African tattoos. Africa is the world center of tattooing. The social significance of tattoos in Africa.

Center of gravity of the rod. Reel For fly fishing rods, small reels of the simplest design, with a diameter of 4-7 cm, are used. The reel should hold 20 meters of line and the same amount of cord. Its purpose: to preserve the line reserves when fishing, to change the length of the line when fishing

Ritual tattoos This type of tattoo is called ritual because it was used for various sacred purposes. It was believed that body images were designed to protect a person. From what? From evil spirits and black magic. People believed that a body painted with drawings

Clan Tattoos Since ancient times, people have tried to emphasize their position in society and their belonging to a certain clan and group of people, to a separate family. And for this he also used body jewelry. Such tattoos are informational in nature and serve

Professional tattoos Such body designs were symbols of a particular profession or occupation. In addition, they indicate a person’s dedication to his chosen cause. Pilots often depict an airplane, and sailors often depict anchors or

Healthy tattoos You have certainly heard about Chinese acupuncture - a method of treatment when needles are used as a tool, stuck into a certain area of ​​the body, depending on the disease. Therefore, many people believe that a tattoo can also

Religious tattoos Such images are applied by representatives of one religion or another. Naturally, the main thing here will be religious symbolism: crosses or crescents, quotes from holy books, plot compositions characteristic of a particular faith. Oddly enough,

Portrait tattoos In many countries in Europe and the United States, it is considered completely customary to wear on your body images of loved ones or various prominent personalities - the idols of the tattoo wearer. Sometimes a person orders a tattoo with a portrait of his favorite pet.

Love tattoos You don’t have to wonder for a long time about what it is - it’s immediately clear that the main content of such a design will be the name of your loved one. Since ancient times, people believed that a love tattoo is a kind of talisman of love and romantic relationships. Where did they come from?

Tattoo styles So, we have talked about the meanings of tattoo designs. But they also make a stylistic distinction (like every art, tattoos have their own stylistic characteristics). There are many styles of tattoos: traditional, ethnic, that is, folk - inherent

Biographical Tattoos Biographical tattoos are an integral part of the world of crime. They talk about some important events in the life of the prisoner and about the inclinations of his character. Many of these tattoos are frankly aggressive in nature. They express

Lettering tattoos Such tattoos are divided into digital and letter ones. They can be included in other images - both those and others. Digital tattoos are used when they want to capture a certain date: time spent in the army, a prison term, the date of their first imprisonment or release.

Tattoos in abbreviations Such tattoos are constantly used in the criminal world. Why? Because with their help you can hide your thoughts and some facts from your biography, they allow you to differ from other prisoners. The meanings of such tattoos have long been

Applying a tattoo So, the master has prepared the skin. It's time to proceed directly to the process of drawing. Paper with the printed image is applied to the area of ​​the client's skin where the tattoo is to be made. The master picks up the machine - and work

African tattoos: Africa can rightfully be considered the cradle of body painting, where almost every tribe has its own traditions of artistic body decoration. An important role in the development of this art was played by climatic conditions, thanks to which people have the opportunity to show off their bodies all year round. Only on this continent, even in ancient times, it was possible to observe all the methods of body decoration that exist today: painting, scarring, tattooing, piercing.

The body was decorated for various purposes, including decorative ones. Wearable signs spoke about a person’s social status, expressed his worldview, and also reflected the stages of life (the transition from childhood to adulthood, marriage, etc.). When applying tattoos, their location, color intensity, size and color played an important role. The latter were often special for each tribe or family. Body marks were applied to both men and women. For example, in a number of African tribes, young spouses made cuts on their skin, which were then rubbed with resin.

In many tribes, it was customary to give women tattoos indicating their marital status (whether they were married, had children, etc.). Male body marks usually characterized their owner as a hunter or warrior. As already mentioned, the location of the body sign was of no small importance. Scars were applied to all parts of the body: chest, back, arms and legs.

For example, in the Ubangi-ban-da clan it was customary to decorate the chest, back and arms with symmetrically located scars. The same location of the sign had different meanings among different tribes. For example, Yaounde women made scars on their thighs. But among the residents neighboring them, this was considered indecent. In some African tribes, scars were applied to small children. To do this, their cheeks were smeared with a mixture of herbs, ash and saltpeter and rubbed in. After the wounds healed, rough scars formed on the skin. The custom of scarring children and adolescents is very ancient.

