Thread: Chin markings/decoration/tattoos

Hi there,

Does anyone know if only the Bedouin women are the only middle eastern women who are known to have markings on their chins?

In fact... the only two cultures I can think of where women decorate their chins are Bedouin and Maori peoples of the world.... But I would appreciate if anyone knows if any middle eastern/north-african/indian women have done or still do this.

Thanks!

Lots of the women in the South East of Turkey have them, mostly Kurds.

Lane's Manners & Customs of Modern Egyptians shows drawings of various facial tattoos of Egyptian women. I'll try & dig it out & scan some of them.

Berber women women in other African cultures do facial tattoos including on the chin; and also scarification.

Berber | Mundurucu

Wow - also in Tunisia -

Tunisia | Mundurucu

This whole site is beautiful!

Elibelinde, thanks for posting that link - it is very informative.

the chest tatoo on the tunisian link is soooo beautiful! (Forgive me... I'm such an orientalist!)

thank you very much for the info. Especially the link, yes, I have been seen the sayala tattoo and now know a little bit more about it.

Oh man!
Thanks for sharing that website! My roommate and I are obnoxiously interested in body modifications, and this has some pretty darn awesome stuff that we haven't seen yet :D!

ty for sharing the sites !

..g.:

This is another great site with information on different styles of henna/harquus/tattoo: Harquus

Amel Tafsout speaks of this extensively and has been known to do workshops on what traditional markings mean and who uses them.

Originally Posted by kahaz

Amel Tafsout speaks of this extensively and has been known to do workshops on what traditional markings mean and who uses them.

She's a great resource isn't she - wish I could meet her!

Do any of you guys paint your faces with patterns like this (or your own designs) for performances?

Originally Posted by Safran

Elibelinde, thanks for posting that link - it is very informative.

You're most welcome!

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

Do any of you guys paint your faces with patterns like this (or your own designs) for performances?

Yes. The folkloric troupe I'm in does this. My marking looks like a numeral "5" with some dots surrounding it - on each cheek. One of the "5s" is backwards to make the design symmetrical. No-one knows what it means.

Additional simple lines on the chin, etc.

some indians do it

I remember reading that the Ouled Nail marked their chins as a fertility symbol.

Originally Posted by zorba

Yes. The folkloric troupe I'm in does this. My marking looks like a numeral "5" with some dots surrounding it - on each cheek. One of the "5s" is backwards to make the design symmetrical. No-one knows what it means.

Additional simple lines on the chin, etc.

What do you use if I may ask? I have had some trouble with my "tattoos" running, which doesn't look so hot...l;,

Originally Posted by oceanbluew

Hi there,

Does anyone know if only the Bedouin women are the only middle eastern women who are known to have markings on their chins?

In fact... the only two cultures I can think of where women decorate their chins are Bedouin and Maori peoples of the world.... But I would appreciate if anyone knows if any middle eastern/north-african/indian women have done or still do this.

Thanks!

I think the current trend for the 'flavour saver' in the gay male community stems directly from bedouin chin tattooes.

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

Do any of you guys paint your faces with patterns like this (or your own designs) for performances?

The only time I would ever consider doing that is if I were doing a folkloric dance from one of these regions, with all the matching folkloric elements (costume, music, choice of dance steps, etc.)

Even then, I'd give a lot of careful thought before doing it. I have a feeling some audience members would consider the use of such facial makeup as being too close to blackface for their comfort level.

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

What do you use if I may ask? I have had some trouble with my "tattoos" running, which doesn't look so hot...l;,

Liquid eyeliner usually.

I'm told that our markings come from the Ouled Nail - I really wish I knew what mine meant (if anything). I tease our troupe leader that mine probably means "slut" or something equally uncomplimentary. ..l;,

Originally Posted by zorba

Liquid eyeliner usually.

I'm told that our markings come from the Ouled Nail - I really wish I knew what mine meant (if anything). I tease our troupe leader that mine probably means "slut" or something equally uncomplimentary. ..l;,

OK I was wondering about liquid eyeliner! Thanks!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

The only time I would ever consider doing that is if I were doing a folkloric dance from one of these regions, with all the matching folkloric elements (costume, music, choice of dance steps, etc.)

Even then, I'd give a lot of careful thought before doing it. I have a feeling some audience members would consider the use of such facial makeup as being too close to blackface for their comfort level.

I don't generally do this but occasionally, for a folkloric performance, I think facial decorations and hand decorations can be beautiful and appropriate.

For an oriental dance, I prefer rhinestones. They deflect attention from my wrinkles...l;,

this whole thread is very interesting.the armenian nation was the first to make it's counrty christian. during the genicide, hye mothers tatooed blue on their daughters faces to make them "ugly" to the rapeing ottomans . there are some older women in places, montibellow ca. comes to mind...that still have these markings.(they were given #s on their arms too, hitler modeled much from this )

Originally Posted by zamora

this whole thread is very interesting.the armenian nation was the first to make it's counrty christian. during the genicide, hye mothers tatooed blue on their daughters faces to make them "ugly" to the rapeing ottomans . there are some older women in places, montibellow ca. comes to mind...that still have these markings.(they were given #s on their arms too, hitler modeled much from this )

That is fascinating (and also a reminder of two incredibly tragic events).

Originally Posted by zorba

Yes. The folkloric troupe I'm in does this. My marking looks like a numeral "5" with some dots surrounding it - on each cheek. One of the "5s" is backwards to make the design symmetrical. No-one knows what it means.

Additional simple lines on the chin, etc.

It's a very good idea to find out what you're writing on yourself. Or make up you own so you're not inadvertently stealing something precious.

Kiwi Iwi, who use a variant of moko for performance, use made-up patterns which they pointedly describe as "swirly patterns on our chins" even though they function as moko and are usually called moko in conversation. Copying someone else's moko is really, really bad.

Fascinating thread,thank you so much for the links!<3

Originally Posted by zumarrad

It's a very good idea to find out what you're writing on yourself. Or make up you own so you're not inadvertently stealing something precious.

Kiwi Iwi, who use a variant of moko for performance, use made-up patterns which they pointedly describe as "swirly patterns on our chins" even though they function as moko and are usually called moko in conversation. Copying someone else's moko is really, really bad.

So moko is a signature or does it signify a kind of magic?

Originally Posted by *Shira*

The only time I would ever consider doing that is if I were doing a folkloric dance from one of these regions, with all the matching folkloric elements (costume, music, choice of dance steps, etc.)

Even then, I'd give a lot of careful thought before doing it. I have a feeling some audience members would consider the use of such facial makeup as being too close to blackface for their comfort level.

I agree - especially as many of the women's tattoos are ownership marks.