A dispute in Afega on Monday morning turned ugly when a matai was assaulted during a traditional banishment ceremony.

The ceremony, which uses a to’oto’o (orator’s staff) to symbolise banishment, was held to expel 37 matai from Afega-Tai. The action was led by the Afega-Uta faction, a group that has been in conflict with Afega-Tai for nearly two decades. Among those banished was the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Fata Ryan Schuster.

Village mayor for Afega-Uta, Fata Roketi Fa’alili, said the group he led acted after repeated breaches of village protocols.

“I led the village’s action against the 37 matai and their families because they were breaking village protocols, including dress codes,” Fata Fa’alili said. “The village sent a delegation that I led to deliver the decision, but one matai, Fata Malifa, interfered. That is when the untitled men acted. The situation was quickly brought under control by other matai, but it should not have escalated this way.”

When asked whether the Member of Parliament for Sagaga No. 2, Fata Ryan Schuster, was among the matai who were banished, Fata Fa’alii confirmed, stating, “Yes, Fata Ryan is included in the 37 matai banished by the village.”

The matai who was assaulted, Fata Malifa Malifa, said he did not blame the untitled men for the attack, claiming the confrontation was provoked by another matai, Leu Ken Ulia.

“It was not them who instigated it,” he said. “Leu approached me and accused my family of committing a serious sin. He grabbed me by the collar, I grabbed his as well, and he threw a punch that missed. That’s when the untitled men jumped in and stomped and kicked me. I do not blame them — it was Leu who started it.”

However, in response, Leu Ken Ulia denied Fata Malifa’s account, saying the village delegation went peacefully to deliver the decision and that it was Fata Malifa who provoked the altercation.

“Nothing like that happened,” Leu said. “The delegation went to deliver the decision, but Fata Malifa interfered and insulted me, and said we were trespassing and that we had no authority to be on their land. He knows the village rule that once the staff of authority is raised, no one is supposed to interfere. He disrespected that, and that’s why the untitled men reacted. We didn’t go there to start any trouble.”

Fata Malifa said he sustained bruises but was not seriously injured, adding that the group had trespassed onto his property. He said he was still considering whether to file a police complaint.

The incident has reignited discussion on the existence of two sub-villages within Afega that share the same honorifics, titles and customs.

Both Fata Fa’alili and Leu Ken Ulia claim there is only one village that is officially recognised — Afega-Tai — which they say has been affirmed as the legitimate village under previous court rulings.