Ta Ankh's World

ugochinyere:

Uli Body Painting, 1986

Women of the Igbo people used paint to illustrate their bodies in significant patterns. This concept was referred to as uli painting where a dye made from seeds of uli plants were used to stain the skin black. Designs were painted on girls who just left the ‘fattening room’ where they were prepped for marriage in three months. After this, they were presented to the community and future husbands in a ceremony with their bodies painted in Uli to show their climax of beauty. These designs focus on the girl’s best features but also hide her imperfections.