{{For|the Puffy AmiYumi album|Solo Solo}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Solosolo | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Samoa 2009 016.jpg | image_caption = Local surfing spot, nicknamed ''Plum Pudding Rock'', by Solosolo. | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Samoa | coordinates = {{coord|13|52|26|S|171|38|26|W|region:WS|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Samoa}} | subdivision_type1 = District | subdivision_name1 = Atua | leader_title = | leader_name = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1,851 | population_as_of = 2016 | timezone = -11 | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | website = }}
'''Solosolo''' is a village on the northeast coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village is in the political district of Atua and had a population of 1,851 in the 2016 census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.gov.ws/digi/1-Preliminary%20count%20report%202016.V2.pdf |title=Census 2016 Preliminary count |publisher=Samoa Bureau of Statistics |page= |date= |accessdate=2 August 2021}}</ref> and 1,835 in the 2021 census.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Samoa population and housing census 2021 - Basic Tables | url=https://www.sbs.gov.ws/documents/census/2021/Census_2021_Final_Report.pdf?_t=1670528927 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110002216/https://www.sbs.gov.ws/documents/census/2021/Census_2021_Final_Report.pdf?_t=1670528927 | archive-date=2023-01-10}}</ref> It is one of the prominent settlements in the area with the largest population in its electoral constituency of Anoama'a 2 (formerly Anoama’a West).
==Geography== The villagers live on a small peninsula jutting out into the sea and bounded by Vainamo bay in the west and Mulivai River to the east. Settlement has grown well into the plantation hinterland in the hills above Vainamo and reaches at least 200m inland. The upland and lowland portions of the village are separated by the main east coast road connecting Solosolo to Apia, the country's capital, (30 minutes west) and eastern Upolu.
==Governance== <!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|left|alt=Solosolo performing at Samoan Independence Celebrations.|Solosolo performing their traditional ''laulausiva'' at the 40th Samoan Independence Celebrations in 2002. -->At the cross-roads of the village between the upland and peninsula, sits the village council ''maota'' fono. It is here that the chiefs of all the families of the village meet regularly to deliberate on the political, social, and economic affairs of the village. It is guided by the ''faalupega'' (customary greetings/genealogy) of Solosolo, which acts as a constitution for governance.
''Faalupega o Solosolo'' Afio le paia o le Taofia o Malietoa Taulapapa ma le latou tama, Tupo-le-Sava, Afio le paia o le Usoalii taua ma e na 'au i Ao, ae mamalu ia te oe Saleutogipo'e, o le lima matua o Faleupolu e fa tofiga.
The highest-ranking chiefs are the group known as the Taofia of Malietoa Taulapapa (Leota Leuluaialii; Leota Seiuli; Leota Toomata) ma le latou tama (Pulepule). These are the paramount chiefs of the village and carry the most influence.
The second highest rank of chiefs are the group known as the “Usoalii” (brotherhood of chiefs). The Usoalii are the formal heads of the majority of all the families who have land rights in the village.
The third ranking group is a group of talking chiefs known as “Saleutogi”. While the Taofia and Usoalii speak on certain high-level occasions, Saleutogi are assigned most of the oratory duties in the village.
The three different groups govern the village in an intricate system of checks and balances based on traditional roles ordained by village history. The number of Taofia are limited to four (as of 2023). The Usoalii number several dozen and Saleutogi number in the hundreds (but mostly based overseas so in reality only several dozen play influential roles in village governance).
==Village== The village is split into various pitonuu (sub-villages) but ruled by one village council. They are Mulivai, Gataiala, Siumo’o, Vaioa, Solosolo Uta, Siupapa, and Namo.
The ''malae'' (village commons) of Solosolo is Siumo’o ma Vaioa. The malaefono (village council) is in Siumo’o ma Vaioa but the physical malae is in Gataiala (the area of the village situated on the peninsula from Mulivai (eastern end at the river mouth) to Namo (the Namo Bay Area). This is where the major ceremonies and sporting events take place, and like any Samoan village is the centre of the settlement. The ''malae'' is bordered to the west by a Congregational Christian Church and to the east by a Catholic church. These were the two original churches built in the village. In recent times, the village has acquired other Christian denominations including Methodist, Nazarene, Assembly of God, and Latter Day Saints. In 2016 it acquired a Seventh-Day Adventist church.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/1044 |title=Solosolo dedicates new church |author=Pai Mulitalo Ale |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref>
The local primary school sits on the first upland section of Solosolo (Siumo’o) and can be accessed by an inland sealed road (Solosolo Uta Street). New settlements and the plantations of Solosolo are situated further back along Solosolo Uta Street in Solosolo Uta.
==Environment== Given its susceptibility to past cyclones and the mountainous terrain of the area, Solosolo's infrastructure is particularly sensitive to natural disaster. The government constructed a seawall in 2006 to ring the Vainamo bay to protect the main east coast road and the bridge over the Namo river to the west of the bay, from wave damage during cyclones. By 2019 the seawall was deteriorating due to erosion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/19186 |author= Ivamere Nataro |title=Villagers express fear |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=26 February 2019 |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref>
In 2016 concerns over sea-level rise, erosion and flooding led to 60 percent of the village moving inland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303599/samoa%27s-solosolo-relocates-due-to-sea-rise-and-mining |title=Samoa's Solosolo relocates due to sea rise and mining |publisher=RNZ |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.talamua.com/solosolo-village-relocating-due-to-risks-from-climate-change-and-sand-mining/ |title=Solosolo village relocating due to risks from climate change and sand mining |publisher=Talamua |author=Lagi Keresoma |date=10 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104181233/http://www.talamua.com/solosolo-village-relocating-due-to-risks-from-climate-change-and-sand-mining/ |archive-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/11417 |title=Rising sea, sand mining see Solosolo village relocate |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Pai Mulitalo Ale |date=16 May 2016 |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref>
==Surfing== The bay is still renowned for surfing and is popular with visitors and local surfers, although the reef breaks are not for the inexperienced. There's a right break by a small rocky outcrop nicknamed 'Plum Pudding Rock.'
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-TuvAcco-t1-body1-d13.html An Account of Samoa History up to 1918 by Te'o Tuvale] {{Atua}}
Category:Populated places in Atua (district)