African Symbols

Bush spirit tattoo

In Africa, the warm climate and tradition allowed for minimal clothes. The operation associated with cutting and raising scars had been widespread, as tattooing was not effective on dark pigmented skin types. Scarification is a irreversible procedure intended to decorate and beatify one’s body, and was considered artistic and had cultural significance.

Drum tattoo

The process involved puncturing or cutting of symbols, patterns and motifs into the higher layers of the skin area. Various methods produced different types of scarring, a few subtle, others obvious. Ash and specific organic saps were added to the wound to help make the scars a lot more visible. Scarifiction for Attractiveness Scars are thought to enhance the body, and this process for beautification by means of scarification often began during earlier childhood days, especially for young African girls. The scarring occurs in the course of traditional rituals to celebrate the start of age of puberty, the first menstrual period and childbirth. Whilst there are other reasons for the procedure of scarification, beauty was nearly always a part of the reason. African pictures of Tattoos. Tattoo Scarification on the face Scarification is also seen as a test of courage. Scarring is extremely uncomfortable, and demands tremendous personal strength. To be able to get through the practice without shouting out from distress was a sign of ones strength and courage. To have done so would certainly be humiliating.

The quantity of scars on any persons body demonstrated ones bravery and toughness; the greater the scars a person had, the more honored he/she was within his or her group. Tattoo Scarification for Fertility Scarring is particularly valued in younger women who are marriageable age group. Tummy scars are seen as being an sign of a female’s willingness to have children. According to African culture this is considered a very attractive quality in a future spouse.The scars are also viewed as sexual, due to their tender nature. They are thought to make a woman a lot more receptive to her husband’s sexual attention. Other types of ritual mutilation had and have, nothing to do with beauty and every thing to do with the control of woman. Mutilation of the sexual parts is even now used today in many countries. The pleasure associated with having intercourse is damaged and this is intended to prevent the woman from becoming unfaithful. African Pictures make great tattoos. Tattoo Scarification for tribal and family honour. Scarring can also be a subject of family honour. The coming of age ceremony for any young male can include asking his sisters to endure a ritual beating which leaves their backs scarred and bloody. These scars will be seen as symbols of love and respect by the sisters for their brother. The young ladies put up with the ritual without indicating their own pain. This brings honor to the entire family. Tattoo Scarification for Protection Spirituality plays an important role in African culture, many Africans believe in the existence of spirits around them, good as well as wicked. Facial scarring is sometimes employed to help make a man or woman less desirable to the spirit of Death. In such cases, scarring is used as a means of protection. Ancient Art of Tattoo Scarring In keeping with Africa scarification background, scars were produced in various techniques, depending on their particular objective. Some slices were made with “Y” shaped cutters, whilst some were produced by drawing the skin upwards with fish hooks and slicing the flesh using a very sharp blade. Once the wounds were infected, they were further damaged through rubbing them using ash as well as various other natural herbs to ensure better scar tissue. The procedure extended the healing period and the outcome was a better scar or tattoo. Modern Day Scarification Scarring might be ancient, but it is not one that’s going out of fashion. Although scarification may be in not used as much as it used to be in Africa, many other individuals from around the globe have embraced the art. It seems that numerous forms of body art or body mutilation, such as piercings and so on have taken hold. The reason for scarification and tattoos in modern time are pretty much the same as they have always been. They’re are employed to decorate the body with exotic designs. Tattoos and scarring are additionally used as a ceremony of passage and a test of inner power. Once you’ve been through such painful experience, you are stronger in the face of normal life difficulties. How is scarifiaction carried out? In the old days primitive methods were used. Modern scarification happens in a well lit tattoo shops, using modern medical tools. The wounds are improved or “irritated” by putting peroxide and/or petroleum jelly on to them, and the scabs are peeled away in order to help to make the healling process lengthier thereby making the scar more pronounced. African Tattoo and scarification background The oldest tattoo was found on a mummy of Amunet, a priestess of the Goddess Hathor, from 2160-1994 BC.

The mummy’s simple tattoos were parallel lines on her arms, legs, as well as an elliptical pattern underneath the woman’s navel. Interestingly, no male mummies found in Egypt had tattoos. Historians believe these designs symbolized fertility and restoration in females. In other parts of Africa, male mummies have been found to have tattoos or imagesbelieved to be related to sun worship. In the burial place of  Seti I, going back to 1300 BC, tattoos symbolizing Neith, a Brutal battle Goddess, have been discovered on men. The very first recognized tattoo of a human being was found on Nubian female mummies, goingback to 400 BC. The tattoo image portrayed the “God associated with Sex and overseer of orgies”, Bes. Another type of earlier body ornamentation was ‘cicatrisation’ or “scarification”. The word cicatrisation is derived from the French term, cicatrices, which means ‘scar’.

This particular type of body decoration was widespread between the darker-skinned peoples of Africa. As African pictures did not show up on the dark skin of African peoples, African tattoos were not widespread, but in saying that there were and are many black folk who have beautiful picture tattoos.