Polynesian Traditional Attributes

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Part 1

Mana literally used in Austronesia to describe the ability of power to control. The powers were

seen as an occult, naturally existing and were believed to control the universe.

are known to obtain powers and responsibilities from their ascendants.

Tatau is a Samoan cultural practice considered as rites of passage. Tattoo was a symbol of rites

of passage and some took it at an art point of view as well as a way of reformation of traditions.

Pe’a is a name granted to a male traditional tattoo of the people of Samoa. It is an afflictive tattoo

done especially to men, from knees to the waists line. It’s done during special kind of events and

it usually has a solid meaning to the client. The people who perform the rituals normally use

particular tools such as wood, castanets, and shells of a turtle.

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Malu is a type of ornamentation or decoration done on the body

Moko is a permanent marking done on the body parts of people of Maori in New Zealand. The

markings were performed as rituals and they symbolized the transition from childhood to

adulthood was also for attraction to members of the opposite sex.

Whare is known as Maori’s area of residence. This is a place where they dwelled for a shelter.

together with their legends.

Tukutuku is a form of traditional fretwork of art done by the Maori tribe to decorate their houses.

Manaia is a creature used for mythical purposes in Maori culture. It’s mostly found in Maori

jewelry and carvings, it is normally depicted with a fishtail, human body, and bird’s head. It is

assumed as a serpent, a bird or a human body form sometimes.

Hei Tiki is a pendant type of an ornament used in marking scary places. They are made from

plastics, jade, stones and other forms of materials. They are ancestral commemorations and also

they represent first birth goddess.

Sydney Parkinson was an illustrator of Scottish botany and an artist of natural history. He was

the first one to patrol New Zealand amongst Europeans.

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Captain Cook was a British who explored New Zealand, he was a cartographer, a navigator and

ceremonies and some has been reserved in national museums. Basically, they rely on nature for

their artwork.

Ahu’ Ula these are cloaks made of feathers in Hawaiian tribes, it symbolized men who were

chiefly ranked in Hawaii, and the feathers were believed to offer protection over spirits.

U’u is a vowel used by Maori cultures in spelling words such as ‘Tutu’.U’u also displayed other

meanings such as flatus, U’ua would mean being productive.

Kahuna is known as wizards in Hawaiian cultures, they were magicians with different areas of

specialization such as herbal medicines and diagnosis of diseases.

Tapa is a type of clothing made of the bark of a tree, using dyes and decorations such as smoking

and stenciling. It’s won during lucrative events such wedding nowadays. Tapa may be given as a

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Queen Lili’ uokalani was a great, well-known leader, who was the last and the first of the Hawaii

Ao in Maori formally means the universe. It basically entails their cultural practices, basic

took place during the night which was rendered a special time where the Maori earth mother and

sky father cuddled together and they would separate when the light came through and this was

embodied as the beginning of the world life.

Moai were whole monumental man’s curvatures made by people in Polynesian Islands. The

monuments were symbols of ancestral living faces, they also symbolized political and religious

power and authority to the people who were scared of spirits.

Ahu in Maori traditions shows achievements, capabilities, and talents in sports and athletics.

Orongo is a kind of village in the Eastern Islands which was considered sacred and spectacular.

Rituals were performed and religious ceremonies and during this time, the chief elders would

spend time in the houses which were specially built for that given purpose.

Moaikavakava is a small amazing statue of a slightly stooped, standing man. This was a typical

example of starving men of the ancient time. They were gifted as medals to men who participated

Moka was a chief who originated from Tawake’s family. He played major roles like proclaiming

New Zealand’s independence.

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Big Man Society is a largely structured Maori’s family, whom together with other tribes, they

Ngwalundu were ancestral giant spirits of classical features of men with raised heads and well

decorated front masks.

Haus Tamberan is an ancient traditional house for worshiping with a well decorated tall wall for

initiations and rituals. Women played a role in the preparation of events, acted as observers as well

as contestants.

