Blog Entry
Traditional Samoan Tattoos - How this Tattoo Started
October 29, 2008 by , under Samoan Tattoos.
According to stories and songs recorded in the 19th century, tattooing in Samoa was first introduced by two sisters who were Siamese twins, namely Taema and Tilagaiga. They acquired the tools and how to use them from the tattooists Filelei and Tufou in Fiji. They were instructed to deliver the message “ tattoo the women and not the men”‘.
They sang this over and over again while they paddled their way to Samao. However, on their way there, they saw beautiful shells underwater. So they decided to swam down to get it. When they went back to the shore, the instructions got mixed up and they sang “ tattooo the men, not the women” instead. This was the message the reach and thus came the birth of Samoan tattoos.
Photo by © David Ellenbogen
The process of tattooing in Samoa is called tatatau with ta which means to strike and tatau referring to the line and motifs that are inked onto the body. One very distinctive form of tatau is called pe’a which is characterized by areas of dense shading and fine parallel line-work distributed with a wide range of motifs and geometric patterns. Young Samoan men are usually tattooed in the traditional Samoan style markings that extend from the waist down to the knee. The name given to the tattoo worn by Samoan women is malu. It is inked starting on the knees and ending at the top of the thighs while some women are tattooed at the lower abdomen and right hand. The malu is less elaborate and has fewer paterns compare to pe’a. In Samoan tattooing, malu or women’s tattoos refer to the notions of sheltering and protection. Samoan tribal tattoos were very significant and conveyed deep cultural meanings.
Nowadays, Samoan tattoos are considered an ethnic marker, a statement of Samaoan heritage and identity. The deep historical meaning and rich culture of Samoan communities will forever be remembered through these fine elaborate Samoan tattoo patterns and designs that are unrivaled and representative of them.
