Learn about ancient Samoan traditional tattooing from the masters of their art.
View Details about the 2008 Tisa's Tattoo Festival
View Archived Video of the 2005 Tisa's Tattoo Festival |
Tattoo Festival, October 25/26, 2008
In 1993, Tisa sponsored the first island-wide Tattoo Festival showcasing this traditional art form for the public at large. Traditional Samoan tattooing is quite a ritual, done with a shark's tooth and accompanied by an 'ava ceremony. When word got out that Tisa herself was going to be tattooed, over 500 local people attended. It's not a surprise that for her tattoos Tisa chose Tagaloa (the fertility God), and Nafanua (the goddess of war). Given the great success of the festival, Tisa introduced the idea to Western Samoa with an event hosted by Air New Zealand in 1999.
One of the premiere traditional tattoo artists in American Samoa is Tisa's cousin, “Wiz”, and customers at the Barefoot Bar can make arrangements to get their own tattoo without having to set down their mai tai! If you're not ready for a tattoo, there's also a controversial T-shirt design sold at Tisa's....it shows traditional male Samoan tattooing in all its glory. |
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Traditional tattoo tools. (credit: Unknown) |
| Learn about ancient Samoan traditional tattooing from the masters of their art. Once again, Tisa’s Barefoot Bar will make sure to have the right mix of traditional culture and ambiance (feasts, entertainment and the talents of the best tattoo artists in the region), combined with the modern necessities of a cold Vailima on demand. If you decide to brave the pain and get a tattoo, you’ll be pleased to know that the artists are all licensed and use sterilized tools, gloves and working procedures.
Traditional patterns on the tattoo are called “mamanu”, and include a variety of abstract symbols such as shell, spears, centepides, birds, waves and canoes. The traditional tools are known as “ato au”, and are carved from wild boar tusk or wild boar's tooth. Patterns are created by tapping the needles and ink into the skin.
Some artists at the festival will create traditional tattoos using modern electric tattooing equipment, but a true Samoan tattoo must be done with traditional instruments, made from sharks tooth.
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| Masters At Work (credit: Unknown) |
Samoan Tattoo (credit: Unknown) |
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| Traditional methods look like too much pain for you? Imagine getting a full pe’a – the traditional Samoan full body tattoo. Chances are that you will see at least one warrior brave enough to become a permanent canvas for ancient Samoan art. See the picture of Wiz’s pe’a on Tisa’s History page. If you like it, Wiz can make one on you! |
| Whether you’re enduring the days required for a full traditional tattoo, getting a more modest arm band, or just getting a small Samoan artwork on your ankle, you won’t get this kind of atmosphere of mutual support for getting a tattoo again until the next time Tisa host’s the Tattoo Festival, so make your plans now! |
| Join us here at Tisa’s for Tattoo Festival 2008, October 25/26! |
Tatau Links and Information:
Sacred Center Tatau - Samoan and Polynesian Tatau Studio
Pasefika Designs Tatau Information
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