Everyone gets a tattoo for a different reason. People choose body art to remember a loved one, to keep a memory alive, or simply to have beautiful art pieces on their bodies. The body contains all of the inked-art pieces, and depending on where it is located, people can become extremely beautiful. Tchoodi: Why are some Fulani women willing to go through so much pain to have their lips tattooed?
The body containing inked-art pieces is normal, but teeth containing ‘art?’ For some, this is mind-boggling, and it raises a lot of questions.
In Mali, the Fulani women tattoo their gum with ink, not for fashion purposes or artistic purposes, but to make their teeth white. Here is the thought behind the practice.
The Fulani tribe, which is found in several countries, is the world’s most nomadic ethnic group. Their culture is one of the most geographically dispersed and culturally diverse in the world. Fulani culture takes many forms, but their culture is positioned to ensure that they always stand out beautifully. They never neglect their body or their overall appearance. The Fulani take their outward appearance seriously, so they are quick to adorn their face and body and will go to great lengths to make themselves look’sparkly.’
In a tradition known as ‘Tchoodi’, Fulani women tattoo their lips and ink their gum to make them look more attractive. The ritual is a rite of passage for young girls to show that they reached womanhood. The ritual is performed by only women amidst singing and dancing. When a young girl reaches the age of 15, her gum, lip and chin are tattooed with ink to emphasize her white teeth. The tattoo is viewed as a mark of beauty and bravery for individuals who have them. It is believed that Fulani women are reborn to conquer the sorrows that dig through their fragile flesh in silence hence young girls who wince in pain during the process are frowned upon.
Black lip tattoos are a symbol of beauty and bravery among the Fulani. To prevent derision or outcast status, young Fulani girls must have Tchoodi performed on them. The lips of the young girl are tattooed with a fine heated needle and a specific natural ink.
Fulani women with naturally red lips blacken their lips with ashes and needles. The tattooist hammers around the mouth with needle-enclosed equipment after applying enough black ashes to cover the entire lip, and they consume only liquid pushed into their swollen mouth using a straw for three weeks. The first condition of beauty, according to the Fulani, is white teeth, so their women’s teeth must always stand out.
Although uncommon among other tribes, which is what distinguishes culture, black lip tattoos make the child or young woman more appealing as a future wife to Fulani men. Furthermore, a tattooed lip is thought to be a sexual enticement, a symbol of womb fruition, and a symbol of beauty. When Fulani females reach puberty, they tattoo the bottom portion of their lips, and once married, the upper portion is tattooed to indicate they are taken. Facial tattoos are a common form of identification among the Fulani tribe, regardless of where they live. They will not compromise on their cultural identity.
So while others may tattoo their bodies and architecturally design art museums on their bodies for reasons that may have nothing to do with beauty, the Fulani on the other hand want to smile and have their teeth sparkle as the sun hits them. Therefore, Tchoodi is performed and after three weeks, with the swell and pain gone, the young girls, now more attractive, have their wholesome teeth to show to the world.