What do samoan people look like

While the nuances of the Matai system are difficult to articulate, the title of Matai is generally passed down from parent to child or given based on the view that the recipient will best serve the family or village.

The Matai was traditionally male, but nowadays women can gain leadership status. Matai are expected to ensure the family or village is self-sufficient and well-nourished, as well as maintaining social order among all members. Indeed, Samoan society tends to be meritocratic , whereby those with a recognised ability are often elected to the leadership of families and villages. Matai tend to gain status and influence through accumulating resources as well as their ability to mobilise and redistribute them.

Since the introduction of a cash economy following contact with Europeans, the power of Matai has been reduced. Christian missionaries in the 19th century attempted to eliminate the practice of tattooing from many Polynesian islands. However, Samoans maintained the tradition. Once a part of traditional Samoan culture, the tatau is undergoing a strong revival in contemporary Samoa.

Typically, it was only Matai who would possess a tatau. Most people will visit a local tufuga tattoo artist in their early adult years to gain their tatau. The individual will tell the tufuga about themselves, their family and their ancestry.

From there, the artist will design a tatau. The process of creating a tatau is often prolonged and painful, sometimes taking a few months to complete. Each tatau is unique, containing geometrical patterns and embedded symbols as well as carrying special meanings for the wearer of the tatau. For Matai, there are two kinds of gender-specific tatau for male and female. For women, the tatau is called malu and it covers the legs from the upper thighs to the knees. There tends to be a distinction between the urban and village areas in Samoa.

Most Samoans have lived in coastal villages and continue to do so, with about four-fifths of the population located in rural areas. In the village area, local law prevails, which can vary from village to village.

Most of those who live in the cities like Apia often move to earn more money for their families and communities. For many, living in the city is temporary as they often intend to return to their village later. While village and city life differ in terms of work and lifestyle, there are general similarities across both settings. For example, many Samoan families wake up early and begin the day with a prayer, followed by preparation for their work or school day.

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