For example, in order for a young man to be able to join the circle of men, it was necessary to make a certain scar on the skin. The application procedure was very painful, but mandatory, since it was believed that after it it would be easier for a man to cope with life’s difficulties. Among most African tribes to this day, the absence of a tattoo is a sign of inferiority. It is believed that a man without a body sign will not become a successful hunter, and a woman will not be able to start a family. Due to the fact that tattooing (or scarring) occupied such an important place in the life of tribes, the process of applying body marks belonged to the category of complex rites, into the sacrament of which only a select few were initiated. The traditions of tattooing and scarring were strictly observed, the ritual was performed mainly by representatives of the older generation.

Tattoos of the inhabitants of Oceania: During his trip, Russian traveler and ethnographer N. N. Miklouho-Maclay collected extensive material about the customs and morals of the indigenous population of Oceania, Southeast Asia and Australia.

In his works, he paid a lot of attention to Aboriginal tattoos and made several sketches of local patterns. N. N. Miklouho-Maclay noted that local residents used both scarring and tattooing, especially color.

The latter was very popular, since a special application technique made it possible to create thin lines, complex and symmetrical patterns. Body drawings were made by both men and women. They covered almost all parts of the body with them from head to toe.

Some women only tattooed their face, chest, shoulders or stomach. Tribesmen of noble birth and their closest relatives had the most beautiful and large tattoos. Body patterns performed mainly an informative function (indicating social status), sometimes a cult function.

According to the beliefs of the aborigines, anyone who refused to get a tattoo during life would face a terrible punishment after death. The ritual of tattooing was revered as sacred, so it was mainly priests who were universally respected. A special dwelling was built for each priest, in which there were several rooms for clients.

During the entire time of tattooing, the chants of local residents continued around the house, glorifying the priest and his work. The aborigines used plant thorns, sharp fish bones and shells as tools.

a) The great social significance of Pacific Islander tattoos can be seen in the tribes of Indonesia and Polynesia. Almost all important events in life, from birth to death, are associated with tattooing. Among the indigenous population, this art was passed on from generation to generation and achieved high skill. People lavishly decorated their bodies with magnificent ornaments on every important occasion.

Therefore, from body drawings you can easily read the entire biography of the owner of the tattoo. The Polynesian tattoo technique is very interesting. Masters first mark the outline of the design on the skin. Then paint made from almonds and tree seeds is injected along the indicated lines. The tool used is a shark tooth attached to a stick or a sharp incisor made from shells or turtle shell.

After applying the tattoo, the area of ​​skin is lubricated with oil, hemostatic agents, and sprinkled with charcoal. To make healing happen faster, clients are prescribed a special diet. Since the tattoo procedure is very long, clients sometimes have to live in the artist’s house for several weeks.

b) It is customary for representatives of the New Zealand Majori tribe to have a mask-like tattoo on their face - moko, which denotes tribal affiliation, status, communicates personal merits, etc. It is so individual that when selling their lands to the British, the Majori used its exact copy in as a personal signature for bills of sale and even instead of fingerprints. Among the Majori, the most beautiful and complex masks were applied to the noble representatives of the tribe. A person who did not have moko on his face was called a blank face. He was in the position of a slave, as he was deprived of all rights.

In addition, masks served as war paint and an indicator of a man’s valor. According to Majori traditions, a dead warrior who had a moko was given the highest honor - his head was cut off and kept as the main treasure of the tribe. The unpainted corpses of soldiers were left unburied. Moko is a rather complex ornament formed by numerous patterns. The application technique is quite unique and resembles the work of woodcarvers: using a special device resembling a chisel, cuts are made on the skin of the face.

The ornament for classic moko is formed from a traditional set of patterns, each of which is applied to a specific area of ​​the face. The pattern is made up of spirals, waves, ribbons and meanders, most often it is symmetrical.

So, for example, radiating lines (tivkhana) are drawn on the forehead, which start from the bridge of the nose, pass over the eyebrows and go down to the ears. The nose and cheeks are decorated with spirals (rerepi and pongi-anga), the chin with spiral lines (pu-kauvae), and the area from the chin to the nostrils with parallel rounded lines (rerepehi).

The pattern located at the top of the forehead is called pukhoro, and at the bottom is called titi. Tattooing with needles was performed on other parts of the body (thighs, buttocks). Spirals and broken lines were used as patterns. The area for tattooing in Majori is limited. For example, for men, body ornaments were made only on the face, as well as from the waist to the knees, for women - only on the face.

In some cases, men had tattoos on their chests, wrists, and even on their tongues and private parts. Majori women also could not imagine life without a tattoo. According to their ideas, only lines on the lip can save them from impending old age, and therefore from the fading of beauty. Therefore, even the most beautiful New Zealander in appearance, who does not have lines in the corners of her mouth, risks being left without a life partner.

