South Nguni – Female Tattoos and Scarification

Lister Haig Hunter

Scarification of the Body for Beauty

Tembu - Vamba Umzimba African Tattoos

Photo Set D

Lister Hunter - Umtata Agencies - Tourists Paradise

Lister Haig Hunter was born in South Africa in 1919. After WW 2 and up until his death in 1981, he traded in Umtata, the capital of the former Transkei. He dealt in traditional herbal medicines known locally as Muthi or Muti, as well as curios and ethnic artifacts, the latter sold to foreign visitors. His close association with his native clientele helped develop his keen interest in tribal customs, which led him to the pursuit of photography. The two passions came together at "Umtata Agencies - Tourists Paradise - Indlu Ya Mayeza". There he sold postcards to tourists which he produced in Durban from his photographic collections. He also sold slides that detailed the customs of his photographic studies. To learn more about Lister Hunters life, business or postcards click here.

Set - A

Set - B

Set - C

Set - D

Set - E

Set - F

Set - G

Each Slide Set A-G, has a dedicated page. Click a thumb to enter the section or category.

Lister Hunter compiled his slide collections into seven sets totaling 163 ethnic studies of isiXhosa speakers. The majority of the slides were taken between Umtata and Elliotdale in the Eastern Cape. The seven sets were labeled A to G. Gallery Ezakwantu digitalized the slide collection. It is the Hunter family wish to share the fantastic imagery and information assembled. The photographs and accompanied data are Copyright Protected - © - by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). This is Set "D".

Scarification of the Body for Beauty

Amasumpa - Amantsumpa - Bumps

The following imagery and text was authored by Lister Haig Hunter

SCARIFICATION OF THE BODY FOR BEAUTY

(THMBU GIRLS)

VAMBA UMZIMBA

COMPRISING SLIDES NOS 83 - 98

Travelling through the Transkei in South Africa, one very often sees a young maiden with her tummy full of scars of equal size, which run from between her breasts down to the navel, and horizontally across the sides of her tummy, while many bear the scars on their backs as well.

Investigation proved beyond doubt that this custom is carried out by most young Tembu girls for the sake of beautifying the body. The operators, elderly women, are experts at the job, performing the operation whenever a young maiden requests it as described in the following manner: -

83.

Two maidens seated upon the ground, have designs drawn upon their skins by the operator, using any small stick which works like a pencil upon the dark skin.

84.

The designs completed.

85.

Operation begins by lifting the skin with a needle at quarter inch intervals, then slitting the skin with a blade.

86.

Operation in progress. Note black bleeds very little compared to the front.

87.

A close-up of needle lifting skin.

88.

A 11 ½ cm. close-up of the actual cut.

89.

Showing the front nearly complete.

90.

Operation continues, showing back and front.

91.

Operation completed.

92.

Dry blood being washed away.

93.

The cuts visible immediately after washing.

94.

Fresh cow dung is smeared over the cuts, sealing them from the air, thereby ensuring no ill effects.

95.

Close-up showing new cuts as cow dung is applied.

96.

Four days later. Note the scabs which have formed.

97.

Scabs are all removed which ensures the skin growing together in a manner forming the blobs upon the body which, when healed, they maintain is very beautiful.

98.