Motet rewritten as tribal symbol (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'tribal symbol' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'motet rewritten' is the wordplay.
'rewritten' indicates anagramming the letters.
'motet' with letters rearranged gives 'TOTEM'.
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Emblem believed to have spiritual significance" , "Symbol given (undue) respect" , "Badge of tribe etc" , "Revered symbol" , "something sacred" .)