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TOLE’AFOA LEULUPOAO TIPA’U
1914—1996
Tole’afoa Leulupoao Tipa’u was born on May 27, 1914, in the village of Gataivai on Savai’i Island, Western Samoa. His father, Ulupoao Magele, was from the village of Papa—i-Palauli 1e Falefa, and his mother, Tufosa Mapoilesua, From the village of Gataivai.
Leulupoao Tipa’u attended the village pastor’s school for children and pre—youth before he entered the London Missionary
2'3 school in Tuasivi, Savai’i. It
Society’s provided preparatory education for those training to become pastors and missionaries. He went on to enter Malua Theological College in Apia around 1948 but was ex pelled in his final year owing to marriage
2'3 Presently the Congregational Chrisrian Church of Samoa.
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358 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
difficulties. His eldest daughter, Olotuli Maposua, commented that “Perhaps, it was not the will of God for my father to become a pastor, because we would have been deprived of these beautiful teachings ofBaha’u’llah, a Priceless Pearl gifted unto us by our father.”
As an adult he served his family well and was bestowed the high chief’s title Tole’afoa. His father’s family is one of the royal families of Samoa—the Tuimaleali’ifano family in the district of Falelatai. His family and village had banned all religious activities with the exception of one church, the London Missionary Society, which Tole’afoa served with distinction.
Tole’afoa owned a large cocoa plantation that helped him to support his family. One day a school friend, Tanuvasa Seniolo From Nofoali’i, who had recently declared as a Bahá’í, visited him and shared with him his experience of the new religion as given to him by Mr. Suhayl ‘Ala’tm who was managing the A. G. Smyth store where people sold cocoa. Tole’afoa was so impressed with his friend’s story that in his next visit [0 Apia he made it a purpose to question Mr. ‘Ala’i about the new religion. Mr. ‘Ala’l' gave him a book to read, a Bahá’í prayer book, and an invitation to return. During the second meeting Mr. ‘Ala’i took Tole’afoa home where he and his wife, Lilian, spent the evening sharing with their guest the teachings and history of the Faith. That evening Tole’afoa accepted and enrolled. It was the start ofa challenging life ofopposition from his family and of many teaching trips around Samoa.
Tole’afoa was staunch and courageous in his new faith. His family and community were shocked by his conversion, but he was able to cope effectively with them, and
1” See Suhayl ‘Ala’i, pp. 134—37.
Yblc’afim Leulu/m/m Tip/z'u
Bahá’í activities, including an early Bahá’í Summer School, were held in his village in the late 19505.
Wherever he went he courageously shared the Faith openly with friends, relatives, and strangers, regardless of opposition. This was especially true with his extended family, which was large and spread throughout Samoa. Teaching the Faith became the preoccupation of his life, and he readily obeyed, with enthusiasm, calls from the National Teaching Committee to carry out teaching trips to different parts of the country. Serving as an Auxiliary Board member he also responded to the calls of the Counsellors.
Difficulties such as bad weather did not stop him from making visits to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. He is also remembered for attracting audiences when he spoke about the Faith at the public market in Apia, when he and his wife, Fa’afiu, were selling handicrafts there.
In due course his family and village banned his teaching activities and expelled
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IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 359
him from the village, but this did not stop him. Tole’afoa moved to Fagali’i where he served on the Local Spiritual Assembly for many years. When he passed away on October 29, 1996, after a prolonged illness, the National Assembly advised the Universal House ofjustice, describing Tole’afoa as “a (continuously teaching’ believer.”
His funeral service was attended by many ofhis extended family, guests of the family, friends, and his more than twenty children. A cabinet minister of the Samoan government came, as well as representatives of the business community. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís ofSamoa arranged the service, which included the reading of messages from the Universal House of Justice and from other institutions of the Faith. That of the Universal House of Justice, dated November 3, read:
We are saddened by the passing of Toleafoa Leulupoao Tipa’u who has a long and distinguished record of service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh over many years, including membership of the Auxiliary Board for a period and a sustained commitment to the promotion of the teaching work. Kindly convey to his family and friends our condolences and the assurance of our prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his soul.
As is common Samoan practice, his simple grave lies in front of his house at Fagali’i, close to the family he loved.
From article: submitted by 7796’ National Spiritual Assembly of the 811/1127: Of5amozz
