1. Body Modifications

2. BODY PAINTING
• The African Face Painting Tradition
• By an eHow Contributor
• African Men Painting faces with different patterns and
symbols has long been part of the tradition of many cultures,
including the African nations. Face painting, which is usually
complemented with body paint, is done according to tribal
rites and cultural activities of specific African tribal groups.
This tradition also carries different purposes and meanings for
different tribes such as hunting, specific events, rituals and
tribal status.
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3. Efik
Face and body painting carry a lot of symbolism to the Efik tribe. This ethnic group,
which resides primarily in southeastern Nigeria, uses face painting to signify love and
purity. During the old times in the tribe, the painting of faces was a way of expressing
the tribe native’s own identity. Face painting also included patterns for identifying
families and clans. In some cases, face painting also symbolizes the happiness of giving
birth to a child. For single women, a painted face is the equivalent of an initiation rite
for the bearer to formally enter the society of women. For families, painted faces also
indicate their happiness for some good news they have received. The native female
dancers, called Abang, use face painting as way of expressing their beauty, love and
complete femininity.
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5. Xhosa
The Xhosa tribe obtains the paint they use on their face from an area called
Hogsback. They call this place Qabimbola, which means red clay on the face.
The purposes for these tribal people to paint their faces are varied. Some use
it as a protection from the sunlight. The women put white paint on their faces
as a mark for beauty. During the manhood initiation rite called Abakwetha,
the young men have their faces painted first with white mud. After the
circumcision ceremony, their faces will be covered with mud signifying their
readiness for complete adult male responsibilities.
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9. Pondo
The Pondo tribe in Pondoland of the South African region celebrates the tradition
called umgidi. This refers to the initiation of a young woman to become a diviner or
priestess of the tribe. The final initiation day is marked by the woman appearing at her
homestead naked to the waist with her face and torso painted with white clay
embellished with idwabe leaves. The paint pattern created on her torso and face
symbolizes her link to her ancestors who are believed to be the reason for her illness
and recovery. The women dance to express gratitude to her ancestors for restoring her
health.
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10. Karo
The Karo tribes located in Southern Omo Valley in Ethiopia are known to be
masters of traditional body and face painting. They paint their faces and
bodies as a valuable part of their dance feast and ceremonies such as for
courtships. They use pulverized white chalk, black charcoal, yellow, ochre and
red earth to create striking and elaborate painting patterns to emulate the
plumage of the guinea fowl. These patterns are usually traced by just using
their hands and fingers.
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13. Woodabe
The Woodabe tribe, also called the Bororo tribe, is a group of pastoral
nomads found in the eastern Niger. The tribe celebrates the Gerewol festival,
a special venue that gives men the chance to meet and attract women in their
tribe. During the celebration, competitions take place in the form of a beauty
pageant where the women are the judges and the men are the candidates.
The Woodabe men paint their faces yellow or red and their lips black during
their annual dance ceremonies to increase beauty and appeal.
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17. MASSAI

18. The Maasai (sometimes misspelled "Masai") are a Nilotic ethnic group of
semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are
among the best known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive
customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa.
They speak Maa a member of the Nilo-Saharan language family that is
related to Dinka and Nuer, and are also educated in the official languages
of Kenya and Tanzania: Swahili and English. The Maasai population has
reported as numbering 840,000 in Kenya in the 2009 census, compared to
377,000 in 1989 and 400,000 in 2000.
THE MASSAI JUMPING CEREMONY- WARRIORS

19. Body modification
(or body alteration)
Is the deliberate altering of the human body for non-
medical reasons, such as sexual enhancement, a rite of
passage, aesthetic reasons, denoting affiliation, trust
and loyalty, religious reasons, shock value, and self-
expression. It can range from the socially acceptable
decoration (e.g., pierced ears in many societies) to the
religiously mandated (e.g., circumcision in a number of
cultures), and everywhere in between. Body art is the
modification of any part of the human body for
spiritual, religious, artistic or aesthetic reasons.

20. Scarification is a permanent form of
body decoration that perfects the body in
much the same way as cosmetic surgery.
It involves puncturing or cutting patterns
and motifs into the dermis or upper levels
of skin. When the cuts heal, scars remain.
Different tools produce different types of
scars, some subtle, some pronounced. For
example, cutting the skin with a razor and
then pulling the skin up with a fishhook or
thorn yeilds large, raised keloids (scars).
Soot, used as a sterile irritant, can be
rubbed into the open wounds to make
the scarring even more prominent.

21. Tooth Alterations
Many cultures alter the shape or alignment of
the teeth. Such enhancements include pulling
teeth, filing them horizontally, filing them to
sharp points, dyeing them, and repositioning
them.
One modification-filing the teeth to a sharp
point-is practiced in several African countries.
Whereas both the lower and upper teeth can
be filed, most commonly it is the upper
incisors that are shaped. This procedure is
often carried out at puberty or just prior to
marriage.

22. LIP PLATES - In the Name of Beauty - Southwest Ethiopia
Southwest, Ethiopia, women altered themselves for a husband. {Tribal Alteration is
again becoming the style for some modern people who see it as a spiritual rite.}

25. Neck Rings - "The Long Neck Tribe" of Burmese-Thai
The women walk slowly and stately as if in a dream. From the age
of 6, each year a few rings are snapped around a young girls neck
until 20 rings in all have created a long giraffe neck. Only on their
wedding night do the women remove the rings.

28. Geishas in Japan

29. CHINESE FOOT BINDING – In the name of beauty
Over 1000 years ago the prince's concubine, Yao Niang, walked
so gracefully it appeared as if she was "skimming over the top of
golden lilies." Chinese Foot Binding became all the rage.
Suddenly every man wanted a woman with beautiful 3 to 4 inch "Lotus Blossom" feet.
Young girl’s feet were wrapped tightly with cloth binding. This stunted foot growth
from the age of 6 years old. As young girls endured their pain, they embroidered and
beaded tiny slippers in preparation for their reward, a "Cindarella prince" husband. In
the name of beauty women altered themselves. Here are two tiny pairs of 4 to 5 inch
women's shoes.

32. TINY 16 - 18 INCH WAISTS WERE CREATED BY CORSETS SO
TIGHT THEY INJURED INTERNAL ORGANS. BOTTOM RIBS
WERE REMOVED IN THE NAME OF BEAUTY.
A 2008 model's blog reports a new
procedure is being done by an L.A. surgeon
for models. Their bottom ribs are removed
to give the appearance of a sleek svelte
waist line. This procedure is nothing new.
A few Victorian women of wealth and
drama had thier bottom ribs removed. In
these days sugery was often risky and led to
infection. In the name of beauty they
altered themselves.

36. Tattooing
Plastic surgery
Piercings
Body expansions

37. Body Alterations in
ART

38. Beecroft

45. Shirin Neshat

47. Cindy Sherman

53. Orlan

55. What alterations would you
and wouldn’t you do to your
body?

56. Rebecca Horn