Why should Christianity beliefs overshadow Samoan culture? Samoa Malu (Female Tattoo) Definition Physical Print LolomaStudio. If we don’t protect our culture it’s not gonna mean anything to anyone. Just not his thing. Generally, Samoans are very superstitious, so I’m sure that means something lol… I wish I knew, though. I still have to cover: …and maybe one other heading. So strong is this superstition, that when girls have died before being tattooed, their friends have painted the semblance of it upon them, in order to deceive the priest, and thus escape the anger of the gods. I believe that nowadays as long as the wearer understand and proud of what he is wearing(pe’a/malofie) and what is represents then he is worthy of the Pe’a/Malofie! That said, though, you would hardly be the first Palagi to get one. In their attempt to invoke the Spirit of the Land Breeze,” they produced the following chant: Come, come, O Spirit, From the ladies of the west; O ladies with the black mouths [tattoos], Give us a fair wind. i totally agree with this comments, aua ete faamaligi toto. One night I was going to sleep and out of nowhere I heard the tatau sound twice. Hi DIY Fam. I think that culture is a beautiful thing, but it has its pros and cons.. When Jesus finally came to the Israelite’s, it was to literally turn their religion (Judaism) as they knew it on it’s head. It was also believed that having tattoos protected the wearer. Do whatever you do with alofa/ aroha and youll be sweet! He made that possible with His Sacrifice. I’m guessing your ancestors were slaves…or maybe your just bitter…what happen Samoan girl dumped you…. Each symbol has its own meaning: READY to GET your custom POLYNESIAN tattoo design READY TO INK in any tattoo shop of your area? I doubt that many would agree with this interpretation, but it makes sense to me because Manu’a is known in our history as the birthplace of Samoa’s first kings, the true origin of our Fa’asamoa. I know that it is very important for an officially titled taupou to learn the traditions and politics of her family / village, especially if she is serious about playing a visible role amongst them, but back in the day… if she wasn’t of extremely high rank in Samoa, or if she wasn’t called on to dance the taualuga very often, it was not likely (or necessary) that she would receive a malu. If you have studied history in University as i did you would have been taught of that. TATTOO MEANING: Samoan Polynesian tattoos are made up of many symbols and abstract designs. Another pattern is taken from the nets used to catch pigeons. Times are different now, yes. It also means to wring moisture from something, like wet cloth, or in the case of the pe'a process, the ink from the skin. If it is done on females, it is called malu. I know in Hawa’ii that the relations between whites and Samoans isn’t the greatest, and that whites aren’t respected much there. For me, that’s as disrespectful as it would be for a palagi man to get a malofie to just show off at the beach and brag about. Here tradition dictated that only women, not men, could wear tattoos (vei-qia) and the designs were created by skilled female artists who have been described as hereditary priestesses. So why the judging, for its him that judges, unless in our culture it was taught to get the tattoo as a symbol of worshiping anyone or thing other then Jesus himself then thats another war to go about…. only those who wear Sogaimiki malofie tatau whatever you want to call it .. the true meaning!! If you see this I’d really appreciate if you could email me at trishaphan12@gmail.com so i could have an idea of what you did to help me with my own PIP, Lol at how some people are against this article when obviously the person writing this article is a proud Samoan themself to even want to study about our culture! “FAAMILIGI TOTO” in some Religions refer to religious people who want to serve God like pastors, priests, nuns not all christians. This word is often misused, especially amongst younger Samoans today. If we get rid of it, it would just be another mystery like hieroglyphics in Egypt. Pe'a is the traditional tattoo design for men that spans from the waist to the knee. When I asked my grandma about her Malu and taulima, she just said , it was sa to talk about it. Aroha, I’m so sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Charles Wilkes, writing around 1840, stated: The women believe that to be tattooed is a passport to the other world, where it prevents them from being persecuted by their own sex, numbers of whom, by command of the gods, would meet them, if not tattooed, and, armed with sharp shells, would chase them continually through the lower regions. This