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Samoa Tattoo has an interesting history that can be traced back to the visiting of two sisters (Tilafaiga and Taema) to Fiji to meet the daughter of King's Tuimanu'a. It is said that they were gifted with a tattooing instrument. On the way home they sung a song which goes like "women are tattooed and men are not".
On their way they came to Samoa and gave the tattooing instrument to the people of Savai. Samoa Tattoo was applied on the young men at once because they have heard the song of the sisters who reversed the chant singing the first part last in their confusion. Thus among the youths of Savai tattooing became a mark of distinction.
However, strangely enough Tattooing in Samoa was only practiced on women of rank. Ordinary women were privileged to use tattoos. This distinction made Samoa Tattoos popular among the youths of Samoa. They considered it to be a sign of their manhood.
In Samoa the right to perform tattoo is hereditary. Apprentices are trained by experienced tattooed artist until they were allowed to perform independently. Samoa Tattoo tradition gives the wife of the artist great honor. She used to wipe out the blood of the tattooed person. She is named Meana'i (the helper of the artist). She is well paid and she shares the payment and gifts with her husband in the course of tattooing which takes nearly three months.
The relatives and friends come from far and near during this operation to help. Food, robes and tapa clothes are brought by them as the payment of the artist and his wife. Samoa Tattoo has become very popular among the local people.
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