The Body as Art in Africa

1
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.
2

• 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.

3
Surma men paint their bodies in preparation for
donga stick fights in order to emphasize their
physical beauty and to intimidate their
adversaries
4
No part of their bodies goes undecorated.
5
while Hamar women wear their hair in long rolled
strands
Hamar girls wear their hair in tightly rolled
balls
6
Similarly, A Hopi girl wears her hair in a
butterfly pattern until she gets married, after
which she wears it straight.
7
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.
8
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.
9
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
10
Despite the Islamic code of modesty, this Swahili
woman, holding her child, reveals elaborate henna
decorations on her hand.
11
Scarification for many African peoples, including
this Mursi man, is considered a sign of beauty, a
means of attracting the opposite sex.
12

• 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.

13
The complete scarification of a Karo mans chest
indicates that he has killed an enemy or a
dangerous animal.
14
Tattoos are also common throughout Africa.
However, while tattoos are thought to enhance
ones beauty, they also often have the purpose of
displaying ones ethnic and lineage identity, as
illustrated by this young Fulani girl.
15
The parallel lines of scarification identify
this man as a Nuer.
16
Facial scarification identifies this woman as an
Afar.
17
Ears plugs are worn by the Surma women for
decoration.
18
Lip plates are also worn by Surma women.
It takes about six months to stretch the lip
to accommodate a full-sized lip plate.
19
The final size of the lip plate indicates the
number of cattle paid as brideprice.
20
Since the size of the lip plate indicates the
number of cattle given in marriage, it visibly
communicates a womans social status.
21
Tattooing and body mutilation are not exactly
unknown in the U.S.
22
Body Ritual among the Nacirema
23
Body piercing represents an identity statement in
the U. S.
24
After
Before
. . . as do breast enlargements . . .
25
. . . even though breast enlargements involve the
insertion of a foreign object into the body.
Silicon Implant
26
Liposuction is widely used to alter other parts
of the body.
27
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.
28
Transvestism is also important to the identity of
many gay men.
29
Botoxing has also become very popular . . .
. . . in order to eliminate unsightly wrinkles.
30
Here is a REAL personal identity statement.
31
Even some Muhlenberg faculty have been known to
decorate themselves in strange garb.
32
. . . especially when the heat of the sun has
fried their brain.