How were traditional Samoan villages governed?

Traditional Samoan villages were governed through a decentralized system centered on the aiga (extended family) and the village council. Each aiga designates at least one matai—a chief bearing a hereditary title—to serve as its head and representative.123

These matai collectively form a village council known as a fono. The fono serves as the primary political structure responsible for administering local affairs, maintaining order, and managing the village's governance. This system of autonomous village control has historically been a fundamental aspect of Samoan society, with the matai selected by their respective extended families based on consensus. While these villages operated with significant local autonomy, they were also linked to broader administrative districts.1435