SAVES BY THE SAMOAN TATTOO IN THE WAR

Hey! read this interesting story of a Samoan man who was saved from the Viet Nam war because of his Samoan Tattoo (http://www.pbs.org/skinstories/stories/savea.html)

COMMENT FROM A TATTOO ARTIST

One of a famous tattoo artist of Samoa who tattooed me when I was 18 years old. Read about his opinion and point of view of a Samoa Tattoo (http://www.pbs.org/skinstories/artists/index.html)

SHORT VIEWS OF THE TATAU FROM FIRST EUROPEANS

It is believed that Samoa was seen byEuropeans in 1722, when Roggewein from Holland first discovered the island. A member of Roggewein's expedition described the native in these words.

"They are friendly in their speech and Courteous in their behaviour, with no apparent trace of wildness or savagery. They do not paint themselves, as do the natives of some other islands, but on the lower part of the body, they wear artfully woven silk tights or knee breeches. They are altogether the most charming and polite natives we have seen in all of the South Seas."

Another European visitor was a French, Jan Francoise de la Perouse. He got a close look at the Samoans in 1787 and reported that "the men have their thighs painted or tattooed in such a way that one would think them clothed, although they are almost naked.

(http://tattoos.com/jane/steve/samoa.htm)

THE WELL KNOWN SONG FOR THE SAMOAN TATTOO

This famous song is sung everytime a tattoo is done and always sung by the supporters to encourage the tattoed person. The words are very interesting and still reminds the history of the Samoan tattoo.
View this song again by visiting:
(http://www.pasefika.com/musikadetails.aspx?id=13)

COMPARISON OF THE TATAU AND THE MALU

Hi Everyone!!

The Tatau is for a man and the malu is for a woman. The Samoan tatau and the malu are believed to be equally important and have similar reasons. However, the tatau (pe'a)means flying fox and refers to the dark charcoal colour of the tattoo. Moreover, as mentioned before, it has lots of motifs with various meanings and is tattooed from underneath arm ribcage down towards the knees. But for a malu, which means to be protected and sheltered, most of the elements of the designs are purely ornamental and is tattooed from the knees up to the legs.

Please look at the pictures below.

According to what I have explained above, which one do you think is a tatau and which one is a malu?

WHY HAVE A SAMOAN TATTOO

The Samoan belief of its traditional Tattoo is that only the High Chiefs and chiefs who are known as orators, along with their sons or daughters are allowed to have tatau or malu. These sons and daughters have to serve and witness meetings amongst the chiefs, as they act as guards and minders. This tradition of Samoa has faded and somewhat been relaxed as anyone can be tattooed today. As a matter of fact, by having a Samoan tattoo, there is a huge responsibility for serving the family in any aspect, the villages, the country, and the church as well. http://www.tattoo-samoan.com/why-have-samoan-tattoo.html.

THE FINAL DAY/PAYMENT OF THE JOB

The payment of the tufuga for doing the job can be made in traditional format. For example, it can be paid by fine mats, food from the plantation, even live stock, or whatever the family of the tattoo recipient may offer; sometimes it depends on whatever the tattoo artist (tufuga) wants.
The other very interesting thing is the payment of the tufuga's wife, known as the meana'itaua. In the Samoan tradition, eventhough she doesn't do anything or not attending this whole process, she is very well paid by the tattoo recipient's family. http://www.tattoo-samoan.com/how-samoan-tattoo-4.html.