His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamase Taisi Efi

(Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa)

Biography

His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, also known for his full name Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi and formerly known as Tupuola Efi and was born on March 1, 1938 in Moto'otua, Samoa.

Academic Career

He attended St. Patrick's College in Silverstream, Wellington, New Zealand and the Victoria University of Wellington in Auckland, New Zealand. He became a politician in 1966 when he joined the Parliament (Fono in Samoan). He represented the Anoama'a East constituency as a member of the Christian Democratic Party. In 1970 he served as Samoa's Minister of Works for two years. Furthermore he was elected as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms in 1976 and 1982. Afterwards he was elected as the Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1988. He was a head of the Samoan National Development Party and served to Anoama'a East as a member of parliament until 2004. He then became a member of Samoa's Council of Deputies and served as the temporary Head of State from May 11th 2007. He was elected as Head of State on June 16th 2007 and was sworn into office on June 20th 2007. He has a  great deal of support from Samoans living in New Zealand. He was re-elected in July 2012, when his term came to an end.

Political Career

During his political career he also held various academic positions. He was a Professor for Te Whare Wananga Awanuiarangi in New Zealand, an Associate Member of the Matahuariki Insitute at Waikato University, New Zealand and also a PhD examiner at the Australian National University in Canberra for Pacific and Samoan history. In 2007 he attended St. Patrick’s College, after receiving an overseas boarding school scholarship, which allows one student from Samoa to live and be schooled in New Zealand per year.

Private Sector

Tamasese Efi is also a patron for various organizations such as Samoa Tennis, Golf and Rugby Association, Marist Old Boys Association, Pacific Leadership Foundation and Polynesian Society.

Publications

His Highness has released three books and many other publications. He mostly focuses on Samoan history and Samoan language. His most recent publication is from 2009; Suesue Manogi: In Search for Fragrance Tui Atua and the Samoan Indigenous Reference (Government Printing Press, Ministry of Women and Social Development, Apia, Samoa) and 2007; In Search for Tagaloa: Pulemelei, Samoan Mythology and Science. Archaeology in Oceania, Volume 42 Supplement.

"A World Without Walls"

The Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2014 (Berlin; November 9th, 2014)