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.