One of Samoa's paramount titles of Mata'afa has been bestowed to an 83 year old village chief of Amaile village in a traditional royal ceremony.
Hundreds of heirs of the two main factions of the Mata'afa title took part in the ceremony at the weekend.
The new holder of the title, Mata'afa Tupuola Lui, joins two other current holders of paramount titles, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who is the head of state, and member of the council of deputies, Tuimalealiifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II.
The three most paramount chiefs are heirs of Samoa's traditional royal families and include the Malietoa title, which is currently vacant after the death of the late head of state, Malietoa Tanumafili II.
The last holder of the Mata'afa title in 1977 was one of the members of the council of deputies or deputy head of state, the late Mata'afa Fa'asuamaleaui Pu'ela Patu.
