By Martha Taumata Faavae
The search for a new holder of the Lepea Village paramount title Faumuina has ended with the honour going to a family elder Mr. Opapo Oeti.
The final decision on who should be the rightful new holder was made in the Appeals Court this week.
The Faumuina heirs failed for many years to agree on a successor even after family and court deliberations until now.
The Appeals Court presided over claims by 20 family sides that included one led by the former Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
Fiame is the daughter of a former holder of the title and first Prime Minister of Samoa, Mataafa Fiame Faumuina Mulinu’u II.
The last holder of the title was the late Faumuina Anapapa, a veteran politician and Member of the Council of Deputies.
Opapo Oeti represents the heirs of the eldest sibling in the original Faumuina titleholder.
His current family home base is in the villages of Lefagaoali’i and Samauga in Savaii.
An official date of bestowal is yet to be finalised but the new holder is looking at sometime around January at the start of the New Year.
The Faumuina-to-be is no stranger to the public limelight.
He is a non serving Reverend Minister of the Ekalesia Fa’apotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa or EFKS.
His daughter became the first known case of stigmata in Samoa.