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African Tattoos: Elegant and Attractive
Africa
is a vast continent and it always attracts the fascinations of the rest of the
world for its interesting traditions, fantastic wildlife, and intense
landscape. This land is also known as the cradle of humanity. The Africans are
facing poverty, capitalist exploitation and climate changes. However, they are
also popular for their ancestral knowledge and art. Most of the modern body
arts are originated from the African tribal body art. Many African tribes decorate
their body by using body paints, mud, shaving, piercing, etc. Here is an
analysis of African tattoos.
History
Of African Tattoo Designs
The traditional African societies practiced a form of tattooing, which is called scarification or cicatrisation. They scar their skin in decorative patterns. These scars can be packed with dyes or inks to form rudimentary tattoos. They cut their body in decorative patterns by using thorns or razors. Then rub charcoal into these small cuts. Mostly, these designs indicate the social rank, religious authority, political status and traits of character of these tribes. Scarification is also associated with the fertility of African women. They add scars at puberty, after delivering first child, or the end of breast feeding. These scars highlight the courage and bravery of women in suffering the pain of child birth. But, scans on buttocks and hits are associated with the sensual and erotic aspects of these parts of female body.
According to the African culture, the words 'to tattoo' or 'to scarify' mean
'to paint' or 'to draw'. The African tribes use very little clothing and their
body was seen as the canvas for decoration.Types Of African Scarification And Tattoos
Scarification varies depending on cut depth, skin type, and how the wound is treated while healing. Therefore, the outcome of scarification is unpredictable. Usually, the outcome design is simple, but its details may lost during healing. A method that works for one person may not be suitable for the other. The following are a few types of scarification.
* Branding
* Cutting
* Abrasion
* Peeling or skin removal
* Additional methods
BRANDING
Body branding is the process of striking on the skin with specifically shaped hot metals. The risk is very high in this scarification technique, so after care is very crucial. Methods used for branding are:
* Strike Branding
This process is similar to livestock branding. At first, a piece of metal is heated, then it is pressed onto the skin. It was very common during ancient times and it was used to punish criminals or to claim the ownership of slaves. However, strike branding body art is not so preferable because it is not precise. It can also spread greatly during healing process. This is not good for curved areas of body. Compared to strike branding, the more popular method is multi-strike branding. Instead of pressing hot metal at once, it is done by piece by piece. If you need a V-shaped brand, it is done by burning two lines separately with a straight piece of metal instead of using a V-shaped piece of metal.
* Cold branding
In hot branding, the metal is heated to make the branding. But in cold branding, the iron is dipped in liquid nitrogen and it is applied to the flesh.
* Electro-cauterization
This is laser branding method and it provides very fine results. Laser is effective for cutting very delicate lines and it can create intricate patterns.
CUTTING
This is a very common method to create permanent scars on the body. This is the
process of making precision cuts in the skin. A scalpel or other surgical
equipment is used for creating redesigned pattern or shape. Depending on the
final depth of scarring, the wound may be cut again and again. If the scar is
deeper, the mark will be bolder. The medical field uses the term cutting to
describe a form of self abuse. But, cutting in body modification is different.
Cutting scarification is usually practiced for achieving a personal goal, which
can be an art or life event. Various methods of cutting are:
* Ink Rubbing
Tattoo ink is used to rub on a fresh cut. When the cut heals, most of the ink
remains on your skin. It can provide you the same effects of tattoos. In other
words, ink rubbing is a poorly done tattoo.
* Skin Removal
When you cut single lines, the scars will be relatively thin. Skin removal is
the process of getting larger area of scars. First of all, outline of the skin
is removed, then the skin is peeled away. This method provides an inconsistent
texture of scars.
* Packing
People in Africa also used this type of scarring. In this process, the cut is
made diagonally. Then, ash or clay is packed into the wound.
* Hatching
Sterile surgical scalpel is used to cut the skin. Hatching technique is used
for scarring larger areas. This is an easy method and it can be done by using
only one hand.
PEELING
This is also a common form of scarification. Surgical scalpels are used for
slicing and removing sections of skin to create detailed designs on the body.
In order to get the best results, the artists remove only a minimal amount of
skin. Good after care is essential to maintain design integrity and skin
health.
Abrasion
This is the process of removing layers of skin. Inkless tattooing device is
used for making abrasions. In chemical scarification, corrosive chemicals are
used for removing skin.
ADDITIONAL METHODS
Alternative body scarification methods are available for body art lovers. These
methods are:
* Tattoo Machine
This is the process of branding or etching the skin with sinless tattoo machine
to make design or pattern.
* Injection
This process is very risky. Noxious chemicals are injected under the skin for
creating random scar designs.
