Amazigh Tattoo Tradition illustrated by Camelia Khadraoui
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat better way to celebrate and revive an old Amazigh tradition than with a series of illustrations that are both whimsical and culturally enlightening? Camelia Khadraoui, a young Moroccan artist, has illustrated a very fascinating guide of an old north African tradition such as the Amazigh women’s tattoo culture using her magnificent drawing skills to transform both her long research as well as her grandmother’s knowledge into some fascinating digital designs.
Camelia Khadraoui’s guide to the Amazigh tattoo, otherwise known as ‘loucham.’
Camelia Khadraoui explores the lines, dots, diamonds, and circles that make up the Amazigh tattoo.
“Girls get their first tattoos during puberty,”
Reactions after receiving the tattoo.
Camelia citing few purposes of wearing Amazigh TattoosTattoos are used as a rite of passage into womanhood, as well as a way to indicate marriage or being widowed
Tattoos are also believed to drive away evil spirits.
“The placement of Amazigh tattoos is often around opening on the face (holes),”
Spots on the body where Amazigh women often get tattoos.
“Openings on the body” including the vagina, belly button, and hips are often tattooed in hopes of protecting a woman’s fertility
Although today, the tradition of tattoos among the Amazigh community has almost neared its end with the death of the community’s elders, however, we, as Amazigh, we have way too many other means of telling the world our stories.
