Ifoga
Source: Samoa Global
Ifoga refers to a Samoan ceremony of apology. Ifoga is a traditional practice of seeking forgiveness and rendering a formal apology resulting from a hostile event involving physical injury and/or the verbal degrading of a family reputation (Filoiali'I & Knowles, 1983). It is a mechanism where one party that caused harm apologizes for their wrongdoing by offering a gift of ʻIe toga, or fine mats, to the one from which it seeks forgiveness. This mechanism is part of the traditional dispute resolution process between families in Fa’ Sāmoa, when mediation fails. The word ifoga is derived from the word ifo, which means “to bow down” (Macpherson & Macpherson, 2005).
The ritual
The process begins with the party seeking forgiveness sitting in front of the house of the party that is wronged. Next, the former is covered by fine mats. This takes place under cover of darkness. The party seeking forgiveness brings firewood, stones, and banana leaves to create an earth oven (Macpherson & Macpherson, 2005). Forgiveness takes place when the wronged party removes the mats (Tuala-Warren, 2002). Once the mats are removed, the parties exchange speeches and gifts (Tuala-Warren, 2002). The party being asked for forgiveness has the right to reject the request, too, and to take their time before removing the mats (Filoiali'I & Knowles, 1983).
Impact
Ifoga is commonly offered in cases of murder and manslaughter, and a range of other violent crimes, where perpetrators initiate the process (Macpherson & Macpherson, 2005). It doesn’t, however, alter the prosecution of a crime – but it can be taken into account during a sentencing proceeding to demonstrate a show of remorse (Filoiali'I & Knowles, 1983; Tuala-Warren, 2002). They may also be deployed by the families of offenders to apologize to the families of the victims of violent crime (Feagaimaali'I, 2021).
Recent examples of Ifoga include its use by Catholic Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga before the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in pursuit of peace after the 2021 Samoan Constitutional Crisis when the FAST government refused to allow opposition MPs to be sworn in (Membrere, 2021). In August 2021, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern performed an ifoga to seek forgiveness from the New Zealand-Samoan community for the Dawn Raids, in response to activism by the Polynesian Panther Party and others – marking a first where ifoga was performed by a world leader (Tuala-Warren, 2002). Both, Pacific and Māori members of Parliament stood behind her and assisted with the placement of the mat. Following this, representatives of the communities impacted by the Dawn Raids stood in front of her while the mat was in place, and following that, embraced her as the mat was removed.
Ifoga is a mechanism of atonement. It works because of its mamalu, or honour, and is considered one of the highest displays of Samoan respect (Enari, n.d.).
References
1. Apulu Reece Autagavaia (2 August 2021). "Dawn raids ceremony explained: Why Jacinda Ardern sat under a woven mat." The Spinoff. https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/02-08-2021/dawn-raids-ceremony-explained-why-jacinda-ardern-sat-under-a-woven-mat/
2. Enari, L. D. (n.d.). Ifoga helps bridge murder: the power of Samoan culture. https://www.thecoconet.tv/coco-talanoa/coco-news/ifoga-helps-bridge-murder-the-power-of-samoan/
3. Feagaimaali'I, J. (2021). "Afega ifoga accepted after double shooting". Samoa Observer.
4. Filoiali'i, L. A. & Knowles, L. (1983). "The Ifoga: The Samoan Practice of Seeking Forgiveness for Criminal Behaviour." Oceania. 53 (4): 384–388.
5. Macpherson, C. & Macpherson, L. (2005). "The ifoga: The exchange value of social honour in contemporary Samoa." Journal of the Polynesian Society. 114 (2): 109–133.
6. Membrere, M. (2021). "Archbishop joins ifoga; asks Govt. for peace". Samoa Observer. https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/91536
7. Tuala-Warren, L. (2002). A Study into the Ifoga: Samoa’s Answer to Dispute Healing. University of Waikato. https://lianz.waikato.ac.nz/PAPERS/Occasional%20Papers/TMOP-4.pdf
