Shining Lamp: Malietoa Tanumafili II
Have you ever imagined meeting a king or a queen? In 1967, an Italian Bahá’í named Ugo Giachery had that chance. Ugo traveled to the small island country of Samoa and met the king, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II. Ugo presented the Malietoa with a book about Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets to kings and rulers. Its message of peace and unity touched the Malietoa's heart.
A few months later, Ugo visited Samoa again. When he met with the Malietoa, His Highness grasped Ugo's hands and declared, “I am a Bahá’í. I believe in Bahá’u’lláh.”
As with all Bahá’í Houses of Worship, the Temple in Apia, Samoa, is nine-sided and welcomes visitors of all faiths. Its design is derived from the style of houses in Samoa.
The Malietoa became the first—and so far only—reigning monarch to become a Bahá’í. In 1979, he laid the first stone for the Bahá’í temple in Samoa's capital city, Apia. He wrote to the international Bahá’í governing body, the Universal House of Justice, “I do hope that your prayers ... increase my spiritual powers, which will make of me a just and honest ruler.”
Humble Leader
The Malietoa was known for his gentle and humble nature. As royalty, he had an official mansion—but he didn't live in it. Instead, he and his family lived in a simple home in a regular neighborhood. While most rulers travel with armed guards, His Highness was so loved and respected that he drove alone in his own car, all around Samoa.
Once the Malietoa offered a ride to a boy and his mother when they couldn't find a taxi. He loaded their luggage into the car himself. Mistaking His Highness for a taxi driver, the woman asked him to wait outside the house, while she went in to get her husband to pay him. By the time the woman returned, the Malietoa had unloaded the luggage. The husband recognized him immediately. Embarrassed, the man apologized profusely and tried to pay him, but the Malietoa refused the money. He said he was happy to be of service.
Lifelong Service
The Malietoa ruled Samoa for 67 years. He kept the country secure and peaceful when it established its independence from New Zealand in 1962. A strong and calm leader, he won the hearts of his people and the respect of other governments.
At the 20th anniversary of the Bahá’í temple, His Highness greeted guests with “profound wonder and thanksgiving.” He said, “It is always a source of great joy for me to meet Bahá’ís from around the world.”
When he passed away in 2007 at age 94, the Universal House of Justice praised “the high principles, genuine compassion and personal humility that characterized the constancy of his concern for the welfare of all.”
Photos © Bahá’í International Community
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