Tattoos of Western Europeans: In pre-Columbian America, tattooing and scarring were an integral part of life, as evidenced by written sources and archaeological finds (sculptures, clay figurines). A striking example is the unusual Mayan tattoos.

When the Spaniards landed on the coast of America in 1519 and saw the local warriors, they were stunned by their appearance: unusual headdresses and clothing, decorated with jade plates and feathers, amazing hairstyles, terrible body ornaments and scars.

Since the Europeans were not yet familiar with the tattoo, they decided that it was somehow connected with the devil. Subsequently, the Spaniards recorded in their reports that the savages not only worshiped their terrible gods, but also painted their images on their bodies, which did not wash off. Europeans were horrified by such “astonishing barbarism” and found such paintings disgusting.

However, among the local population, body tattooing was quite common. Body images were applied for religious purposes: in honor of the gods, the Indians made sacrifices and got tattoos. The Mayans even had a tattoo deity named Akat, who was also considered the spirit of life and was responsible for the growth and development of plants. It was customary for brave warriors to get a new tattoo on their body after another victory. Therefore, the bravest, as well as the oldest and most experienced warriors had their bodies completely covered with intricate patterns.

According to historical sources, the Mayans performed tattooing and scarring by scratching and cutting into pre-colored skin. Clay-based compositions prepared in a special way were rubbed into the wounds. As a result, after healing, scars appeared on the skin, forming various geometric and symbolic patterns. Scarring and tattooing are most widespread among the male population.

Scars and tattoos served as a source of pride, an indicator of a man’s courage and valor. Before marriage, young men gave themselves small tattoos. Those without tattoos were ridiculed, as their absence was considered shameful. Women also got tattoos. They applied it to the area from the neck to the waist, except for the chest (due to feeding). Their body patterns were particularly beautiful and graceful.

Tattoos of the peoples of Eastern Europe and Russia: The history of tattoos among the Slavic peoples goes back several thousand years; the first mentions of them were found already among Roman historians of the 3rd century AD. e. Among the pre-Slavic tribes, tattooing already existed in the Neolithic era. To apply it, special clay seals were used - pitanders. Elements of a rhombomeander pattern were applied to the presses. These patterns covered the entire body. The Slavs attached magical significance to the design of tattoos - it played an important role in the rituals of the cult of fertility. Women's tattoos were considered amulets of the hearth.

Some drawings were used as protection against diseases and evil spirits. Tattoos could indicate that a person belongs to a certain clan or tribe.

Among Serbs and Poles, plant motifs of tattoos were most widespread; symbolic images of the sun were often found. Warriors applied floral designs to their hands.

These tattoos were discovered at the end of the 19th century by Austrian scientists Leopold Gluck and Ciro Truhelka. It should be noted that the Eastern and Western Slavs had much in common in the motifs of tattoos and their locations.

The custom of the Zaporozhye Cossacks to shave the hair on their heads and cover their bodies with tattoos originates from ancient pagan traditions.

By the time of the formation of Kievan Rus, Russian tattoos had practically lost their magical meaning, remaining only signs of belonging to a clan or social group. Subsequently, the development of tattoos went in two directions: on the one hand, these were the marks of criminals, on the other, the coat of arms of boyars, princes and other representatives of the nobility.

Later, as the army developed and strengthened, army tattoos began to appear as a sign of belonging to a particular regiment or branch of the military. Scythian and related tribes widely used tattoos for ritual purposes, as well as to indicate a person’s social status.

In 1948, during archaeological excavations in the Pazyryk mounds, the burial of the leader of the Altai tribe of the Sakas, related to the Scythians, who lived in the Northern Black Sea region, was discovered. The leader's body was covered with a tattoo, in which animalistic motifs predominated. One of the tattoos depicted a griffin with a long tail. The pattern began on the front of the body, passed under the left arm and ended above the left shoulder blade.

On the right arm and right leg there were also drawings with animal motifs: images of a kulan or a donkey, a mountain sheep, and fantastic animals. The tattoo on his left arm was three separate designs: two leaping deer and a ram.

On the right leg, on the outer side of the shin, there was an image of a large fish, on the foot - a monster with fangs, horns and three bird heads. In 1993, in Altai, the mummified body of a young woman was discovered, whose arms were covered from shoulders to hands with tattoos. There were also drawings on the phalanges of some fingers.

Such tattoos, according to researchers, were pricked with a sharp object. Presumably soot was used as a dye. The fantastic motifs of tattoos indicate their magical meaning and are associated with the cult of shamanism, which is preserved among the Altai and other Eastern European peoples to this day.

