Day 28: AN ANCIENT BEAUTY SECRET FROM IGBO CULTURE
Amarachi Anastasia Okoro@amarachiokoro
20 days ago
1. Uli : Historically, ladies were decorated with dye called ‘Uli’ and ‘Uhie’ (both were from trees) beautiful body painting /art to attract attention and suitors. The Uli could also depict that they are from a wealthy family and tell stories about their lineage. The drawing of Uri was once practiced throughout most of Igboland, although by 1970 it had lost much of its popularity, and was being kept alive by a handful of contemporary artists. Uli body art is painted for both formal occasions and everyday wear. Women traditionally wear uli for a variety of reasons, such as going to market to sell wares, meeting a prospective husband, getting married, giving birth, attending burial rites, or attaining of a title. Dance groups also choose distinctive uli designs that all members will wear when performing in a different village in order to distinguish themselves from the locals and to represent the village they originated from. Men also wear uli designs for formal occasions such as attaining a title. In addition, wrestlers would wear uli into fights. The designs are almost exclusively produced by women, who decorate other people's with dark dyes to prepare for village events, such as marriage, title taking, or funerals, etc. Designs last approximately 8 days. Igbo women also paint uli murals on the walls of compounds and houses, using four basic pigments: black, white, yellow, and red.
2. Shea butter: Shea butter, derived from the shea tree, was used by Igbo men and women to moisturize their skin and keep it healthy. It contains vitamins and fatty acids that nourish the skin, reducing dryness and promoting a youthful complexion.
3. Tiro: It an ancient beauty secret from Igbo culture, used by Igbos as an eyeliner. the Igbo word, Otanjele refers to the eyeliner. It is a cosmetic product populary referred to as "Tiro" in local Nigerian parlance. In Igbo culture, It’s widely believed that the eyes are a significant portal/door to the soul, hence in Igbo cosmetic ritual, wearing Otanjele around the eyes is seen as a conscious effort to protect and equip oneself with perceptive ability to decipher between good and bad.
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