The Tattoo Culture
The increasing number of people embracing tattoos is a cause for worry for many in this part of the world, writes Ugo Aliogo
From childhood, he had been a lover of comic book characters. He had always wanted his face designed in a way that would reflect the face of a comic character known as Red Skull - the Captain America enemy. To fulfill this much cherished dream, Henry Damon, a 37-year-old Venezuelan had several sub-dermal implants done on his forehead, before having part of his nose removed and his eyeballs tattooed in order to look like the comic book super villain character Red Skull.
After the surgery, the doctor, Mr. Emilio Gonzalez said: “He is an excellent son, husband and father who has an extreme taste for body modification. Most of my customers know that body modification is the last step of body art; everyone knows very well what they want, as well as Henry; many of them are waiting for me for many years to make their dreams a reality. Next will be silicone implants on the cheekbones, chin and cheeks. Then we will tattoo his entire face red and then he will be Red Skull.”
In 1999, the former England Captain David Beckham designed his first tattoo when he had his first oldest name Brooklyn tattooed at the bottom of his back. Then in 2000, Beckham drew the image of the guardian angel at the middle of his upper back.
According to Mail Online, the idea behind the design is that the guardian angel is watching over Brooklyn’s name. Also in 2000, Beckham opted to have his wife name Victoria tattooed in Hindi on his left arm. Unfortunately, the name was wrongly spelled as ‘Vihctoria’. Today, Beckham has 40 tattoos on his body, each having its own meaning and significance.
In today’s world, tattoo has become a popular culture amongst models, footballers, and entertainment celebrities, with each person having their reasons for wanting to wear art on their body, like royal regalia.
Studies reveal that the oldest tattoo was found on the mummy of Amunet, a priestess of the goddess Hathor, during 2160-1994 BC. The mummy’s simple tattoos were parallel lines on her arms, legs, and an elliptical pattern below her navel. Interestingly, no male mummies found in Egypt had their body adored with tattoos. Egyptologists, today, are of the opinion that these designs symbolised fertility and rejuvenation in women. However, male mummies that have been found in other parts of Africa, such as Libya, have tattoos of images relating to sun worship on their bodies.
In the tomb of Seti I, which dates back to 1300 BC, tattoos symbolising Neith, a fierce goddess, who led warriors into battle, were found on men. The first known tattoo of a person was discovered on Nubian female mummies, dating to 400 BC. The tattoo image portrayed the god of sex and overseer of orgies, Bes. Another form of early body ornamentation was ‘cicatrisation’.
The word cicatrisation was derived from the French word, cicatrices, which mean ‘scar’. This form of body ornamentation was common among the darker-skinned people of Africa, so that their original colour of skin would not show. Other African body altering traditions involve extreme forms of body piercing. The basic purpose of the art is to exaggerate body forms by ornamentation. Lips are pierced and objects are implanted inside, causing the lip tissue to elongate and conform to the shape of the implanted object as the flesh heals.
Even though the Quran does not support the idea of engraving on the body, tattooing as an art form and cultural aspect has survived in the Islamic societies of North Africa. But there was a sect of Moroccan women that considered tattooing as a legitimate practice. Many traditional forms of tattooing existed in parts of North Africa like, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
When the Europeans were exploring Sub-Saharan Africa, they discovered that the indigenous people of this region had a cultural practice of scarring the skin. The Sahel is the region in Africa that stretches from the country of Senegal to the Red Sea. The largest tribal group inhabiting the Sahel region is called Fulani. It is also the most heavily tattooed tribe of the region.
In fact, till date, African tribes are still seen with tattoos on their body. These tattoos are in numerable designs and forms, it is mainly designed to portray the symbols, which are unique to their group. This helps them to recognise people of their group and also those that belong to other groups.
However, tattoos have been heavily criticised and frowned at on the continent, with more heat reserved for those forms which do not have African origins. In Nigeria, for instance, different individuals ascribe various meanings to tattoos (especially those of Western origin) due to societal values and beliefs.
Victory Okwuidegbe, a member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) explained that tattoos are a misuse of the body. She pointed out that the body has been wonderfully made and any other artistic work done for the sake of aesthetics is not good.