Tattoos among the Eskimo peoples of Siberia have a very ancient history and common roots, which can be concluded from repeating motifs in the designs. Tattooing among the Siberian peoples was widespread until the 30s of the 20th century; for several centuries it has undergone almost no changes.

Mostly primitive drawings were found: straight lines, schematic images of humans and animals. The most common elements of the ornament were straight and arched lines, circles, spirals, ellipses, blades, tridents, and scrapers. A figure in the shape of the letter “U” was very popular, especially among coastal peoples, since its shape resembled the tail of a whale - an animal that provided livelihoods to entire villages.

For men, such a tattoo was located in the corners of the mouth, for women - on the arms or cheeks. The method of tattooing among the Eskimo tribes was quite original: a needle with a colored thread attached to it was inserted under the skin and pulled under it. The dye most often served was soot. This technique did not allow for very small or complex designs, but made it possible to tattoo a large area of ​​skin in a short time.

Men's tattoos were much simpler than women's, and consisted mainly of simple elements. Drawings were applied to the cheeks, in the corners of the mouth, on the temples, and on the forehead. Women's tattoos were very diverse and complex.

Parallel vertical lines were often drawn on the chin, forehead and bridge of the nose. A complex pattern of various elements was made on the cheeks. The dorsum of the hands, wrists, and lower part of the forearm were also decorated with tattoos; at the same time, the designs on the hands could be either the same or slightly different.

Tattoos among the Khanty and Mansi, as well as some Tungus tribes, had their own characteristics. The meaning of their ornaments is still unknown, but there is an opinion that the process of tattooing among these peoples was predominantly a female affair, although representatives of both sexes had designs.

Men's tattoos probably indicated belonging to a clan or family, while women's ornaments depicted animals and birds.

Japanese tattoos: In Japan, which is considered the second homeland of Tattoo, this art is called “irezumi” and dates back more than one century. This is evidenced by terracotta haniwa figurines covered with intricate patterns discovered in 5th-century graves. There are also mentions of irezumi in literary sources - the first handwritten monuments, including the Kojiki. They, in particular, say that lovers carved out the names of their loved ones along with the hieroglyph “inoti” (“life”), which meant “love to the grave.”

Followers of the Buddhist faith applied prayers to Buddha on their skin. It is believed that the Japanese borrowed the art of tattooing from their neighboring Ainu tribe, living in the Japanese archipelago. The meanings of Japanese tattoos were not varied. Ancient Chinese chronicles mention the inhabitants of the country of Wa (Japan) decorating themselves with tattoos indicating their social status.

Often body ornaments were applied for decorative purposes. Several centuries later (in the U1-UP centuries), the tattoo acquired a negative meaning. It began to be used to brand criminals, as well as people from the untouchable caste, whose activities were considered criminal from a Buddhist point of view - executioners, gravediggers, butchers. The last thing to do was put a cross or a line on the forearm.

The criminals had tattoos of the hieroglyph “dog” on their foreheads, a double ring on their right hand, and a circle on their left shoulder. Each locality had its own mark, so it was easy to find out exactly where a person committed a crime. In Japan, the owner of a shameful mark became the object of popular persecution, which was the most severe and humiliating punishment. Therefore, criminals tried to get rid of this sign as quickly as possible.

The craftsmen applied new lines next to the mark, merging them into one new, more complex camouflage ornament. According to one version, this particular time can be considered the beginning of the birth of tattoo art. Tattooists of that era had to show special skill in order for the shameful stigma to be lost against the background of the overall design.

In the Middle Ages in Japan, a ban was imposed on irezumi. This was due to the fact that at that time the population was strictly divided into classes: samurai, artisans, peasants, etc.

Each class had strictly defined acceptable types of housing, clothing, hairstyles, entertainment, etc. Violation of regulations was punishable by law. And since body designs did not fall within the established framework, they fell under an official ban. Nevertheless, the art of body decoration has not disappeared completely.

By the end of the 17th century, tattoos were very popular among representatives of the lower strata of society - actors, firefighters, professional gamblers, merchants, day laborers, geishas, ​​and yakuza. Among the latter, irezumi ornaments became a kind of identification mark, so for a long time, tattooed people were avoided. Because of the ban, people had to hide their body art.

As a result, the Japanese tattoo acquired a new feature. The tattoo was applied in such a way that it was not visible from under the clothes characteristic of each class. Irezumi was applied to the entire body except the exposed parts of the arms, legs and mid-chest.

