Tribal Patterns, Calabar, Nigeria, ca. 1930-1940

Image of what may be a folded out picture representing the tribal patterns made on the back of an Ibo (Igbo) woman. These elaborate designs are called "uli", and were painted with dye made from the seeds of uli plants. These designs were traditionally painted onto young women before marriage, when they visited a "fattening room." Since body fat represents health, wealth and fertility in Igbo culture, women were fed fat-rich foods in these rooms for around three months, and were instructed in the arts of being a good wife and mother by older women in the community. The young women then returned to their community, painted with uli designs, presented at the height of their beauty. By the 1930s and 1940, women were painted with uli for both festivals and everyday occasions. Missionaries discouraged the practice of body painting, asking artists to record their designs on paper (which this slide may represent) so that embroidery patterns could be made. Patterns often were themed around nature: this design features leaves and birds, for example, although other symbols were also used. Designs were also strongly linear. This slide comes from a set on mission, culture and industry in Calabar, southeast Nigeria generated by the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland (which was incorporated with the Church of Scotland in 1929.)