Samoan Tattoos

From LoveToKnow Tattoos

Getting true Samoan tattoos is not as easy as walking into your local tattoo shop. These tats are steeped in cultural tradition, and require a good deal of mental and physical preparation before the first line is ever etched.

About Samoan Tattoos

Samoan tattoos, or tataus as they are rightfully called, are more than just body art. A tatau is a sign of respect for the traditions and culture of the Samoan people, and the person who wears one is marked with a representation of the pride of his/her entire family.

It's generally believed that the art of tattooing was brought to Samoa by two women from the island of Fiji. Although the women at first had some trouble convincing anyone to give them a chance, tradition has it that one of the tribal chieftains finally relented and submitted to the ordeal, and it definitely was an ordeal because the traditional design could take weeks or months to complete.

The process was and still is very painful. The traditional tatau is created using very primitive tools. A bone or tortoiseshell comb is dipped in ink made from the ashes of cremated candlenut shells, and dragged across the flesh to slice it open. The ink seeps into the wounds and the blood is wiped away. The process is repeated over and over until the tatau is complete, but because of the pain there could be days in between sessions while the recipient takes time to recover.

Traditionally, the tatau was reserved only for the young men in the tribe, but as time passed the women also began to receive tattoos - although they were nowhere near as extensive as the men's ritual markings.

Respect

In the Samoan culture, it is nothing short of disrespectful to begin the tatau process without first consulting with your parents and other immediate family members. Wearing the tatau is not a strictly personal choice; it involves the pride of the entire family, and the person who receives the tattoo must receive permission to represent the family in this way.

A young man who believes he is ready to undergo the tatau ritual must first do some deep soul searching to determine if he is truly ready for the ordeal. He must be prepared to accept the pain without crying or struggling because to do so would bring humiliation and dishonor to his entire family. This is largely why permission of the family is such an integral part of the ritual.

The Tafuga

In Samoan, "Tafuga" is the title given to the tattoo artist. To become a Tafuga, a man must be the descendant of another Tafuga to join the guild. Traditionally, fathers would train their sons in the art as they performed the tatau ritual on their customers.

Payment to the Tafuga for his services could be very expensive in Samoan terms. Many gifts of food and goods would be offered, but the greatest payment came in the form of finely woven mats which could number as high as 700 for just a single person's tattoo.

Traditional Tatau Design

The traditional tatau received by the men of Samoa looks rather like a pair of high-waist britches that stretch from mid-torso down to the bottom of the knees. Every inch of flesh is covered in a series of geometric lines and angles, even the genital and anal regions, and all are created by applying that sharp comb to etch the skin.

The tattoos received by the women are much more delicate in design, more akin to scroll work and reminiscent of Polynesian designs.

Modern Samoan Tattoos

While the traditional Samoan tatau still exists, the scope of designs has expanded beyond the sharp geometrics previously used to exclusion.

Samoan tattoos today might include:

Natural flora and fauna
- Birds
- Sea shells
- Fish
- Insects
- Ocean waves
- Flowers
Symbols of home life
- The fale or home which signifies kinship
- The kava bowl which is widely accepted as the symbol of Samoan hospitality