Dr Sonny Natanielu gives his insights re: "Tongan Malu"

[@pmnnews9698]

​If you enjoyed this video, then go to our News website for more stories www.pmn.co.nz: And don't forget to listen to our breakfast news show Pacific Mornings, each weekday from 6am-9am, on Radio 531pi via iHeart Radio, rova or on these frequencies throughout New Zealand: Auckland 531 AM | Whangarei 103.6 FM | Hamilton 103.4 FM | Tauranga 103.8 FM | Rotorua 103.9 FM | Taupo 104.0FM | Hawke’s Bay 103.9 FM | Taranaki 103.9 FM | Manawatu 103.4 FM | Wellington 103.7 FM | Wellington 104.1 FM | Christchurch 104.1 FM | Dunedin 103.8 FM | Invercargill 103.6 FM

[@vailevi7869]

Tatau plays a significant role in the samoan culture and I believe that if it did the same to any other culture then we wouldn't have this conversation. Growing up in the village I always wanted a tatau but to get one you have to earn it. When you're old and strong enough you join the aumaga and that is where you learn to perform certain tasks and special skills. From the umu or cooking to performing cultural ceremonies to speaking the language chiefs speak. When you master all that you'll then be honored to have a tatau if you wish. If you do ,you're now entitled to have a tatau and become a soga'imiti, not a chief yet but you've earned it to be a leader of the aumaga. Now you teach those under you and let them perform their skills under you watchful eyes. Once they master those skills they too will have earn their tatau move up to be leaders of the aumaga while you now earned a spot on the next level as a chief .Once bestowed a chief title your days of serving are over you'll now sit amongst the chiefs and be served. And that is why we didn't lose our tatau. It is part of our culture .As for me l struggled with those skills and that is why I dont have it. Tatau is not for show or for strength, it has purpose and has meaning within the samoan cuture.God bless.

[@SiosaiaTuitavake]

Most selfish explanation I’ve herd so far lol man your narrow mined usi i mean uso fucking ufa I’m gonna go get a pea and you cannot do shit about it 😂 that’s your answer

[@andrewfaasau]

In my humble opinion, the art form of tattooing has been an integral part of Polynesian culture since they first sailed into the Pacific Ocean some 4,000 years ago. All Polynesians practiced the art of tattooing and, due to the isolation of the islands they settled on, developed their own unique designs and motifs. Therefore, tattooing is not exclusive to Samoa. The writings of early European explorers like Ferdinand Magellan, Abel Tasman, James Cook, and Louis Bougainville describe the tattoos of the Polynesians they encountered in the islands they visited. Their accounts often included detailed drawings of the tattoo designs and motifs. However, the practice of tattooing was discouraged or outright banned with the arrival of missionaries. Other factors, such as the demise of the "Tufuga Ta Tatau" (tattooists), who were highly regarded in Polynesian societies, due to wars or disease, may have also contributed to the tradition being lost in some Polynesian islands. Fortunately, the tradition survived in Samoa. It is also interesting to note that tattooing persisted in Polynesian islands outside the Polynesian Triangle. These include islands in Melanesia and Micronesia settled by Polynesians during the westward migration voyages 4,000 years ago referred to as Polynesian Outliers, such as Tikopia and Anuta in the Solomon Islands, and Nukuoro Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia. According to Nukuoro oral tradition, it was first settled by a group of Samoans led by Vave, the son of a king from the Manu'a islands in Samoa. This suggests that there were both westward and eastward long voyages back then. So I think it's a good thing if Tongans want to reconnect and preserve their rich heritage and ancestral art forms by reviving their traditional tatau.

[@vailima49aston99]

For me as a Samoan I think Tonga Fiji and Samoa all had tattoos I think I read somewhere that Tonga stopped tattooing when Christianity came to Tonga where as Samoa kept it going , even kuki islands and Tahiti had tattoo

[@sepetisionelatu5539]

One historian said, Everybody found continents and the Polynesians found rocks (islands) out in the biggest ocean the Pacific Ocean. Polynesians are the best navigators and sea travelers period.

[@League_life]

Spot on!! All pacifika was connected until western culture separated us.

[@kamokauapasekab2208]

He’s right,what he’s saying about samoa and Tonga ,and also the rest of the pacific.the palangi is making this division,but we all one people the people of Oceania.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@lextai6470]

@@kamokauapasekab2208 No disrespect to Tonga but we're not one

[@vikparker736]

U need to grow up, we are one. Your colonised brain is talking ​@lextai6470

[@lenetanielu9893]

This is a broad daylight robbery of "Measina like the Malu, Malofie, Pe'a, Soga'imiti", which is significant to Samoan culture and people. The fact that all Polynesians have the art of "tatau" (tattooing), does not necessarily give others the right to rob Samoan of their cultural identity.

