke; he found out about her other man and that is why he killed himself.
        The Tongan king was angry and than commended his lower rank chief to gather up all the Samoans in Tonga; they will be thrown in the fire. Lautivagia felt devastated for her people and did a astonish act. She submissive herself in front of the king by the fire with her head covered with the finest mat and in history of Tonga; no one had done such an act. He was so impressed with her courage and so he accepted her apology and commends to free the Samoans. The Tonga king stated; “the Samoans are saved because of her courage and respect to show of her remorse by covering herself with the Tongan mat”.

The mat is a fine material that is very valuable in the Tongan island and that is why the king was astonish and respected her wishes. Since than, the event Ifoga was named because of the ceremony with the mat by the Samoan woman and it is still practice through out the culture of Samoa. Later in her life in Tonga, Lautivagia relocated to Samoa carried with her the tradition of “Ifoga”.

            How does the culture of Samoa demonstrate the Ifoga? An ifoga can take place between individuals, families or even the whole village.  Mere apology may not be considered a big deal, but an apology with an ie-toga gives formality and sincerity of the occasion because of the importance of its value. The involvement of a high chief may be indispensably depending on the seriousness of the crime. If the offense is severely, the high chief of the offender’s village will have to perform the ifoga. When the high chief has to involve, sometimes he would take with him the lower ranked chiefs of the village in case of trouble for their security.

The offender and the village high chief rises in the earliest morning... long before the sun, than quietly without any kind of prompt or announcement makes their way to the village; carrying with them the finest of fine mats considered the highest value in Samoan culture. The offender or the high chief would then cover himself with the very finest mat sitting in front of the family’s house or at the open space where major village functions take place. They would wait for hours in a very heating temperature or in the rain, for the chief of the victim’s village to incentive to their apology. Usually on the sand, dirt or on the sharp coral rocks that decorate the front of many houses in Samoa; he kneels and bows down to the ground, covering himself completely with the fine mats he has brought with him. He will stay with no food, water and in the heated temperature or pouring rain for as long as it takes for his apology to be accepted.

If the apology is not accepted by the victim's family, this village high chief will often step in and accept the apology on their behalf, essentially forcing forgiveness. Samoan wisdom is usually good about acknowledging the advantages of peace over war...With this acceptance; the offender that has spent hours of time under fine mats is invited, along with his representatives into the house of the conceding family. The victim’s family would speak from each side to demonstrate the sincerity of their forgiveness.

The tradition AVA drinking will be served by the victim’s chief and food will be ready and served. After the encounter with the victim’s family, they were released with the promise of no more further retribution sought in response to the original crime.  

The ifoga remains an essential part of the Samoan culture as a demonstrating for sincerity of remorseful and respect. The court may be considering a mediator based on the victims family acknowledgment. The victims’ family may accept a mediator because of the Ifoga from the predators’ party. In addition, where in the world can crimes murdered forgiven with a fine mat and a sorrowful heart. The ifoga demonstrate humility as our most prized possession and that is the importance of this tradition to the American Samoa’s culture (forgiveness bring peace).