Samoan tattoos narrate life's journey on the skin

Samoan tatau, traditional tattooing rituals, mark life's milestones with intricate geometric patterns. For men, the pe'a covers the body from waist to knees, a rite of passage into manhood. Women receive the malu, a lighter design on thighs and lower back, symbolizing grace and family roles. These tattoos, created with ancient bone or boar tusk tools, are renowned for their intense pain and the endurance required.