The Fulani people of West Africa are the largest nomadic group in the world. Historically, they consist of a diverse group of people who were conquered and became a part of the Islamic faith. Culturally, the Fulani people hold beauty in high regards. Facial tattoos are a means of expressing beauty where at puberty girls will tattoo their upper lip. After marriage, they also tattoo the lower lip as a sign of belonging. One belief, as to why tattooing of the lips are so popular amongst African tribes, was to save young girls from being sold into slavery because traders were only in the market for “unblemished” girls.
Today, extensive decorative facial tattoos are done amongst nomadic tribes of northern Nigeria and bordering countries. Many times the facial tattoos express moods – stripes down the the cheeks to symbolize tears or markings at the corners of the mouth to depict a constant smile.
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