Tattoo and Body Art of Africa

Body Art may have become a popular fashion statement in the recent times, but its origin has been traced to many ancient times and has been very popular in different regions of the world among various cultures and tribes. It has been seen that every culture and race in the world has something unique about it that gives it a unique identity. Body Art or Tattoo has been one such form which has been exclusive to that particular tribe or race of people.

Men and women both sported such body art and the designs and patterns created were usually symbolic of their gods or other divine forms that they used to worship and follow. Some designs were also believed to have marked battles or ancestral relationships with their gods or forefathers and sometimes of reincarnation. Women would get tattooed, often after their marriage to mark their dedication to their husband and children. Thus a persons body art used to tell a lot about the person.

However the body art patterns differed from region to region and from tribe to tribe. This is because every civilization has its own cultures and traditions, and accordingly has its specific symbolization which were depicted through tattoos and body art. For example the tattoos of African origin differed greatly from those of the Mayan or Polynesian origin. But in the modern day as the cast and race barriers have broken down, the different patterns and designs of different origins are being merged to create great tattoos and body art. The art styles of every ancient civilization is being studied and worked upon to create excellent patterns and styles for the latest trends.

The most popular style is the Celtic style which was of the U.K origin. Since Christianity was the religion of the founders of the Celtic style, the designs and patterns are greatly influenced by this religion. It has many designs of the holy Cross and also the tree of life and the design of the Holy Trinity. Celtic tattoos are mostly simple in design and hence are completed in one sitting at the most. They look great in dark ink.

Similarly the African body art has also been driving the modern fashion industry by craze. This is because of its unique symbolism and rugged styles and looks. Most of the African tattoo arts include:

o Symbols of ancient African Gods which were believed to be saviors and guardians of the human souls from evil and unnatural spirits. These were especially worn by the people of the tribes to guard themselves against the evil spirits throughout their life.

o Sometimes the tattoos also depicted scarification and supernatural states of the humans. They were tattooed to signify power of the inner self of man.

o The men wore tattoos and designs that depicted courage and bravery. The wearer was also taken to be brave as the inscription of the body art involved a lot of pain in those days.

o Most of the African tattoos bear the symbols of animals, mostly the deadly ones, which symbolizes courage and power of the man equal to the strength of the animal.

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