fa'amatai

thumb|right|Three matai, the two older men bearing the symbols of orator chief status – the Fijian i-roi (Fly whisk)|fue (flywhisk made of organic [[sennit rope with a wooden handle) over their left shoulder. The central elder holds the orator's wooden staff (toʻotoʻo) of office and wears an ʻie toga, fine matting. The other two men wear tapa cloth with patterned design]] thumb|right|In the architecture of Samoa there are seating areas for matai and orators according to their status, rank, role and ceremony

Faʻamatai is the indigenous political ('chiefly') system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society. It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in both Samoas, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa. The term comprises the prefix faʻa (Samoan for "in the way of") and the word matai (family name or title).