Introduction
In our clan, we identify ourselves with body marks. Every families have their distinctive marks that set them apart from others. It holds great honors and respect to bear such marks and can save one's life when under attacks. It is done locally with hot and sharp objects to design such great arts on our bodies.
Body marks or tattoos serves different purposes apart from identification. It holds spiritual meanings and relevance. For instance, children are marked maybe the condition of their birth. If it was easy and simple, a simple mark will drawn on the cheeks to indicate that such person have good (god) known as "Chi" in our Igbo Tradition. With such marks and their names starting with "chi" like Chinedu, they will be successful and importance to our society. This belief system is rooted on the reincarnation and individuality of gods. Anyone that died without bearing children will have their corpses cut open and marked so that in their next life, they will bear children.
In the spiritual sense, many of the treatment given to children are associated with marks to indicate their pleasing to the gods of the land for their survival and good living. It is similar to the acupuncture but different in the terms of markings and tattoos to be bear. For instance, because of being sick for long time and every kind of medication failed to resolve the problem, on my back of my hands and legs have marks drawn to let out the bad bloods and pleasing the gods of the land for my survival. Over the years, the marks keeps vanishing as growth and development occurs. This acts have been with us for generations and very effective.
Like the picture on the onset, Ladies draws several tattoos on their visible parts of their body especially their hands and legs. Such tattoos are mostly for beautification as they looks special and unique with them. They are carefully designed by local artists with several patterns. On the occasions and evenings, they showcase their tattoos for all to see. For better looks and beauty, such marks makes those ladies better and fine.
Despite its advantages, many people abhor tattoos and body marks. They wants their body to be natural without marks as they see it as a mark of profanity. They mostly referred to the Bible and their spiritual leader's teaching over tattoos and marks. They view it as a pagan worship that pleased their idols and gods. They reject it and it's abilities of healing and beautification of the body.
Moreover, others view tattoos in a negative ways. They associated them to criminality and nefarious activities. Many Gangs usually have their tattoos as their unique symbols and identity. Law enforcement agencies frowned against people with it and tag them with bad names even if they're innocent. To avoid gangster warfare and police brutality, many people does not appreciate tattoos and body marks
Finally
Tattoos are special and lovely when they are used moderately and with good reasons. Our culture permit it and hold high values among us. Misunderstanding and wrong perception have affected how many people view it but it still important as before.
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