Meaning Of African Scarring and Tattoos
The meaning of African tattoos are derived from African culture. The nature of
traditional Africans was superstitious. Some people wore tribal tattoos to get
protection from all sorts of harm throughout their life. They considered tattoo
as a sort of protective mask. So, they believed that the tattoos are connected
with some powers. By tattooing their body, people thought that they will get
protection throughout their life.
In this modern day, African tattoo arts are merely for decoration and they have
no values. But, the traditional minded people consider that this art makes them
supernatural and they will be able to overcome the evil. Instead of tattooing,
they used the term scarification because they think that this art makes the
wearer more than just human, which is supernatural.
The Africans tattooed their body to portray their character. Through
scarification or tattoos, the Africans reveal their brevity and courage.
Scarification is very painful. Immense strength is needed to do this art.
The first African tattoo was found in 1994 BC on a 5000 year old mummy.
Africans are black skinned people. So, black ink will not be visible in their
body. So, the Africans used this peculiar type of body art, cicatrisation.
Africans use different symbols while designing their body. The visual symbols,
Adinkra was created in West Africa by Gyaman of Cote and Akan of Ghana. It
represents aphorisms or concepts.
The dark pigmented skin of indigenous Africans was not ideal for tattooing.
This was the reason behind the development of scarring. When they open the
skin, they break the uppermost layer of pigment and filled it with slightly
lighter shades of scar tissues. Many African provinces practice scarification
even today.
Beauty
Africans use scars to beautify their body. They start this process of
beautification from childhood. Though there are other reasons for
scarification, quest for beauty is the ultimate goal.
Protection from Death
Spirituality plays a significant role in the culture of African people. Most of
the people believe that the spirit is around them. By making facial scars, they
believed that the scar wearer will be less desirable to the spirit of death.
So, the meaning of scar is protection as well.
Family Pride
African people made scars on their body to display their family pride. They
consider scars as the signs of respect and love from the sisters for their
brother. They also consider that it brings honor to their entire family.
Fertility
Young women often wear abdominal scars, which is the indication of their willingness
to bear children. African culture considers it as the most desirable quality of
future wife. Scars looked as erogenous due to the tender nature of women.
Strength and Courage
Scarring is highly painful. So, it is considered as the test of courage. Greater personal strength is required to get through this procedure. If a person cries out in pain, it is considered as a humiliation. The amount of scarring in the body of a person is correlated directly with her/his perceived strength. If a person has more scars, he/she will get more respect within the community.
According to the history of African scarification, scars were created in different ways. It depends on the purpose of scars. Sometimes, a Y shaped blade is used to make the scar. But sometimes, skin is pushed up with fish hooks. Then slice the flesh with a sharp blade. After inflicting the wounds, they will be inflamed by rubbing with ashes or other substances. So, these scars will become heavier.
Though scarring is an ancient art, it will never fade away. Scarification is practiced by many people around the world. Body painting, henna tattoos, face painting, body piercing and scarification are derived from African body art. Today, very less tribes practice these types of body decorations. But these body arts ignite the enthusiasm of people in the Western world. So, these types of art are very popular today. Many African tribes practiced scarification. But, it is also very rare today. People in the US consider scarification as body alteration and they practice it as an alternative to tattooing.
Scarring is highly painful. So, it is considered as the test of courage. Greater personal strength is required to get through this procedure. If a person cries out in pain, it is considered as a humiliation. The amount of scarring in the body of a person is correlated directly with her/his perceived strength. If a person has more scars, he/she will get more respect within the community.
According to the history of African scarification, scars were created in different ways. It depends on the purpose of scars. Sometimes, a Y shaped blade is used to make the scar. But sometimes, skin is pushed up with fish hooks. Then slice the flesh with a sharp blade. After inflicting the wounds, they will be inflamed by rubbing with ashes or other substances. So, these scars will become heavier.
Though scarring is an ancient art, it will never fade away. Scarification is practiced by many people around the world. Body painting, henna tattoos, face painting, body piercing and scarification are derived from African body art. Today, very less tribes practice these types of body decorations. But these body arts ignite the enthusiasm of people in the Western world. So, these types of art are very popular today. Many African tribes practiced scarification. But, it is also very rare today. People in the US consider scarification as body alteration and they practice it as an alternative to tattooing.
Tribes in Africa practice face painting and body painting during events such as kids' parties. Modern scarification is practiced in sterile environments. Today, scarring takes place in well lighted body art shops. They use sterilized surgical tools as well. Peroxide or petroleum jelly is used to encourage irritation of the wound. During the prolonged healing process, scabs are peeled away gently.
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Though the African tattoos and scarring are very popular, it is a personal
choice. Just like tattoos, scarring is also permanent. The rich and decorative
practice of African body art continues to dominate the other parts of the
world. So, you can also consider African body art if you are serious about body
decorations.
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