[@PhilipVili]

Sonny's position should be embraced from an intellectual pt , more studies required by individuals to confirm ones stance, I am open to hear all that, tap into more b4 any conclusions on my behalf. Some interesting ref : Fijian veiqia, tongan tatatau n Samoan malu I invite all to entertain that God bless ❤❤❤

[@springwater3723]

Coming from a Tongan this shouldn’t even be a topic there’s no such thing as a Tongan Malu this is just one individuals opinion

[@mikeoxmaul5465]

Alu moia faeluaki mo panita’e 😂😂😂

[@Titus.99]

​@@mikeoxmaul5465teepilo there's no tongan malu

[@tamaManuatele]

Wow. A man from another country knows that Olohenga is a part of Manu'a. Thats the truth.

[@Que684]

TONGANS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT JUST DONT CALL IT MALU

[@terrytavita872]

Samoa is not a european concept. A gae magigo a faalupega o samoa. Mai le kai samasama a le kui magu'a se'i paia le kai ulaula a gafagua. Ua leva a ga develop le gagana, tu ma aga faa samoa. Aua eke kaumafai fua e gigi faasapasui faakasi ma isi moku ole pasefika. Kele o isi mea gae eke kalagoa mai ai mo lapisi.

[@lextai6470]

Malo le Saugoa Uso

[@mikeoxmaul5465]

Kefe leafaapalagi eke malamalama le aiga pasifika

[@lextai6470]

Kei a ua Aiga pasefika laso

[@zm1172]

​@@mikeoxmaul5465 What's up with the disrespect? Why do you think it's okay to cuss out a or any Sāmoan IN our language? Because you don't AGREE w/his comments that he has EVERY right to??? That's pretty immature AND despicable behavior. #REALTalk WHENEVER "people" feel the NEED to BROACH A Topic that "INVOLVES" The Nation of 🇼🇸Sāmoa🇦🇸 then it BECOMES The "BUSINESS" AND "RIGHT" of EVERY Sāmoan who wants to GET INVOLVED and "NO ONE" else's. If you're NOT Sāmoan, why does it AFFECT you so negatively?? You should LOOK into that. ASK yourself why.👍🏼

[@zm1172]

​@@mikeoxmaul5465 Despicable.

[@josephwilliams3494]

Great explanation.

[@johnthomasdesign]

tatau = marks of service not marks of ...position or condition? I didn't quite get that last part.

[@fekelatu2070]

Maa lahi tokoua

[@zm1172]

My Point pertains "SPECIFICALLY" to Sāmoa's🇼🇸🇦🇸 "MALU." WHICH has been the MAIN "Topic" of some "DISRESPECTFUL," RIDICULOUS, AND FRANKLY Idiotic "Talanoagas." #REALTalk👍🏼 IT'S ABOUT SĀMOA'S "MALU" aka "SĀMOA'S" MEASINA. *** "MEASINA".... As IN A "PROTECTED," "A National TREASURE," Sacred as in NOT Holy BUT "HIGHLY Regarded." I put EMPHASIS "ON" the word "PROTECTED."👊🏼 The following was respectfully written by Mr. Fa'amausili but w/"my" take on it. There is NO such thing as a "Tongan" MALU, NEVER was. NO History. FULL STOP. There is no such thing as a "Niuean" MALU. There is no such thing as a "Cook Island" MALU. Or a "Maori" MALU. Here's a short summary of "TRUE" Accounts, "BACKED" History, AND "BACKED" FACTS for those of you (including Sāmoans) who DON'T KNOW your History. Sāmoa's "MALU" and "MALOFIE" aka PE'A, "IS" A "MEASINA" Samoa. "BORN" AND ORIGINATED from Samoa. PASSED DOWN from Generation to Generation. An "UNBROKEN" Practice of adorning our bodies with "OUR" Ancestor's (also "BACKED") INDIGENOUS Motifs/Symbols/Markings; DEPICTING "THEIR" LIFE'S Story, "THEIR" History, "THEIR" IDENTITY, "ORIGIN," Values, Beliefs, "Traditions" etc. Going BACK THOUSANDS+ of years... Throughout the years, there have been slight changes to the structure of Sāmoa's "MALU," that reflects "OUR" History with the introduction of Christianity. It makes absolutely "NO" sense To "TAKE" Samoa's "MALU" **STRUCTURE** which is INTRINSICALLY "LINKED" with Samoa's "ANCESTRAL'S," Cultural History, Aganu'u, Fanua, etc.. and SUPPLANT it with patterns from "OTHER" islands. To me, it's the EPITOME Of "BLATANT" DISRESPECT. NO Doubt. LOOK to "YOUR OWN" History, DO YOUR "research" and go to the right practitioners who may help you to wear something that IS CONNECTED to "YOUR" Culture, and "NOT" Appropriate from your neighbors. IF you're "using" A WORD from "ANOTHER" Language to "describe" the markings you want, it is a pretty CLEAR "Indication" that THOSE "markings" are "NOT" Indigenous to you or your culture. The responsibility of UPHOLDING the "Integrity" of "OUR" Cultural Markings is on "BOTH" the (RESPECTED) Practitioner/Tufuga AND the person seeking to wear "their" cultural marks. This is about being AUTHENTIC and being GOOD, TrustWORTHY, Stewards of "OUR" Legacies, for GENERATIONS to come.

