Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II
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Su'a Sulu'ape Paulo II was a tufuga ta tatau born in Matafa'a near Lefaga, Samoa but based in New Zealand since the 1970s. He was born into one of the leading families of tattooists tufuga ta tatau in
Su'a Sulu'ape Paulo II
Peʻa
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Peʻa, or malofie, is the traditional male tattoo of Samoa. It covers the body from the waist to the knees, and consists of perfectly symmetrical heavy black lines, arrows, and dots. It is a common mis
Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II
…in a legend about two sisters, Tilafaiga and Taema who brought the tools and knowledge of tattooing to Samoa. The Samoan male tattoo (tatau) is the pe'a. The female tatau is the malu. Paulo was axed to death by his wife, Epifania Sulu'ape, after she learned that he planned to leave her for his Swedish…
Peʻa, Samoan male tattoo
Back view of Samoan male with peʻa, c. 1890s, photo by Thomas Andrew
Tattooist, tufuga ta tatau, (left) and assistant (right) tattooing a man's back, c 1895, photo by Thomas Andrew