A new wave of interest in irezumi occurred in the second half of the 18th century. It was at this time that the novel “Suikoden,” translated from Chinese, about the adventures of warriors who united into a band of robbers and fought for justice, became very popular in Japan. The noble robbers depicted in the illustrations were luxuriously tattooed.

The beginning of the 19th century was marked by the emergence of the bourgeoisie. The favorite pastime of representatives of this class was visiting entertainment districts and the kabuki theater.

The passions of famous actors and courtesans, great admirers of irezumi, could not help but influence other people. The popularity of tattooing grew, and the government was forced to ease restrictions. However, by the end of the 19th century, the bans were tightened again, since, according to the government, foreigners could be shocked by the sight of painted locals.

This would create misconceptions about the country. But quite unexpectedly, representatives of other countries became interested in this ancient art. Since the bans applied only to the Japanese, the craftsmen had a constant supply of clients: visiting sailors, travelers, and businessmen. The passion for original Japanese art also affected high-ranking persons, among whom were the Duke of York (the future English king George V) and Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov (the future Russian Emperor Nicholas II), who returned home with a sample of the work of the famous master Horite.

Despite the great popularity of the Japanese style throughout the world, in its homeland this ancient art gradually fell into decline. Even the final lifting of the ban after World War II did not completely restore irezumi.

Many secrets of the ancient masters were lost and new technologies replaced them. Their use, however, did not allow multicolor tattoos to be reproduced in all their glory. Nevertheless, in our time, Japanese tattoos, distinguished by their colorfulness, volume, depth and color fastness, are still very popular. It is even considered a separate branch of tattoo art.

And since the original meaning of many symbolic images has been lost, most of the drawings are applied for purely decorative purposes. As for the plots and motifs of irezumi, it should be said that almost from their very appearance, Japanese tattoos carried certain information.

For example, in ancient times, a body ornament spoke of the social affiliation of the owner of the tattoo. Later, love and religious tattoos began to appear.

The first ones were most often made as a sign of eternal love and devotion. Religious tattoos were worn by adherents of the Buddhist faith. These were images of Buddha, saints of the Buddhist pantheon, most often the goddess of mercy Kannon. Men often created entire paintings on their bodies with religious themes: the legendary protector kings Nio, the sacred guards of hell Fudo, the image of which was supposed to scare away evil spirits.

However, tattoos with plant patterns, as well as images of animals and images on mythical themes have always been the most popular.

Among tattoos with floral designs, the most common were images of favorite Japanese plants: the peony flower, symbolizing health and well-being, chrysanthemums - perseverance and determination, cherry blossoms - transience, the illusory nature of life. Of the animals, clients gave the greatest preference to images of turtles, tigers, carps, snakes, and dragons, which were symbols of masculinity, wisdom, perseverance, longevity and strength. Interaction with Western culture could not but affect the theme of irezumi.

However, it should be said that the prison theme, like any other theme that carries a charge of aggressiveness, did not catch on with the Japanese, even among the Yakuza mafia.

It is worth adding that the Japanese do not use hieroglyphs, although some Western masters, who are far from a deep knowledge of Eastern philosophy in general and the Japanese worldview in particular, mistakenly think so. Perhaps the main feature of the Japanese school of body painting is that the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun have always preferred to make large-scale plot paintings or ornaments on their bodies that cover almost the entire body. The Japanese do not use separate drawings and inscriptions, believing that only a single image does not interfere with perception. Z

and over the centuries-old history, Japan has developed its own technique of tattooing. Japanese artists have a whole set of tattoo tools called “hari”. The set includes up to 15 devices, consisting of bundles of steel needles fixed in a wooden handle (from 2 to 10 pieces). Each of them is intended for specific work.

“Children, don’t go for a walk in Africa,” Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky appealed to our prudence. And it’s not in vain, I must say, that he cried out: this anciently populated continent is rightfully considered the birthplace of tattooing. And the number of traditional themes for tattoos here is so diverse that especially impressionable people are in danger of leaving the shores of the Limpopo blue as duct tape (however, this is not even the worst thing, but a real possibility of getting blood poisoning when trying to get a tattoo with the hands of local craftsmen).

The history of tattooing on this continent goes back more than a thousand years. Iron confirmation of these words can serve as the mummy of Amunet, the priestess of the Goddess Hathor, who lived somewhere between 2160 BC -1994 BC. The patterns on her body are simple parallel lines on her arms and legs and an elliptical shape just below her navel. According to scientists, these patterns symbolize youth and fertility. Tattoos are also often found on male mummies: mainly, these are graphic symbols and images of various Gods.
Naturally, tattooing in Africa flourished (and is still very widespread) not only in developed countries, but also in individual tribes. This gave rise to a variety of possible African-style tattoos. For the most part, they historically had a hierarchical function within the tribe and information mative beyond its borders (eloquently indicating the geographical location of the homeland of the tattoo bearer), and also acted as amulets from evil spirits and were indispensable attributes of religious rites.