“I feel drawing tattoo will make me look irresponsible as an individual because the way
In the Western world, people with tattoos get to work in corporate organisations, while here in Nigeria, people with tattoos are discriminated against, forgetting that it is an African tradition. Tattoo does not imply irresponsibility and indecency; people do it for different reasons. It is a reminder of your past
I look will determine to an extent the way the society will address me,” Okwuidegbe said. “Having a tattoo is not something you should be proud of as a person. For the type of society we find ourselves, most people who are proud of their tattoos are celebrities. I do not see tattoo as a means of enjoying myself, there are other means of enjoyment and it does not make me responsible.”
But a public affairs analyst, Vincent Igweokwu said tattoo is something everyone is born with, therefore the society should stop looking at tattoo as something unacceptable, as tattoo is an identity inscribed on the body as an art.
Igweokwu stated that the art of designing the body is an opportunity to become cocreator that God has made us in his image and likeness, adding that people are born with marks to show their uniqueness, therefore Africans at birth give birthmarks such as those on the face, the hand and other parts of the body, “these are actually tattoos, because they are inscribing something.”
He said: “It is not alien to Africans and it is not bad in its self. It is the purpose for which it is used that makes it either good or bad. Forensic evidence has shown that where investigations have been brought to a close due to people who have tattoo. When close circuit television (CCTV) captures a tattoo, they begin to trace the ink parlour that the tattoo was made and the criminal investigations are closed on that tattoo.
“In the Western world, people with tattoos get to work in corporate organisations, while here in Nigeria, people with tattoos are discriminated against, forgetting that it is an African tradition. Tattoo does not imply irresponsibility and indecency; people do it for different reasons. It is a reminder of your past (memorabilia).”
A River State-based medical practitioner, who pleaded anonymity, said tattoo has various health implications for the bearer, noting that it is not advisable to engage in such practice. According to him, tattooing causes cancer of the skin, blood shortage, and keloid (a skin condition which causes swelling of the skin). He added that keloid is a condition which does not apply to everybody, however when most individuals draw tattoo on their skin, it is usually swollen, while in some others, it does not affect them.
“These celebrities design tattoo on their body because they do not know the health implications,” the doctor said, “Piercing the skin during the drawing of the tattoo is contaminating the skin which causes blood poison.”
Medical researches supporting the medical practitioners’ claim asserted that tattooing, especially with red, green, yellow and blue dyes can cause allergic skin reactions, which could result to itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur years after the tattoo was designed. There could also be manifestation of infections such as redness, swelling, pain and a pus-like drainage after tattooing. Research has also shown that the use of unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C; so it is important to make sure that all tattooing equipment are clean and sterilized before use.
A lecturer at the University of Benin, Dr. Wilfred Oyegun, said that tattoos have been used throughout the ages to record memories of loved ones, cherished objects or thoughts, events and other experiences.
Oyegun stressed that they can be very personal and therefore it can be located in vital areas of the body, “for only of the ones so honoured, if they are still alive, and the personal pleasure of the ones who wear them.”
He further stated that tattoos can also be expressions of exhibitionists, especially for those who believe they have something to share and want the world to see and share in it.
According to Oyegun: “In recent times, they have become the trademark of certain public figures who have either established themselves as dominant personalities in their areas of endeavour, or are aspiring to become dominant. In this category are actors, sports men and women, musical artists of every genre and others who often have cult following. Some of these include persons who are really screaming for attention, and sometimes help, to a world too busy looking the other way.
“Certain tattoos are only temporary expressions, because of the nature of the material used. Some really are in the form of ‘temporary records’, whereas others are of a permanent nature. The former may be made of stickers that have a given lifetime and even though actually laid on the skin, can be easily removed if desired.
“Tattoos of a permanent nature are however a different kettle of fish. They are often incised directly on the skin, drawing blood in the process, and therefore not removable when the bearers outlive the fad and have no further need of them. It is possible that research will continue in this area and that in future there will be the possibility of addressing this problem. There are emotional and psychological issues to deal with in the area of tattoos. For starters, psychologists and medical researchers need to educate the public on the attractions of this development, its benefits and the emotional satisfaction derived from the exercise.”
Today, tattoo has established its foothold as popular culture amongst models, footballers, and entertainment celebrities in the world. But the gruesome experience Damon subjected himself to, in order to have his face tattooed raises mind boggling questions if people should go through this tough process to design their bodies in a quest to look like their much admired idol or because they want their bodies to become bearers of great art.
A River State-based medical practitioner, who pleaded anonymity, said tattoo has various health implications for the bearer, noting that it is not advisable to engage in such practice. According to him, tattooing causes cancer of the skin, blood shortage, and keloid