Tattooing has long been viewed as not just body art, but a sacred practice, a rite of passage, and a reflection of identity. In our last post, we explored batok , the traditional tattoos of the Philippines, and how they connect wearers to their ancestors, status, and personal achievements. Today, we journey east to Samoa, which is home to another powerful and deeply symbolic tattoo tradition: the pe’a for men and the malu for women. Origins and History of Samoan Tattooing Samoan tattooing traces back to the broader Austronesian migration, which spread tattooing practices across the Pacific. According to legend, Taema and Tilafaiga,  were twin sisters who were joined at the spine. They traveled from their home island of Ta‘u to Fiji where they learned the art of tattooing from master artists, Tufou and Filelei. Upon returning to Samoa, Tilafaiga became revered as a war goddess, while Taema dedicated herself to tattooing and teaching the craft. Despite the pressures of colonizatio...