Body Modifications

Piercings, one of my favorite things! I believe I have 16 piercings so I did not want to pass up the opportunity to do some research into body piercings and their history (In Africa). 

For years and years, body piercings and body modification has been a popular part of African culture for both men and women. In Western culture, piercings are more based on expression and aesthetics... While in African culture they are based on cultural traditions, etc. Though these piercings can be simple there are also piercings that involve stretching the ears or the body part pierced. Different piercings can also mean different things in African culture. For example, after women can married it is sometimes custom to get their nose pierced - which symbolizes wealth. When the ear is stretched that often shows the stages of life. Lastly, a lot of individuals use piercings and jewelry to show appreciation to their god(s). 

More Information on Body Piercings and Their Meanings 



Piercings have a long history in Africa and they were not just for beauty - Page 3 of 6 - Face2Face Africa

Resource of Photo

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