Tribal goes Western

by Isabella Rolfe

Piercing was and still is used to promote individualism within a tribe and distinguish them from others.

It also represents deeper meaning, which has been embedded into a tribesperson’s community values for many years.

The stretching of the earlobe, known more commonly as an earplug, is a popular piercing among the peoples of Northern India, South America, Burma, Africa and once upon a time, ancient Egypt.

Ornaments are sometimes hung from the hole because it is believed that such trinkets will protect the person from bad spirits.

Many tribespeople will have piercings as a rite of passage to denote their status; among the Mughals of India, a nose ring indicates whether a man or woman is married.

This is also popular with the African tribe, the Pokot girls from Kenya; they wear lip plugs to represent that they are married.

The Maasai tribe from Kenya and Tanzania also stretch their pierced ears because it is believed to make them more attractive; they also cut their face, making decorative patterns for the same reason.

Neck stretching is commonplace among certain tribespersons; the number of beads worn around a woman’s neck determine how affluent she is and her position within the tribe, the neck beads are thought to give a tribe member spiritual power and enhance a woman’s attractiveness.

Lip plugs or plates adorned by the men of some Amazonian tribes get bigger as they get older and take them through to the next level of their life.

For some of the tribes it can be part of a transitional stage that shows they are no longer a boy or girl, but a man or woman; showing they have overcome pain and showed bravery.

It’s very much about being part of a tribe and showing dedicated to fellow members.

‘Trendy’ tribal custom

Piercings to the eyebrow, ear, nose and tongue are also popular in the western world but it is unlikely that they have a deeper meaning behind them, as do the tribespeople of Africa, South America and others.

People in the west tend to get piercings to look different from others or because it looks good and suits their style.

Charlotte Chubb, a London College of Fashion graduate, wore an earplug for three years. “I went travelling around Brazil for two months a few summers ago and stayed with the Rikbaktsa tribe, which was a wonderful experience.

"As part of their initiation ritual they wear earplugs.

"I thought it did look cool except their plugs got bigger the older they got so the elders of the tribe had plugs that were the size of a saucer which didn’t really appeal to me!

"But then when I got home I noticed a guy at university with a plug and decided to get it done.

"So the idea did originally come from Brazil and I guess it does open your eyes to other people’s way of life.”

“To me my piercing reminded me of my time in Brazil but didn’t hold any real significance about me as a person, like tribal piercings do.

"When I decided to take it out I was left with a gaping hole but it makes me look that little bit different from everyone else and suits my indie-rock style.”

With piercings becoming more popular in the west, third world countries are slowly forgetting their ancient traditions, which hold value and meaning, while at the same time they are trying to take on western principles that are gradually overtaking ‘outdated’ rules and customs.

Meanwhile, access to the latest technology in the west enables us to keep up with the latest trends, and piercings are becoming one of the many fashion statements in response to the disposable attitude of fashion and consumerism.