Overview

The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group native to the Samoa Islands (Independent State of Samoa and American Samoa) in the South Pacific.
They are known for the fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way)—a traditional social system based on extended family, hierarchy, and communal living. Samoan culture features rich oral mythology, elaborate tattoo traditions, communal gatherings, and strong connections to land and ancestry.
There are over 250,000 Samoans living in the islands and over 600,000 worldwide, including significant diaspora communities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Location (Continent/Region)

• Continent: Oceania
• Region: Polynesia
• Samoa (Independent State), American Samoa, with large communities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Samoan Flag and Symbols

Traditional Tattoos (Pe'a and Malu)

• Male: Pe'a
• Female: Malu The Samoan Fale (traditional house)

Traditional Tattoos: Pe’a and Malu

What if a single line of ink were more than decoration?

In Samoa, the traditional tattoo, called tatau, is a lifelong mark of service, family, and belonging. The word “tattoo” itself is widely believed to come from this Polynesian word.

Pe’a: the male tattoo

The pe’a covers a man’s body from around the waist down to the knees in dense, dark geometric patterns. The name is said to come from the Samoan word for the flying fox (fruit bat). Traditionally, a pe’a marked a man’s readiness to serve his family and village (tautua), so it was a rite of passage rather than a fashion choice.

Malu: the female tattoo

The malu is the women’s tattoo. It is finer and lighter, with delicate patterns on the thighs, usually from the upper leg to just behind the knee. The word malu is often linked to shelter and protection. Historically it was associated with women of high rank, such as the taupou, the ceremonial village maiden.

The master tattooist

Traditional tattooing is carried out by a tufuga ta tatau, a master tattooist. The title is hereditary and passes down through certain families. The tools are made from natural materials:

• ‘au: a comb with teeth made from boar tusk (bone), attached to turtle shell and a wooden handle
• sausau: a small mallet used to tap the comb into the skin
• Ink: made from soot, traditionally from burned candlenut

Assistants stretch the skin and wipe away blood and ink. A full pe’a can take weeks to finish, and the pain is part of the meaning. A man who gives up halfway leaves an unfinished pe’a (pe’a mutu), which is traditionally seen as bringing shame on his family. When the work is complete, the family usually holds a celebration with gifts such as fine mats and food.

The legend of Taema and Tilafaiga

One widely told legend says two sisters, Taema and Tilafaiga, swam from Fiji to Samoa carrying the tools of tattooing. They sang that women should be tattooed, not men. As they neared the islands, the words of the song were reversed, which is why men receive the pe’a, and women the malu.

Tattoos today

Many Samoan men and women still receive the pe’a and malu today, including in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Some choose the traditional method, while others use modern tools. For many, receiving a tattoo is an act of reconnecting with ancestry. Samoans also tend to see the pe’a and malu as earned marks of commitment. Copying them as a purely decorative design, without understanding their meaning, is often seen as disrespectful.

History and Society: Fa’a Samoa

A 3,000-year story

People arrived in the Samoa Islands about 3,000 years ago, part of the Lapita voyagers who sailed across the Pacific. Along with neighboring Tonga, Samoa is often called the cradle of Polynesia, because Polynesian language and culture took shape here before later voyagers sailed on to Tahiti, Hawai’i, and Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Fa’a Samoa: the Samoan way

Fa’a Samoa is the system of customs and values that organizes daily life. At its center is the aiga, the extended family, which includes relatives near and far. Each aiga is led by a matai, a family chief chosen by the family. Matai fall into two main kinds: ali’i (high chiefs) and tulafale (talking chiefs, or orators). The matai of a village sit together in the fono, the village council, which makes decisions about community life.
Three values hold the system together:

• Alofa: love and compassion
• Fa’aaloalo: respect, especially toward elders and chiefs
• Tautua: service to family, village, and church

Most land in Samoa is customary land owned collectively by families, not by individuals.

The open house

The traditional Samoan house, the fale, has a domed thatched roof and no walls. Woven blinds (pola) can be lowered against rain or wind. It is built for gathering, and it fits a society where family life is shared openly.

Church, colonial rule, and independence

Christianity arrived in 1830 with missionaries of the London Missionary Society, and today the church is central to village life. During the 19th century, Germany, Britain, and the United States competed for influence over the islands. In 1899 the islands were divided: the western islands came under German control, and the eastern islands became what is now American Samoa. New Zealand took over the west in 1914. In the 1920s and 1930s, the nonviolent Mau movement pushed for self-rule. On January 1, 1962, Western Samoa became independent, the first Polynesian nation to do so in the 20th century. It adopted the name Samoa in 1997.

A people across the ocean

Migration to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States has built a global community of over 600,000 Samoans, more than double the population of the islands. Families abroad send money home and return for weddings, funerals, and matai title ceremonies, so the connection with the islands stays strong across generations.

Language

• Name：Samoan (Gagana Samoa)
• Language Family：Austronesian > Polynesian
• Speakers：Over 500,000 (Samoa, American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, USA, etc.)
• Grammar：Tends toward VSO (Verb–Subject–Object) word order, uses prefixes and particles for grammatical structure.
• Usage：Official language in Samoa and American Samoa; widely spoken in diaspora communities.

Script

Writing System

• Script：Latin alphabet
• The Samoan orthography was formalized by missionaries in the 19th century.
• Consists of 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 14 consonants.

omniglot.com　omniglot.com

Common Samoan Greetings and Phrases

Note

“Manuia” means “good/lucky” and is used in various greetings and wishes.

Language Origin & Historical Background

• Samoan is a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan, Hawaiian, and Māori.
• The Samoa Islands have been inhabited for over 3,000 years, with language and culture developing in relative isolation.
• English influence increased in the 19th century, but Samoan remains a vibrant, living language today.

Access Guide

The currency of the Samoan people is the Samoan Tala (WST).

0.31 EUR / 0.36 USD / 53 JPY / 2.63 CNY / 0.57 AUD / 0.47 SGD / 2.87 HKD / 0.27 GBP / 31.83 INR
https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

The currency shown here is the official currency (Tala) of Samoa, where the Samoan people mainly live. Different currencies may be used in other countries.

Access to Samoa (Apia, Faleolo International Airport APW)

Traditional Games

For Children

Lau Mu'a

Games with coconut leaves or stones, involving skill and competition.

Rhythm and Singing Games

Handclapping and traditional songs (such as “songa”).

For Adults

Siva Tau

Warrior dance, also performed by the national rugby team.

Traditional Wrestling and Sumo (Fusuaga)

Ava (Kava) Ceremony

Ritual drink and social bonding.

Siva Dance

Elegant group dance performed by both men and women.

Introduction video

Summary

・The Samoans are a Polynesian people whose roots in the Samoa Islands reach back about 3,000 years.
・Fa’a Samoa, built on the extended family (aiga), chiefs (matai), and the values of alofa, fa’aaloalo, and tautua, shapes daily life.
・The Samoan language, Gagana Samoa, is spoken by over 500,000 people worldwide.
・The pe’a and malu tattoos are lifelong marks of service, family, and belonging.