The Role Of Tattoos In Samoan Culture

Somoa is located in the ocean and is part of the Polynesian triangle. Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen first discovered it in 1722. In the somoan culture there are a number of significant cultural and religious beliefs that shape their society. This essay will specifically explore the following aspects of somoan society tattoos, and religion. Using a range of historical, primary and secondary sources.

Tattoos are extremely important in the somoan culture some tattoos represent the strong bond many Samoans feel for their culture. As stated by Emerald Rain Tattoos “The Samoan People believe Tattooing is a gift from the Gods. He who misuses this gift brings shame upon himself and his family. Most somoan boys where tattooed between the ages of 14-18 (when it is decided that the boy had stopped growing so the tattoo would not stretch). Samoan Culture, to live in shame is a fate worse than death.” This quote shows how valued and important tattoos are in the somoan culture. In their
Dance can be used to tell stories or to represent spiritual beliefs. Such as the Taualuga this is a traditional somoan dance. Taualuga in somoan means jumping. And in this dance jumping is used a lot. This dance is extremely scared to some somoan groups that only the village chiefs’ son or daughter was able to preform it and was only preformed by virgins. As stated by Note book somoa “the Taualuga, a graceful solo traditionally performed by a Taupou, or daughter of a high chief. The purpose of this dance is to flatter or celebrate this high chief on various occasions, or to serve as the showpiece finale at the end of a set of dances performed by an entertaining group.” This quote shows us how sacred and highly ranked dances can be such as how the Taualuga dance can only be preformed by the son or daughter of the village chief. This example depicts the sacredness of dance in the somoan culture and how important some dances can