Since they were historically made on dark skin, they differ from other types by specific properties: a bright range of colors, dense color filling (and in the traditional form, also intentional scarring to add volume). thus, they are simply created for dark-skinned and simply dark-skinned people. However, they look great on fair skin too.

One of the most common images of African tattoos: adinkra symbols, characteristic of the tribes of West Africa. Let's look at the most commonly used ones.

So, the main sign of adinkra: a symbol of greatness, bright charisma and leadership.

God of War Akoben: symbolizes vigilance and caution

Akofena - Sword of War. Symbol of courage, valor and heroism

Akoko Nan - Chicken leg. Symbol of will, education and discipline

Akoma - Heart. Symbol of tolerance, tolerance and patience

Akomo Ntoso - Connected Hearts. Symbol of mutual understanding and harmony

Ananse Ntoman - The Web. Symbol of wisdom, creativity and complexity of life

Azaze e duru - "The earth has weight." Symbol of the providence and divine essence of Mother Earth

Aya - fern. Symbol of endurance and resourcefulness

Bese saka - a bag of kola nuts. Symbol of wealth, power, community and unity

Bi nka bi - “no one should bite others.” Symbol of peace and harmony

Wona me na me mmoa vo - “help me and let me help you.” Symbol of cooperation and connection

To the lady - to the lady - Game field. Symbol of intelligence and ingenuity

Denkyem - Crocodile. Symbol of high adaptability

Duafe - wooden comb. Symbol of beauty, purity and femininity

Dvenniman - ram's horns. A symbol of both strength and humility

Eban - fence. Symbol of love, safety and preservation of feelings

Epa - handcuffs. A symbol of law, justice, as well as slavery and captivity

Funtunfunemu - denkyemfunemu - Siamese crocodile. Symbol of democracy and unity.

Gye Nyam - "except for God." Symbol of God's supremacy

Quintincantan - "inflated extravagance." Symbol of arrogance

Kwatakye Atiko - Hairstyle of the leader of the army. Symbol of courage and valor

Mate mise - "what I hear, I remember." Symbol of wisdom, knowledge and prudence

Me ware vo - “I will marry you.” Symbol of commitment and perseverance

Ese ne tekrema - “with teeth and tongue.” Symbol of friendship and trust

Favohodi - Independence. Symbol of independence, freedom and emancipation

Khwe mu dua - Merilo. Symbol of quality

Hieu won Hieu - “that which does not burn. A symbol of indestructibility and perseverance. Today, tattoos depicting various Afican deities are easily made even by people who have nothing in common with the pagan religions of the tribes of this continent, and who are, in essence, indifferent to culture. After all, such tattoos they look very nice, unconventional and shrouded in an aura of mystery. The latter property, however, is not surprising: the culture of the tribes of the hottest part of the world has not yet been thoroughly studied, images of objects of worship do not have an unambiguous interpretation, which means that every bearer of a tattoo with an African deity can invest. its meaning has its own meaning.

In general, no matter how you look at it, an African tattoo is always interesting, beautiful and mysterious. The creativity of craftsmen of various tribes opens up countless horizons of inspiration, from which you can draw endlessly. Anyone with a strong desire can find an attractive tattoo option in the rich and diverse culture of their homeland. Good luck!

Alas, today equatorial Africa is not "crocodiles, hippopotamuses, monkeys, sperm whales and a green parrot", but devastation, poverty, dirt, local wars and political instability. But even here, in remote places from the centers of world civilization, the culture that is called Western is slowly penetrating.

Despite the fact that Africa has the deepest historical roots of the tradition of decorating the body with tattoos, today not all local residents of African countries welcome this phenomenon. Thus, tattoos are perceived very ambiguously in .

The reason for this can be said that, according to local tattoo haters, such a manifestation of Western culture destroys the true values ​​of indigenous African peoples. However, despite everything, in this country there is a nascent tattoo movement, which now only vaguely resembles world standards.

Chris Baytenda- hairdresser, barber and part-time tattoo artist. Lives and works in his own premises (this cannot be called a studio or salon) in the city Kinshasa, capital . “I call myself an artist, I have always been attracted to different beautiful images. And my tattoos tell a story about who I really am. I love cats - big and small. I love cats for their purity and for their calmness. Everything they do is beautiful. I try to behave in life the way these animals behave."- says Chris Baytenda.

