Fanua

Pronunciation: fa-nu-a
Language: Samoan
Also known as: land

Description

As the lecturer and educator Dr. Niusila Faamanatu-Etetuati explains, “Land is fanua and is a very important measina* to Sāmoans, connecting them to their family matai [chief] titles, their genealogies and faasinomaga [identity]” (Archives New Zealand 2023). Two types of land exist: customary land and government land. The former is traditional family-owned land, while the latter can be traced back to the acquisition of land by European settlers in the 1800s.
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Date of entry: December 15, 2024
Fagaloa Bay, Upolu, Samoa. March 29, 2018, by Ruby Satele Asiata.
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