[@jmjm1920]

Tatau from Ancient Tongan Lapita Origin Settlement of Polynesia 😊

[@dazloman5015]

100 percent agreed..and I wish that the tatau for that tongan should have never been called Tongan Malu ..Malo aupito.

[@phoenixsun6050]

Can sit and listen to the USO allday!

[@lextoa4191]

Soia ke pepelo

[@mikeoxmaul5465]

Sonny you have a Tongan citizenship now😂❤ 🇹🇴

[@99foki]

Great explanation braddah

[@p0ooLahH]

Although Pacific islands are all connected through history and culturally connected, our Samoan pe’a is a very distinctive art that defines us. our Measina/treasure is very distinctive to Samoans. Each island country has their own distinctive symbols/motifs that signifies/identifies who they are to the world. In other words, what exactly makes them stand out. As the world can see, our pe’a, tatau for men and malu for women, is what identifies us as Samoans. Our ancestors were marked with the symbols of mana, and up to now our people are still marked carrying on a unique culture that never died! Our Tongan brothers and sisters surely had their own tattooing symbols back then but surely was not called “malu”. I hope some1 can research deeply and finally finds out the true term for the Tongan tattoo. Until that comes to light please leave our “malu” out of your dialogue faafetai.

[@motivate-your-mindset]

100 % Sonny, Tattoos are a significant part of many indigenous cultures, serving as a way to express identity, cultural values, and spiritual beliefs. End of story!!

[@shibainferno]

That’s why I only talk about All-In-Nesians, baby!

[@vuniwaipeter5796]

Vinaka bro ! I am a native Fijian . I found Tongan cousins through my DNA . I than google search: What is the mtDNA of native Fijians . It will say about 80% Asian and the rest is Melanesian. The reason for mtDNA is because it’s pass through the mothers. I enjoy the talanoa you are having so much. This should be shared throughout the pacific.

[@vailevi7869]

Interesting concept, I believe all cultures are a gift from God. All link to one original culture The culture of Christ.

[@Waynosggwiwi]

WRONG !!!

[@vailevi7869]

God is great

[@MisiPele-m1d]

Take your Ancient Near East god and GTFO.

[@kOt985]

Your body is a temple. Stop contradicting yourself.

[@HayzRylee]

True story matua awesome to listen to again some thought provoking content

[@chicotata]

If our language is so similar. Why is it so far fetched that we all call it Malu? I think this Dr has a point. We were ONE ☝🏽.

[@theephraimite]

Samoans and Tongans are closely related. Even Malietoa was related to the Tuitogas, even when they had the war, as were many other Samoan kings and chiefs.

[@penskyfile5290]

Bro, there’s no going back to Babel. Connecting polynesians is akin to linking the middle east. It can’t be done nor should it be.

[@zm1172]

@@penskyfile5290 Interesting that you bring this up.. I'm genuinely curious to know why you say it can't be done, nor should it be? Can you explain?

[@essji2024]

Muahahaha BS!!!!

[@izzyp1873]

Yeah nah.

[@whetuification]

TAU KE! MIHARO KORERO! PONO KORERO! 1 BILLION PERCENT " TAUTOKO "

[@KindergartenOne-vw3bi]

What's wrong with naming things Tongan, it would sound awesome, TonganMcnugget,Tongan in the box,Mctongans,United States of tongans,tongXmas,Carl's tongan,waltongan, rock,papers and tongans,on your marks get set ready and tongans,it goes on and on

[@chicotata]

If our language is so similar. Why is it so far fetched that we all call it Malu? I think this Dr has a point. We were ONE ☝🏽.