Anything Chris wears is considered unworthy in modern society. Democratic Republic of the Congo. And it is perceived only with denial and misunderstanding. Some believe that the popularization of tattoos in this country is associated with extreme instability in the lives of those who inhabit it: constant changes in political course, depreciation of the local currency, armed conflicts, and so on. And in this case, a tattoo can be regarded as a method of therapy: a tattoo is that little thing that is timeless, and this is something that no one can take away from him.

However, as we have already said, many locals are completely unfriendly towards tattoos. Local radio presenter Kedrick Makemwanga. He prefers to hide his tattoos, he regrets them - “I got my first tattoo when I was 13 years old and paid $2 for it. Back then I was homeless, surrounded by poor and angry people. They all had tattoos. Today, because of my tattoos, I feel negativity towards myself from many people I communicate with. And even in the church where I go to pray on Sundays. I'd like to get rid of them if I could."

The Congo River basin was inhabited by tribes who had a tradition of applying indelible patterns to their skin for many millennia. Tattoo played a vital role in the life of these tribes. Women of the people Baka they decorated their faces, arms and stomach with tattoos - without them, girls were simply considered unattractive. Men Baka They were sure that tattoos helped them in hunting. Unfortunately, these days it is almost impossible to meet a bearer of real tribal African tattoos in those places.

Hrivi Kinfamu– a tattoo artist whose equipment consists only of sewing needles, drawing ink and a homemade tattoo machine. The cost of his services ranges from 5 to 50 US dollars. After graduating from the National Academy of Arts in Kinshasa he dreamed of becoming an artist, but it is not so easy to find work in this specialty in his country. And he decided to make a tattoo an activity that brings him a livelihood.

He has been tattooing since 2006 and says he serves more than a hundred people each year. What's interesting is that Hrivi Kinfamu doesn't have a single tattoo. “In our country it is very fashionable to get tattoos in memory of someone, for example, a deceased relative. Recently a guy came to me who asked me to get a tattoo in honor of his recently murdered brother. He couldn't hold back his tears. It seems to me that by tattooing such people, I help them get rid of pain,” says Hrivi Kinfamu.

“I got my first tattoo in 2008 and since then I have become a truly tattoo addict. I even asked my brother to hide the needles I used to make tattoos from me.”- says Blaisey Kaisirika Kihambu. His tattoos are an eternal reminder of the times when he had to spend several years of his life in the camp of one of the militant groups. He independently, as best he could, translated several phrases dear to him into Chinese and made them himself: “The life of a mercenary is not life at all, but survival. When I look at my tattoos, I remember everything. They are a secret message for myself. After military service, I was never able to find a normal job, so I started tattooing not only on myself, but on everyone.”

Meet a local rap celebrity Oliver Bayongwa by nickname Fantastico! According to him, tattoos are necessary for him to maintain his stage image. Like the previous bearer of tattoos, Fantastico fan of Chinese characters - “My parents were shocked when I showed them what I had done. Among my loved ones, I am the only one who did this. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who likes my tattoos.”

We see how in Democratic Republic of the Congo something new is born. It is very interesting to see from the outside how the tattoo movement and tattoo industry will develop in countries like this, where nothing like this has ever happened. And development will be a must! Because, regardless of any reasons, there is a demand for this type of service from the local population, which means that supply will also be formed.

Africa is a vast continent and it always attracts the fascinations of the rest of the world through its interesting traditions, fantastic wildlife, and intense landscape. This land is also known as the cradle of humanity. The Africans are facing poverty, capitalist exploitation and climate changes.

However, they are also popular for their ancestral knowledge and art. Most of the modern body arts are originated from the African tribal body art. Many African tribes decorate their body by using body paints, mud, shaving, piercing, etc. Here is an analysis of African tattoos.

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History Of African Tattoo Designs

African tattoos fascinate the eyes of all tattoo lovers. These tattoos originated in Bronze age, which means around 5000 years ago. People belonged to different cultures and races practiced these tattoos. Most African tattoo designs signify boldness and courage.

Europeans considered tattoos as a symbol of membership. These tattoos were stunning and beautiful. They also provide significant and traditional appearance. Today, African tattoos are very popular among men and women and its popularity is increasing constantly.

Therefore, the demand for these tattoo designs is very high these days.

Where to Put African Tattoos?

African tattoo designs look great and they can be placed any part of your body. Just like other tattoos, African tribal tattoos also have many variations. Depending on the type of your skin, these tattoos can produce different looks.

