The Body as Art in Africa Africa, a continent three times the size of the United States, is a land of incredible cultural diversity. Body art, either through painted decoration or physical alteration, is a common occurrence throughout the continent. While tattooing, scarification and other forms of decoration are often admired simply for their aesthetic value, they frequently also serve
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The Body as Art in Africa Africa, a continent three times the size of the United States, is a land of incredible cultural diversity. Body art, either through.
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The Body as Art in Africa
Africa, a continent three times the size of the United States, is a land of incredible cultural diversity. Body art, either through painted decoration or physical alteration, is a common occurrence throughout the continent. While tattooing, scarification and other forms of decoration are often admired simply for their aesthetic value, they frequently also serve important social functions.
A young Maasai girl from Kenya wears an elaborate outfit made
out of beads. Beaded decorations
are the most common ornaments
worn by Maasai men and women.
Surma men paint their bodies in preparation for donga stick fights in order to emphasize their physical beauty
and to intimidate their adversaries
No part of their bodies goes
undecorated.
…while Hamar women wear their hair in long rolled strands
Hamar girls wear their hair in tightly rolled balls…
Similarly, A Hopi girl wears her hair in a “butterfly” pattern until she gets married, after which she wears it straight.
Among the Karo peoples, yellow and white paint
transform the body, releasing the spirit of the Karo. The clay hair buns
and ostrich feathers signify that a man has killed and
enemy.
An acknowledged killer receives livestock, sexual
favors and is allowed to wear special jewelry that
signify his status.
He is also much more likely to be desired by
a women and to be seen as a suitable son-in-law by her family.
A Muslim Afar female wears the finest and most
exotic jewelry available during marriages and other celebrations. Some of it is
made locally, while some is brought by relatives
returning from overseas
Despite the Islamic code of modesty, this Swahili
woman, holding her child, reveals elaborate henna
decorations on her hand.
Scarification for many African peoples,
including this Mursi man, is considered a sign of
beauty, a means of attracting the opposite
sex.
Karo women scarify their chests to enhance their
beauty. They believe that the skin
texture of a scarified woman
holds a sensual appeal for men.
The complete scarification of a Karo man’s chest indicates that he has killed an enemy or a dangerous animal.
Tattoos are also common throughout Africa. However, while tattoos are thought to enhance one’s beauty, they also often have the purpose of displaying one’s ethnic and lineage identity, as illustrated by this young Fulani girl.
The parallel lines of scarification
identify this man as a Nuer.
Facial scarification
identifies this woman as an
Afar.
Ears plugs are worn by the
Surma women for decoration.
Lip plates are also worn by Surma
women.
* * *
It takes about six months to stretch
the lip to accommodate a full-
sized lip plate.
The final size of the lip plate indicates the number of cattle paid as brideprice.
Since the size of the lip plate indicates the number of cattle given in marriage, it visibly communicates a woman’s social status.
Tattooing and body mutilation are not exactly unknown in the U.S.
Body Ritual among the Nacirema
Body piercing represents an identity statement in the U. S.
. . . as do breast enlargements . . .
Before After
Silicon Implant
. . . even though breast enlargements
involve the insertion of a foreign object
into the body.
Liposuction is widely used to alter other parts of the body.
Women are not the only ones to
alter their physical
appearance in order to enhance
their social status . . .
. . . Many men also alter their appearance in
order to enhance their social
status.
Transvestism is also important to the identity of many gay men.
Botoxing has also become very popular . . .
. . . in order to eliminate “unsightly” wrinkles.
Here is a REAL personal identity statement.
Even some Muhlenberg faculty have been
known to decorate themselves in strange
garb.
. . . especially when the heat of the sun has fried their brain.