What was Samoa called before 1997?

What was Samoa called before 1997?

The country was known as Western Samoa until 1997. Its capital and main commercial centre is Apia, on the island of Upolu.

When did Samoa change its name?

1997
1997 – Western Samoa changes its name to Samoa, a move which causes some tension with American Samoa. 1998 – Government imposes stringent restrictions on media freedom.

Why was Samoa called Western Samoa?

The Samoan Islands were first settled some 3,500 years ago as part of the Austronesian expansion. After World War I, New Zealand took over the administration of what had been German Samoa, and the area was renamed the Western Samoa Trust Territory. This area became independent in 1962 and was renamed Samoa.

When did Western Samoa change its name to Samoa?

From 1962 to 1997, the nation was known as Western Samoa, until it dropped the title ‘Western’ from its name to become the Independent State of Samoa. Samoa celebrates its independence each June.

What race is Samoan?

Polynesian
Ethnic groups Samoans are mainly of Polynesian heritage, and about nine-tenths of the population are ethnic Samoans. Euronesians (people of mixed European and Polynesian ancestry) account for most of the rest of the population, and a tiny fraction are of wholly European heritage.

What are the names of the islands of Samoa?

Samoa, which shares the Samoan archipelago with American Samoa, consists of nine islands west of longitude 171° W—Upolu, Savai‘i, Manono, and Apolima, all of which are inhabited, and the uninhabited islands of Fanuatapu, Namu‘a, Nu‘utele, Nu‘ulua, and Nu‘usafee.

When did Samoa become part of the United States?

The eastern island-group became a territory of the United States (the Tutuila Islands in 1900 and officially Manu’a in 1904) and was known as American Samoa. The western islands, by far the greater landmass, became German Samoa.

When did Samoa drop the word Western from its name?

A conflict briefly emerged between Samoa and American Samoa following Samoa’s decision to drop the adjective “Western” from its name. The change was made by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa adopted on 4 July 1997.

Why was American Samoa known as the Navigator Islands?

Because of the Samoans’ seafaring skills, pre-20th-century European explorers referred to the entire island group (which includes American Samoa) as the “Navigator Islands.”

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