African Religions, Tatoos And Percing, African American Culture

**TrueSugar** · 07-02-2006, 02:31 PM

Can you recommend me some books or movies on African religion, and the spritual side of percings and tatoos? And also some on African American culture?

**chrysalis** · 07-04-2006, 04:26 AM

no suggestions but don't forget scarification in african culture.

**TrueSugar** · 07-06-2006, 09:33 AM

Scarification?

**meccadon** · 07-06-2006, 11:51 AM

Yup....scarification. Some people with darker pigmented skin make designs on the skin that have nothing to do with the injection of ink or dye, hence, scarification. The result is a raised pattern on the skin....

I did my thesis and published work on tattoos and body adornment, so holla! I love this subject and I'm down to discuss share, etc. I find it all so very interesting and the parallels and similarities with other cultures striking.

Books I recommend (there are more now, but not as many about 10 years ago):

Africa Adorned by Angela Fisher THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO START and is usually at most libraries.

African Ceremonies by Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith

Return of the Tribal by Rufus C. Camphausen (has adornment from many cultures, lots of photos and a quick read, not in depth, but great to make visual and cultural comparisons)

Try looking for films about Papua New Guinea, the Masai or Samburu in Africa, the Chokwe people of Africa, etc. etc. You'll get lots on info on adornment. Chekc National Geogrpahis. I saw one DVD they had called "Skin" and also check resources at the library. They have excellent films there for free.