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Top 10 Most Famous People from Samoa

 Samoa is a Polynesian Island country consisting of two main Islands, Savai I and Upolu. It has also two smaller Islands, Manono and Apolima and several smaller uninhabited islands. The Capital is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled on the Samoan island, They developed a Samoan Language and Samoan Culture.

Samoan people are known for their warm smiles and friendly personalities. They tend to welcome just anybody they meet and so qualities such as hospitality and respect are highly valued by them. This article will shine a light on 10 famous people from Samoa.

1 Oscar Knightley

Oscar Knightley is a Samoa-born New Zealand actor. He was born on 14^th September 1969 in Apia Samoa. He is a multitalented individual and was the youngest of eight children. He is a writer, actor television presenter journalist director and comedian. After his father鈥檚 death, he was adopted and raised by his aunt. During his college years, his favourite subject was writing.

In the 2009 New Year Honours, Knightly was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to television and the theatre. In 2016, he was awarded the senior Pacific Artist Award. In 2019, He received the Fulbright Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers residency and in the same year in October, he was presented with a scroll of Honour from the Variety Artist Club of New Zealand.

2 Brian Lima

Brian Lima was born on 25^th January 1972. He was born in Apia, Samoa. Brian is a former rugby union player who was inducted into the IB Hall of Fame in 2011. He earned the nickname “Chiropractor” and was appointed head coach of the Samoa national rugby sevens team.

Lima featured in the famous win of Samoa over wales in 1991 and he was the youngest player at the 19991 Rugby World cup. Among his other shining moments include a match against South Africa at the 2003 Rugby world cup. He was also the first player to appear in the five world cups, his fifth being the 2007 world Cup where he comes against South Africa in the city of France.

3 Shaka Sola

Shaka Sola was born on 14^th march 1977. He is from Samoa and is a shot putt and discus thrower. His star was illuminated in the 2005 World Championship in Athletics. He won Gold at the 2004 Oceania Athletics Championship in both discus with a game record of 53.78m and shot put 17,86m hence representing Samoa in the discus at the 2004 Olympic Games.

In 2005, He competed in the South Pacific Mini Game for the first time. He won two medals one gold and one silver. Shaka Sola is well known for his talented skills in, shot put, Discus throw, Hammer Throw, and Javelin throw and he has done a marvellous job in representing Samoa not only locally but also internationally.

4 David Tua

David Tua was born on 21^st November 1972. He is a Samoan-New Zealand Former heavyweight champion. He was one of the best professional boxers from 1992 to 2013. He was best known for his punching power which allowed him to score sixteen wins by knockouts in the first round of a match. Within the first thirty seconds, he was able to defeat world heavyweight champion John Ruiz and Michael Moorer.

He was ranked by BoxRec in the world鈥檚 top 10 heavyweights from 1996 to 2003, reaching his highest ranking of number three in 1998. In a 2003 article by The Ring Magazine, Tua was ranked 48^th on a list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

5 Flame Naomi Mata鈥檃fa

Flame Naomi Mata鈥檃fa was born on 29^th April 1957. She is a powerful Samoan politician and a high Chiefess. She has served as the Seventh prime minister of Samoa and leader of the Fa鈥檃tuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party since 2021.

Mata鈥檃fa is the first woman to serve as head of governance in Samoa and the first to not be a member of the Huma Rights Protection Party in 1982. She was the first woman appointed to cabinet in samosa history. In addition, she was the minister for women from 2006 to 2011 and the Minister of Justice from 2011 to 2016. In December 2021 she was listed on the BBC’s list of 100 Inspiring and Influential women from around the world for 2021. Her leadership skills have allowed her to be famous all over the world, especially among women.

6 Tufuga Efi

Tufuga Efi was born on 1^st March 1938 and is a Samoan political leader. He is one of the four paramount chiefs of Samoa and also holds the royal papa title of the Atua (Sovereign of Atua). Tufuga has a successful career in politics and that鈥檚 what makes him famous. He served as the third prime minister of Samoa from 1976 to 1982.

On 16^th June 2007, he was elected as Samoa s Head of State and sworn in at Samoa鈥檚 parliament on 20^th June 2007. He holds the title Tui Atua papa tittle of Atua, This is one of the four Tafa; Ifa (Sovereign )titles of Samoa, bestowed by the faleono of Lufilufi.

7 Manu Tuilagi

Manu Tuilagi was born on 18th May 1991. He is a successful rugby player for Sale Sharks and has played internationally for England and the Irish Lions. He was born in Fogapoa Samoa. Because of his marvellous skills in rugby, he won 43 cups between 2011 and 2020, including playing in the 2011 Rugby world cup and starting in the 2019 rugby world cup final.

His usual position is centre and he played for the Lions on their 2013 tour to Australia, winning one cup. Manu Tuilag has indeed received different honours from Leicester Tigers, Sales Sharks, England and British &Irish Lions. All this was a result of his wins in playing rugby.

8 Jimmy Thunder

Jimmy Thunder was born on 3^rd February 1966, He was a Samoan-born New Zealand Professional boxer. He held a heavyweight IBO Championship from1994 in 1995. Among his victories include the win against Tonny Tubbs, Craig Peterson, Trevor Berbick and Tim Witherspoon.

He finished his fighting career with 35vctories, and 28 knockouts and throughout his career he won regional titles including the Australian Heavyweight Champion twice as well as winning the lesser IIBO and WBF Heavyweight titles. Jimmy was good at what he did in a fight he knocked down his opponent Crowford Grimsey with his first punch scoring the fastest knockout in history. He passed on in the year 2020

9 Pua Magasiva

Pua Magasiva wasborn on 10^th August 1980 .He was a New Zealand actor of Samoan descent. He was best known for his role as Shane Clerk, the red ranger from Power ranger Ninjas  Storm and Vinnie Kruse in the soap Opera 鈥淪hotland Street. He was also one of the co-hosts of the radio station falava.

Apart from television and screen, Pua acted in theatre including “Two days in a dream” in 2003 written by Mario Gaoa and he also acted in the play 鈥漇ex with Strangers鈥� written by Mitchelle. His marvellous acting skills won him a lot of fans internationally. He passed on in 2019.

10 Mils Muliaina

Mils Muliaina was born on 31^st July 1980 and is a professional rugby player. He most recently played for San Francisco Rush in the US pro rugby Competition. Born in salelesi, Samoa. At the International level, Muliaina played for New Zealand from 2003 to his retirement.

He became the first black to reach 100 cups during the World Cup Quarterfinals against Argentina in 2011. He scored 33 tries for New Zealand and remains among the top 30 highest try scores in Rugby union test history. Muliaina鈥檚 achievements through rugby included the Under 21 Rugby World Championship(2000-20020), Common Wealth Games Gold Medal, Sevens Rugby (2002), Rugby World Cup Champion, 2011 among others