The World of Maori Tattoo

In the traditional Maori world, the moko, the facial or body tattoo, was a sign of great mana and status. Male warriors wore elaborate tattoos on their faces and bodies; women took more delicate chin tattoos. After almost dying out in the twentieth century, Maori tattooing is now experiencing a powerful revival, with many young Maori wearing the moko as a spectacular gesture of racial pride. Mau Moko: The World of Maori Tattoo, by Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, with Linda Waimarie Nikora, is a lavishly illustrated look at the moko, from pre-European times to the present day.

December 2007 / ISBN 978-0-8248-3253-7 / $49.00 (CLOTH)