Though African tribal tattoos are popular among men, women also love to wear these types of tattoos. It is not hard to find some best African tattoo designs. These tattoos are very simple, but myriad options are available.

So, you can select the best tattoo design by sifting through the catalogs and online tattoo galleries. African tattoo designs have different look and feel. While some designs have looping elements, some others have more jagged appearance. So, you must decide the right look and feel you really need.

You must also consider the color of the tattoo. Mostly, people like to get black tattoo designs. But, you can add some colors to get individuality and flare. The meaning of African tribal tattoo designs varies depending on the color of the tattoos.

But, if you want to tattoo your body for aesthetic reasons, just forget about the meaning.

You can place African tribal tattoos in almost all parts of your body. However, depending on your gender, you can select the place. Stretch tattoos can be portrayed very beautifully on your back. Men prefer to depict their African tattoo design on their upper back.

But, women prefer to place it on both upper and lower back. You can also place it on your fingers, arms, feet, legs, ankles, etc.

Meaning Of Africa Tattoos

The meaning of African tattoos are derived from the culture of this nation. The nature of traditional African people was superstitious. Some people wore tribal tattoos to get protection from all sorts of harm throughout their life. They considered tattoos as a sort of protective mask.

So, they believed that the tattoos are connected with some powers. By tattooing their body, people thought that they will get protection throughout their life.

In this modern day, African tattoo arts are merely for decoration and they have no values. But, the traditional minded people consider that this art makes them supernatural and they will be able to overcome the evil.

Instead of tattooing, they used the term scarification because they think that this art makes the wearer more than just human, but supernatural.

The Africans tattooed their body to portray their character. Through scarification or tattoos, these people reveal their brevity and courage. Scarification is very painful. Immense strength is needed to do this art. Africans use different symbols while designing their body. The visual symbols, Adinkra was created in West Africa by Gyaman of Cote and Akan of Ghana. It represents aphorisms or concepts.

African tattoos also signify beauty. The Africans start the process of beautification from childhood. Though there are other reasons for tattooing, quest for beauty is their ultimate goal. Spirituality plays a significant role in the culture of African people.

Most of the people believed that the spirit is around them. By making facial tattoos, they believed that the tattoo wearer would be less desirable to the spirit of death. Young women often wear abdominal tattoos, which is the indication of their willingness to bear children.

African culture considers it as the most desirable quality of future wife.

Types of African Tattoos

• Intricate Tattoos.

Lots of details and attention are needed for making an intricate African tattoo design. Solid black color is used for designing these tattoos. So, it provides sharp and masculine appearance. Lots of focus is essential to make an intricate design. Therefore, you must select an excellent artist to make this design.

• Powerful Tattoos.

African tattoos are pieces of human body art. These were organized by people who committed various crimes. Therefore, the appearance of these designs was distinct and different. These designs are the symbol of power and authority. You can select lots of beautiful designs in this category.

• African Tribal Celtic.

These are highly attractive and unique. Difficult patterns and sinuous lines are used for making these designs. You can also find innumerable animal designs as well. But most of them are associated with religion and fertility.

• African Elephant Tattoos.

If you are animal lover, you can decorate your body with African elephant tattoo designs. These tattoos represent strength, simplicity and humanity. Elephants are enormous creatures, but they can be great companions. An African elephant design can be simply elegant and stunning.

• Flower Tattoos.

Flowers represent the beauty and purity of women. The pleasant appearance of flowers is great for tattoo designs. You can make a flower in African tattoo design, which will look beautiful, traditional and appealing.

• Butterfly Tattoos.

Butterfly tattoos are lovely and it looks more pleasant when it is portrayed in African style. These tattoos are creative, unique and beautiful when inked in side.

• Star Tattoos.

If you are looking for a cool African tribal design, star is the best option. You can combine starts with some great tribal embroidery and pattern.

• Floral Pattern.

Floral wave design can be done in your body. It can be extended if you require more. Dark black or maroon can be used for designing these tattoos.

• Full body Colorful Art.

You can select this type of tattoo design if you like colorful work in your entire body. But, removing these designs from your body is very difficult and costly. You need to spend a huge sum of money to get these designs off. So, before selecting this tattoo design, you must think very carefully.

• Tribal Bird. This design can be very fascinating. You can try these types of tattoo designs and customize it according to your style. Just talk to a design expert to get the best design.

Just like other tattoo designs, African tattoos also have different meanings depending on the symbols. So, you can select the most suitable tattoo as per your requirement. The meanings and symbols behind these tattoos will be interesting.

If you are least bothered about the meaning, you can understand the origins and symbolism behind your tattoo design. It will help you to add personality to your choice.