video is a step by step tutorial showing how to make basic sleeve block pattern for women's garments. There’s a war between religions and it will go on and people will change religions faster then they change their ie lavalava but Samoa culture and traditions will still remain the same. First things first, I’m SO glad I found this post I must thank you so much! I’d like to address some comments about Christianity, as mentioned in your comment, princesswarrior, and hamogeekgirl if I may? Not finishing is considered by us to be an incredible embarrassment… though I don’t think he had to deal with much of that shame because he just went home to the states somewhere. Once a tauleale’a receives a malofie, he is now known as a ‘sogaimiti‘. it wouldn’t matter because it returns back to where it came from.. dust. The rest are just adornments. It seems like everybody’s got an opinion about the Samoan tattoo – who should be getting them, how they should be given, how they’re meant to be worn or displayed, etc. If you happen to watch WWE, the Oklahoma City Thunder or even just glimpsed at The Rock, you may have noticed those enchanting black patterns adorning the bodies of some of them. By Kendall Hutt. The spots at the corners of the mouth notify, on some islands, that the woman has borne children, but oftener are for the concealment of the wrinkles of age.”, German naturalist and artist Theodor Kleinschmidt added still more ethnographic observations and illustrations of Fijian tattoo customs as he encountered them on Viti. Most notoriously, the bizarre QAnon fantasy postulates that… But definitely an acquired taste – it’s not as creamy as oyster, and has more of an ‘ocean’ taste. Says the song (a loose translation): they began singing that it is men who receive tattoos, This song, which continues on to talk about enduring the pain of a tattoo for the sake of pride in your culture, is a great way to begin learning about tatau, but Tanuvasa taught us that it only tells a very simple version of its true, often controversial origin story. When it was over, her fingers and the corners of her mouth were tattooed to show that she was marriageable. He is responsible for the execution of the design and the tattooing sessions. Asian Pacific National Heritage Month - River Linguistics Inc. Also Read: Electromagnetic Spectrum and Electromagnetic Waves UPDATE 2019 – I HAVE tried faisua now, and it is beautiful! If you ever come across a book that details aspects of the Fa’asamoa, chances are it was written by Tanuvasa. Grama lived to be over 100. I feel offended if I see a non Samoan has an long sleeve taulima. Great article! In other regions of Fiji a comb-like instrument consisting of four or five finely chiseled teeth set into a bone and fixed to a light handle six inches long was dipped into a pigment of charcoal and candlenut oil. If you’re seriously consider getting it done, I’d suggest that you contact a tufuga and discuss it with him (Sulu’ape tatau is on facebook). I’ve heard the term “married into her malu alone” what does that mean? The terms are use in certain situation of event and ceremonial at the time and what cultral matai status title level. Samoa is not a tribal society. Most of the elements of the designs are purely ornamental and do not follow any specific pattern. Tattoos for males. A faapea e ke le malamalama le faa samoa ia aua gei faia kala favalevalea. The malu covers the legs from just below the knee to the upper thighs just below the buttocks, and is typically finer and delicate in design compared to the malofie, the equivalent tattoo for males. Yall were slaves for the longest so let’s not forget. The space between has been tattooed with thin lines and embellishments, some in the form of stars. However, the diamond shaped design on the back of the knee, which is also called a malu, is always present. I myself married a mixed Japanese Filipino girl and I’m in Hawaii. In my experience though, it’s usually the young man who approaches his elders with the desire for a tattoo, and as long as he hasn’t done anything horrible to make his family hate him, his request is usually approved with pride. he was cursed, or he didn’t have the right blood, etc. Ask your mum where your dad’s from and maybe surprise him. Hi Princesswarior… As fascinated as I am by Samoan tatau, I personally wouldn’t get any kind of tattoo because of my Christian beliefs. And when it comes to Polynesian tattoos, the ‘tatau’ or Samoan tattoo is one of the most popular.The art of … This is far from meaningless in some parts of Samoa. Sorry to hear about your natural father but I think you getting a Tatau is awesome. ... Each shape they produce has a different