SAMOA - The Treasured Island of the South Pacific

History

Samoans are believed to have migrated from the West, (the East Indies, the Malay Peninsula or the Philippines). The oldest known site of human occupation in Samoa is Mulifanua on Upolu dating back to about 1000 BC (about 3000 years ago).

By far the most important agents of change in Samoa were the Western missionaries. The missionary influence on Samoan life was so strong they are now a devoutly religious people with much time devoted to church activities.

Western Samoa became a German colony in 1899 (the United States colonised the eastern islands and is now known as American Samoa). After the outbreak of World War I, New Zealand took from 1914 to the day of day of independence in January 1962.

When it gained Independence, Western Samoa earned the distinction of being the first independent sovereign state in the South Pacific. The prefix "Western" was dropped in July 1997 and the country renamed itself the Independent State of Samoa.

Samoa's Independence Day is celebrated every year on 1st June.