Tattoo Symbolises Beauty and Pride

The art of tattoo­ing among the Saban women has almost vanished. Now only few have tattoo and most of them are from the older generation. The vanishing tattoo culture is contributed to rapid modernization and development. A religious figure once claimed that tattooing was a sin.

The vanishing of the tradi­tion of the tattoo is regretful. Tattoos are one of the valuable works of art that should be pre­served. But there is no way for me to tattoo myself! My mother body tattooed from her shoulder down to her hands and entire legs. She was tattooed after the first birth of her child, for Sa’ban women tattoo symbolizes beauty and pride. A woman who does not have a tattoo considers herself lower in rank to those who have them. They believe a tattoo will turn away all the decease. After death, the women will go through a very dark tunnel. When she lifts up her hands the tattoo will shine to light her way until she reach the land of the ancestors.

Managed to chat with few women about their tattoo at home. Some very proud to show me their designed. The process of tattoo was painful, but is raised their status more than the pain could do bad. The motives were printed with a needle on a wooden handle; the most difficult prints needed about 6 days of work. As color, damar and soot.