Part 2

1. The concept of Ao and Po relation on body and body arts.

darkness, the black night to set. It was a place of departed spirits the residence of the unknown,

the total darkness where all living things were thereafter procreated. Po basically gave an

illustration of a special kind of foods and names to newborn among other things like culture. On

the other hand, Ao meant light, or day which contrasts tonight. It gave a happy, bright and a

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night, dark, obscurity or black could mean evil. These erotic meanings also indicate a spirit world,

of the past cultures. For instance, performance body arts such as rhythm that dates back to 1974 is

closely linked with the feminine art. Secondly, body painting that was first practiced during the

funeral occasions. Moreover, the tattoo arts which involves using an indelible ink on the skin dates

back to the Neolithic arts and the first man is known to have tattooed their skin is a Chilean man

who practiced the culture of Chinchorro in the 6000 BC. Tattoos sent a cultural message that is

bravery. Likewise, piercing the body till one bleeds had a spiritual meaning that like offering

sacrifices to the gods, ancestors or the spirits. With the same token, face printing was practiced

during the Paleolithic culture and was first used by the individuals such as Shamans together with

the tribal chiefs. Of the American Indian society who used paints like henna and charcoal among

others. Therefore, just like the Po and Ao, the body, as well as body arts, have some cultural

significance that may only make sense to the communities that practiced them in the ancient times

as well as the contemporary society.

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The art concept in Polynesia was performed in three islands which

The art of Polynesian indicates the life organization, values, knowledge, beliefs and powers

certain structures. Mana is considered as a power which naturally occurs and moves through time,

within people and objects. It can as well describe and be linked to rankings, protocols, genealogy,

and fertility. The supernatural being is protected by rules known as tapu. Their status was related

to these attributes, socially by specific individuals of the society who were known to obtain

specialized knowledge of the culture like the craftsmen, chiefs who had inherited their positions

and presented their special knowledge to places which were honored sacred. This was of great

importance because it entailed the use of specific objects which were correct and appropriate to

the descent, contexts, and history that held a dignified session in the culture of Polynesia. In the

present world, artists use the contemporary life aspects and mostly media to do their crafts and

artworks. However, the art object has its own distinguished characteristics that keep them on track,

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Alternatively, there are still some vibrant changes between the modern artwork and the

3. The belief systems and role of art and architecture.

The role of art and architecture in belief systems of Abelam and Kawelka has been a major

aspect in Polynesian tradition. The Kawelka or the big men have some cultural beliefs that are

related to their artworks. They believed in donations which they called Moka. According to their

traditions, giving of donations could enable the conferrers to obtain socio-political honors. The

ceremony involved the pig's exchange. The big man family hired a spokesman to speak to a queue

of pigs, one after another singing praises and describing their blood. Their leader was not fully

authorized to rule by giving orders and power, but he would persuade his workmen to work extra

hard for success. Giving of Moka was one of the ways of enticing his people to work harder.

Abelam’s also had religious beliefs that went hand in hand with their artworks. They held

ceremonies that were attached to their lifecycles both for women and men. In females, they

celebrated their first menstruation cycle, issuing of a ring for marriage in a great house that was

especially known for meetings. In males, ceremonies such as initiation took place. It entailed a

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different styles. The Abelam artists were respected but they would in rare cases be allowed to take

supernatural beings. They believed in death, that it occurred as a result of magic and witchcraft

performed by other village men. In case of observation of a severe disease, they first checked the

until the soul was freed eternally, different souls were associated with bones and blood hence the

final one was considered eternal which was seen as stars during the night.

4. Contemporary themes of art.

who are indigenous may be those who do their work indoors or some of them may be travelers

between continents, while others may not even be of African heritage but are just inspired by the

reflective nature of African art. There are types of artists in Africa such as Afropolitanists who are

artists both in and out of Africa. Their unity comes from similar views which are shared among