The Teine Sā of Samoa
In Samoa, young women are told not to wear their hair loose at night, or a jealous spirit woman might take notice.
What was reported
Teine sā, 'sacred girls', are female spirits of Samoan tradition. The best known is Saumaiafe, who is said to appear as a beautiful woman, sometimes in the forest, sometimes on the road at night. Each teine sā is linked with particular families and places.
They are said to punish disrespect: someone who is rude, who takes what isn't theirs, or who walks proudly with flowers or long loose hair at night may fall ill or be possessed. People speak of them carefully.
Explanations offered
Belief in teine sā has survived alongside Christianity in Samoa. Anthropologists have studied how families and churches respond when someone is believed to be troubled by one. They are part of a living tradition.
- When
- Told for centuries, and today
- Where
- Upolu, Samoa
- Witnesses
- Samoan tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.