meaning. The tufuga was Suá Popo and all through the process he was explaining to me the taua and the history. It was difficult to convince anyone to give them a chance. Thank you. The meaning of pe’a in Samoan is flying fox. In The Truth about the Samoan Tattoo (Tatau) – Part 2, I talk more about the symbols in a malofie. But these are the tattoos you get to honor a loved one usually. I find this very strange. As far as I know, he’s in his 60s now with an incomplete malofie… when my mom and her relatives talk about that incident, i HAVE heard comments about the esoteric reasons this guy wasn’t able to complete his tatau (i.e. Samoans now can choose to marry anyone whom they feel comfortable with and love. Manuia le aso…and thankyou Hamo Geek for the article!…I am a strong believer of the Samaon saying ‘”Ia ta muamua lou gutu faatoa ta laia sau pe’a/malofie” It is translanted “tattooed your mouth before you get the pe’a/malofie” means the wearer must learn and understand the Aganu’u, Faasamoa, speak the traditional/oratory language before you are worthy of the pe’a/malofie. So they had to get a Malu To do their duties. Tattoos are a piece of history, a living artifact. By Kendall Hutt. I think that as our community has dispersed across oceans, we develop a stronger need to identify with all things Samoan, and we find it more important that these things remain exclusive to us. And I like the way you write (mind me, it’s getting rare to find good writers with good content on the subject at first shot). I have only recently come across your page and I love reading all your posts I have learnt so much. Well, I am not entirely sure what you mean about your “credentials,” but I think you’re asking if you’d be considered “worthy” of receiving the malofie according to the tufuga ta tatau. …you should never get one if you don’t know your culture and the fa’a Samoa way of life!…”ka muamua lou gutu ona ka loa laia lou pe’a!”…..This has stuck in my head since then! My advice would be to follow your heart and make an informed decision, and most importantly, get in touch with a tufuga ta tatau to discuss it. SO, traditionally, the malu was very rare. Every year it’s something new. Corrections: The malofie is simply a bodily decoration, that’s all. While I think they’re very beautiful and the symbols are still the same, because they don’t have the same construction as traditional tatau and therefore don’t carry as much depth of meaning, they’re considered a watered down version of the malofie / malu and therefore more appropriate for umm… everybody? For those who have no cultural influence or heritage background it is an act of disrespect to display their symbols and designs. There’s a lot of discussion about whether or not it is respectful for a palagi to get a malofie if he doesn’t belong to a Samoan family and is somewhat integrated and knowledgeable in the fa’aSamoa. I’ve already asked my dad (who speaks fluent Samoan) , but you know its always one of those “oh, tomorrorw” then when “tomorrow” comes, same thing . And nevermind the wack from the broomstick on my back for making too much noise as I washed dishes. Likewise, all patterns in a Polynesian tattoo mean something or the other that is a part of the traditions belief. Thank you again, it is truly appreciated. Name Malu Categories. I love the samoan body art and the language also the people. seriously, to those who don’t agree with the “tatau and malu” you are simply saying that you don’t agree with culture and tradition, just cause you don’t know the true importance of the tradition or you can’t handle a little sharp pain to the skin that does not give you the right to criticize or judge our cultural beliefs… Now the reason for my reply is, I’m doing a year programe of Perfroming Arts here in Wellington, New Zealand and your comment up there ^^^^ i’m going to do a story about a youngman and his grandad protecting and respecting his pe’a. The Truth about the Samoan Tattoo – Part 3. Congratulations. These days you’ll see a lot of arm bands and shoulder tats or leg and ankle bands with Samoan symbols. Do I have to be Samoan to get a Samoan tattoo? The ancestors were invoked to help guide the ceremony, making visible a genealogy of design and descent. Ma hanis. Lizard (pattern) This is a pattern or stylisation of the lizard symbol, and as mentioned above it does look rather similar to the human-form stylisation (enata). And I know that goes for quite a few Samoans and afakasi as well. I found out later that his English was almost as flawless as his Samoan, and one day he even graciously allowed me to interview him (in English) outside of the classroom. Hence this tattoo carries such meaning to some