Fulani Tribe

 

 Fulani Tribe, West Africa

The Fulani tribe are from several regions of Africa. 

The Fula are quite reseved int here dress as they are mainly Muslim so tend to cover there bodies, however they still wear eye-catching and vivid tradition dress consists of long bright and  colourful flowing robes decorated with embroidery .

Men tend to wear long robes with trousers of cotton. Herdsmen wear the distinctive conical straw hat and a turban. 

Women wear long robes and turbans. They decorate themselves with necklaces, earrings, nose rings and anklets. tradition in the fulani tribe is women using henna and indigo around the mouth, resulting in a blackening around the lips. 

 

The Fula of Niger, the Woodabé, celebrate the end of the rainy season with the Geerewol festival that features a male beauty pageant.  Teenage boys gather in their finest attire, paint their faces to highlight white teeth and bright eyes. The most impressive boys win the attention of the ladies, and potentially, a bride.  

In Benin, Fulani boys celebrate their coming-of-age differently.  They stand stoically as elders lash them with whips.  Those who flinch are not suited for manhood.  From flagellation to fashion shows, the diversity of Fulani culture is linked by a common thread:  a strong sense of self and firm adhesion to tradition.

Make up looks inspired by Fulani

I am inspired by the bright colours and vivid imagery of the Fulani tribe, the way the use material wrapped around the head gives me ideas to incorporate this into my own design.

Their make up i also find extremely creative and simulating, the use of colour to make the eyes and teeth stand out makes me consider the use of colour and how important that is in my design.

i also like the idea of how the men apply the make up to put on a beauty show for the women, a role reversal but in this traditional culture something you would not expect. this makes me consider using a male model for one of my shoots.

I think the insperation i get from the Fulani tribe would work best in my editorial shoot as with the use of bright mediums and crazy make up i could express this more than the catwalk shoot which s more minimalistic.

This is a short video on the beauty pageant the Fulani tribe put on for the woman of the tribe.