10 Unique and Mind-Blowing Beauty Standards Across Africa

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11 Sept 2024

Introduction

Africa is home to diverse cultures, each with its unique beauty standards. These standards often reflect deep cultural significance, symbolizing everything from status to spirituality. Here's a glimpse at 10 mind-blowing beauty practices across the continent, and whether they continue today.

1. Lip Plates in Ethiopia and Sudan (Mursi and Suri Tribes)

In the Mursi and Suri tribes of Ethiopia and Sudan, women wear large clay or wooden plates in their lower lips as a symbol of beauty and social status. The plates are inserted at puberty, gradually increasing in size. This practice is less common today, as modern influences have led some younger women to forgo the tradition, but it remains a point of cultural pride for many.

2. Elongated Necks (Ndebele People of South Africa)

The Ndebele people traditionally elongate their necks using brass rings, beginning in childhood. The rings are a sign of wealth, beauty, and identity, symbolizing a woman's commitment to her culture. While the practice has declined, some women still wear the rings for ceremonial purposes.

3. Scarification (Various Tribes)

Scarification involves intentionally cutting the skin to create raised scars, which are seen as markers of beauty, strength, and maturity. Tribes such as the Dinka (South Sudan) and the Karo (Ethiopia) practice this, often during rites of passage. With modernization and health concerns, scarification is becoming less common but persists in certain rural communities.

4. Shaved Heads (Rwandan and Zulu Women)

In some Rwandan and Zulu communities, women shave their heads completely as a beauty ideal. In these cultures, a smooth, bald scalp is associated with cleanliness, youthfulness, and attractiveness. Although modern beauty trends have shifted towards more global styles, shaved heads remain a symbol of traditional beauty for some women.

5. Gap Teeth (Nigeria and Ghana)

In parts of West Africa, notably Nigeria and Ghana, having a gap between the front teeth is considered highly attractive. A gap-toothed smile is often associated with charm and good fortune. This beauty standard remains popular today, with some people even undergoing dental procedures to create or accentuate the gap.

6. Ochre-Red Skin (Himba Tribe, Namibia)

The Himba women in Namibia coat their skin with a mixture of butterfat and ochre (called otjize) to give it a distinctive red hue, which symbolizes earth and life. This beauty practice also protects their skin from the harsh desert climate. The tradition is still very much alive and remains a key cultural identity for the Himba people.

7. Stretched Earlobes (Maasai People, Kenya and Tanzania)

The Maasai people are known for stretching their earlobes by inserting increasingly larger objects into them over time. This practice is a symbol of beauty, wisdom, and age. While it is less common among younger generations, older Maasai men and women often continue to wear stretched earlobes as a marker of cultural pride.

8. Henna Body Art (North and East Africa)

Henna has been used for centuries in North and East Africa to adorn the body with intricate patterns. This temporary body art is often applied during weddings, religious celebrations, and other significant life events. Henna remains a widespread and cherished beauty tradition in countries such as Morocco, Sudan, and Somalia.

9. Corset-Like Beads (Zulu Women, South Africa)

Zulu women traditionally wear waist beads, often in layered bands around their midriffs, as a way to accentuate their curves and enhance their femininity. These beads also symbolize fertility and sensuality. Though modern fashion has introduced new styles, waist beads are still worn, particularly during ceremonies and by younger women embracing cultural identity.

10. Bodi Tribe's "Fat Men" Competition (Ethiopia)

In Ethiopia’s Bodi tribe, men compete annually to gain the most weight, which is considered a sign of strength, beauty, and readiness for marriage. They drink a high-calorie mixture of cow’s blood and milk for months before the competition. This unique beauty ideal, tied to notions of masculinity and virility, is still practiced but has become less intense due to health awareness and outside influences.

Conclusion

While many of these beauty standards persist in some form, modernization, globalization, and changing health concerns have led to a decline in certain practices. However, in many communities, these standards are maintained as cultural markers, symbols of identity, and connections to heritage.