extent. The malofie has always been heavily associated with knowledge of the Fa’asamoa. He was a prolific author with 8 matai titles of his own and decades of experience educating in this field, so his authority on the topic was largely unrivaled. We do tend to place more importance on the malofie than the malu, but I believe that attitude comes from the history of these tatau. I’m still not up to part 2 but sure it will suit my research as well. I know lots of NZ born Samoan who wants one years later they still thinking .. dammit !! Its meat is apparently so amazingly delicious (says my mom, I’d love to try it!) Hope this helps . It’s as if the malu is not as important and sacred as the malofie. What u have is just a fancy pattern…if it’s not where it should be…it’s just a pattern carries no cultural value or significance. This charming name, popular in France and the Netherlands, has not traveled to the U.S. yet but would make a modern way to honor grandma Mary or Louise, or as a perfect short form of Mary Louise. What you shared is great however, tatau is a part of our culture and its not against the christian values. Malu is a word in the Samoan language for a female-specific tattoo of cultural significance. To learn the fa’aaloalo way of speaking the language and becoming fluent., which to me is something I’d rather do before rushing into getting a malofie. HI is there anyone that knows about how the 2 girls mentioned were mermaid spirit’s? love the article…..i am so proud to be a full blooded Samoa keige….thank you for your wonderful post….i cant wait to read part two….. In Fiji, tattooing is only performed by and for women, and is chiefly confined to the parts of the body which are covered by the liku or grass skirt. Most of the elements of the designs are purely ornamental and do not follow any specific pattern. Hey Uso_forever.. I’m not a scholar of history, but I doubt that Samoan culture pre-dates Christianity. According to Samoa… Like, how it would be silly for non-Irish folk to get ‘Erin go bragh’ tattoos – that might be considered offensive – whereas no one would really be care if non-Irish decorated their skin with leprechauns. I agree with the comment made by Nuu. Hi Anne..Writing this post is a little bitter-sweet for me because I was supposed to do it right after my interview with Tanuvasa. We’re talking, not just a daughter of a high chief, but the daughter of the highest chief of a district, or the daughter of a king. The tale proclaimed that the two sisters sang a song, which chanted that women are only to be tattooed, but as they neared the beach shores, the song mistakenly became reversed, indicating that only the men will be tattooed. When I was very young my Grandfather and I were very close, I grew up in Hawaii in the mid70’s. That’s very disrespectful for you to get a samoan tribal tattoo and not know the meaning and significance behind it. Samoan Dance Newspaper Photo Hawaii Hula People may not agree with what I want to do and I KNOW I will receive foul looks from many Samoans for wearing this…What do you say to people in my position who want to get work done, but people passing judgement on us which I know happens everyday but can not stand seeing a person like me wear their designs from Western Samoa?…. Once there is enough, the soot is mixed with sugar water. It is as old as Jesus. Soga’imiti is what we call a man with a malofie /pe’a. I wish I could provide one for the entire song, but I’m a bit like your dad with that – I’ll get around to it someday? This is what makes the malofie and malu so special there is a deeper meaning to it and for those outside the family the meaning is lost to them until they too bear the markings of our forefathers. These nuts were placed on a hot fire to smolder and a coconut shell was placed on top collecting the soot that came from the nuts. We have a child called Tuliomanu and she is awesome. I doubt you’d encounter any objections amongst Samoans. Her father is Hmong.. And I am German and Samoan.. And I realize now not knowing who I am.. Is causing her to not know who she is.. And I have been on this spiritual search ever since.. Ty HGG cant wait for part two! Not only a non-samoan getting it but how people these days are just getting it for fashion. Jesus spent His life teaching about the kingdom of God and therefore we must live by a heavenly kingdom culture or to be kingdom minded. As one missionary wrote, the Creator God Degei, who was a deified chief and also the snake god, punished untattooed women in the afterlife, presumably because they had not shed their scales as his daughter did, the first Fijian woman to do so. When I was a teenage he called only but once.. And cried for hours over the phone to us both.. My aunty used to teach me these things but she passed away a few years ago, so it really means a lot to me to continue learning. However, you have that pride as a Samoan. In any case, we’re all entitled to our opinions, right? Hope your make that tatau happen. This is entirely too interesting and I have so many questions. lol.. Let the conversations continue! as a teenager. That being said, some people might be offended when they see a palagi with no strong connection (whatever that means) to Samoa who wears a malofie. or purple blue..LOL. Thank you for sharing. Posted by hamogeekgirl | Tatau Samoa | 125. The Truth about the Samoan Tattoo (Tatau) – Part III | One Samoana. In fact, women were still tattooed frequently in a cave below the Nakauvadra Mountains of Viti Levu as late as the 1880s, where it is said that Adi Vilaiwasa, the daughter of Degei, received her markings. it represents royalty. See more ideas about samoan tattoo, samoan, tribal tattoos. The word tatau originates from the tapping sounds of the tool made during tattooing. In the Samoan tatau, those ideas are represented by a combination of symbols that are not so simple to extract. How would you know what culture is! When putting culture and Christianity together it will divide one way or the other. Do women have to be married to receive a malu? Understand the different types of Samoan motifs, In the Samoan tradition of applying tattoo, or tatau, by hand,has long been defined by rank and title, with chiefs and their assistants, descending from notable families in the proper birth order. Dear Silila, I love it!! Talofa lava Moana, you represent a new generation of islanders of our pacific nation whose reasons for receiving the malu or malofie are genuinely so, to represent and celebrate the changing face of our Polynesian culture. I understand the sacredness but, I wish she would tell us about her youth. My point is, culture is useful as a disciplinary strategy but tatau/tattooing is not Gods will and should no longer be encouraged for the bible says AUA ETE FAAMALIGI TOTI.. Our culture is one that is well preserved. Please correct the attitude. Be proud of your island origins and culture. Firstly, I’d like to thank hamogeekgirl for this insightful article. O le mea u a fai ai ga kala faapega? In other words, while the Old Testament shouldn’t be forgotten, Jesus changed things so we wouldn’t have live by those old Laws anymore. Sorry for what happened to you and your father. But I also know that just because i’m Half Samoan others might look at me side ways for the tatau but I believe that i’m justified in what i’m doing. From shop LolomaStudio. No..Only the Maoris and maybe other Polynesians eg Marquesas but not Samoa. It means a lot. Would it be considered to the Samoan people if a white person were to get the malofie tattoo? yeah sooo pretty!!! While living on Samoa I learned to speak enough basic Samoan to get by. In my time with Tanuvasa, this is what I learned about the Samoan tattoo: We call it ‘Tatau‘, and according to legend, it was brought to Samoa by two sisters. To be fair, Samoan culture has existed long before Christianity, and also instill the same values as Christ. The Truth about the Samoan Tattoo – Part 2 It’s not too late to try and look for him and learn about your father’s culture. Wonderful article! As one 19th century writer commented: The command of the god affects but one part of the body, and the fingers are only marked to excite the admiration of the Chief, who sees them in the act of presenting his food. enjoy readiing your post, look forward to your 2nd post. The origin of the Samoan tatau is believed to have been introduced to the Samoa islands by two Fiji women, who came ashore with the tools and knowledge of tattooing. All responses will be greatly appreciated and it is only a few questions so it will not take up too much of your time. Tattoo apprentices and helpers assist the Tafuga by stretching and wiping away the blood. I agree with everything that Lagi just said. Your slaves comment? OUR TATTOO IS NOT ONLY CULTURE, BUT MAKES US WHO WE ARE ABOUT…SAMOANS, POLYNESIA, WARRIORS, RESPECT&LOYALTY TO FAMILY!!!….AGANU’U!!!…. During Samoan ceremonial dances the women would display their malu during the traditional siva dance. yeah exactly but my point is, those equipment as you said its a(gift) from chiefs in Fiji, but I would like to say that this isn`t a made up stories or my own opinion but its from where i was educated which means those equipment it wasn`t a gift the twins brought it from a different and they carried it till they arrive in Falealupo. This circular Samoan tattoo looks good on men as well as women, because of its simplicity. Nowadays, personally I think, due to the changes in our environment and our people are widely dispersed everywhere, as long as you have that pride as a Samoan, and also your willingness to show your identity, together with your willingness to learn about your culture, you are good to have a Samoan tattoo. Those who begin the tattooing ordeal, but do not complete it due to the pain, or more rarely the inability to adequately to pay the tattooist, are called pe'a mutu—a mark of shame. Your email address will not be published. Only a section at a time is tattooed during these sessions. Sign up to get 'upega Samoana news and updates straight to your inbox: Manaui Media Limited © 2021 | Webdesign by L T Arp, Translation for Falealili Uma, a song of victory, The Truth about the Samoan Tattoo (Tatau) – Part 2. Another word for Opposite of Meaning of Rhymes with Sentences with Find word forms Translate from English Translate to English Words With Friends Scrabble Crossword / Codeword Words starting with Words ending with Words containing exactly Words containing letters Pronounce Find conjugations Find names I think if you stepped back to a time before Christian missionaries came to Samoa, you wouldn’t recognize our culture. The McCall Pattern Company, Inc., owned by CSS Industries, Inc., a public, worldwide company, designs, manufactures and sells sewing patterns under the brand names of Butterick, Kwik Sew, McCall's and Vogue Patterns, through fabric retailers and on our websites. So a ‘faisua’ is a giant clam. great discussions though. Hey Lagi .. that’s an interesting observation, and I think you’re right. Munivai correct me if I am wrong but rotuman folklore states rotumans originated in Samoa. Look at it this way it is a symbol, as a path to manhood. Read in the news today about Nike causing another cultural stir with their new Samoan designs exercise wear. ), In the mid 90s, a very prominent and talented tufuga did the unthinkable and gave the malofie to a Palagi WOMAN who paid a lot for it. During my stay I was appointed a Samoan Father that had temporarily replaced my American blood related family. Most have also married to other ethnic people. I can only speak for myself, but I definitely think you have a very good reason to get the tattoo you mention and I don’t think anyone has a right to pass judgment on you for getting it, since it expresses who you are and your love and respect for your husband’s and your family’s culture. Another symbol looks like a centipede. (Sapasui), How to Serve Tea to a Samoan Chief – and Why it Matters, 12 Alagaupu (Samoan Proverbs) about Family, The Symbols and Patterns in a Samoan Tattoo, Wearing a Samoan Tattoo with Respect and Pride. My partner and I are planning to live there next year for the culture experience. ..Fiji and Samoa had a very close relationships…Fijian chiefs couldn’t stay away from Samoan Princess as did the Tongan King and Samoan Princess…So close it almost looked like Samoa was going to become part of the Tongan kingdom. This is one of the Polynesian tattoo designs for men. Sogaimiti are elevated in status above pulau’u so that they are given the opportunity to learn more while serving within the fale of the matai. by having it as long as you wear it with respect, pride and care as a Samoan; which means you can showcase all the Samoan values along with your tattoo. What I see from the comments above, It’s discouraging and now I’m afraid of being judged because I am Maori with a Samoan husband and we have a son who speaks English,Samoan and Maori language. Other tattoos may take the form of little stars on the cheeks, legs or hands, depending on taste. I am coming to Samoa from England in April 2014 mainly as I have a love of tattoos and I have been fascinated with traditional Samoan tattoos for many years. That’s pretty freaky. wish i had space on my legs left to get something similar! You’re saying the exact same things I’ve said in this series. For me I have no issue with you getting pretty Samoan patterns in your tattoo (leprechauns), but going more traditional than that would just be… weird. 1. I have had a conversation with a tattoo artist who is of Samoan descent and has a shop of his own. Shame on me. So sad to hear the story about your father. Celtic knots and cross – Celtic tribal tattoos are also very common. Don’t let your lack of knowledge stop you from going through this very Samoan rite of passage… but I hope you will use the experience not just to learn more about the Fa’asamoa – our protocol and the spirit of our culture – but to contribute in a positive way to your family and village.

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