Beauty- A rose by any culture is still a rose
Feb 18, 2010
MOST people believe beauty is relative. Indeed, the Greek saying ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ comes to life when different people, cultures and tribes describe beauty.
By Diana Namutebi
MOST people believe beauty is relative. Indeed, the Greek saying ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ comes to life when different people, cultures and tribes describe beauty.
In Uganda, different tribes set different physical standards of beauty. In some instances, they are the same, depending on the region, beliefs, environment and other factors.
Some tribal defination of beauty are representative of their regions. However, what is considered to be beauty in one tribe could be undesirable in another.
What was considered beautiful back in the day is gradually fading out as other trends are adopted. However, most people in rural areas all over Uganda still uphold the traditional standards of beauty.
Baganda
For one to be considered beautiful, their behaviour is paramount, hence the emphasis in childhood training about how one should behave in public. At a certain point while growing up, a girl is taken to her paternal aunts for more training.
In the Baganda, for a girl to be considered beautiful, she must walk gracefully like a princess and talk in a calm tone (simbo).
The way a girl talks and walks is essential because it reflects her life. If she walks carelessly talks loudly, she is considered chaotic and disorganised. Calmness portrays kindness.
Physically, a beautiful girl must be tall, have large white sparkling eyes, a chocolate brown flawless skin, a gap in the middle of her upper teeth (muzigo) and soft black hair. A small long nose is also an asset.
Girls with a little fat and folds in the neck are considered extraordinary. Shapely, medium-sized legs are also an indication of beauty. The feet are scrutinised because some are considered a bad omen.
Karimojong
A face creatively aligned with tiny scars, plenty of ornaments and animal skin worn in the neck, waist, ankles ears and arms, and with two teeth of the lower jaw knocked out, denote beauty.
Soft brown eyes, white teeth and a dark skin cannot be ignored.
According to the elders, knocking out teeth is traced to the meningitis outbreak in Karamoja.
Since the disease locked the victim’s jaws, the teeth were knocked out to administer aloe vera and other herbs. This later became a symbol of beauty in the culture.
Ornaments are a sign of wealth. The more one has, the more desirable they became. In Karamoja, a strong woman is a beautiful woman. Her strength or the lack of it are exhibited during the ceremonial fight held during courtship.
A handsome man has numerous scars made with thorns and a razor blade all over his body. The patterns are drawn with a lot of creativity.
They are a symbol of manhood. They are also a testimony of the battles one has worn. An ostrich feather worn by the men attracted attention.
Banyankole
A fairly fat lady with a curvy body, large hips and dimples is considered beautiful. A gap in the middle of one’s upper jaw and white large sparkling eyes will score one marks.
Fatness represents health and fertility which are crucial. In this part of Uganda, beautiful girls maintain a soft, flawless complexion using ghee and butter normally applied on the lower arms and thighs.
In fact, stretch marks are a sign of great beauty. A beautiful Munyankole girl must also be shy and ‘naïve’. Submitting to one’s husband is key. Appearing vulnerable enlists more applications from suitors because of the feeling that she needs protection.
The Lugbara
The nature of a girl’s family greatly contributes to her beauty. That is used as a yard stick for her morality and potential. Traditional Lugbara women knock six teeth out of their lower jaw.
They scar their faces with patterns and wear ornaments. Girls who lack this are held in contempt and not considered beautiful.
The Lugbara are very keen on faithfulness and hard work. One is closely watched and assessed to test faithfulness. She demonstrates her ability to work by doing chores.
Bagisu
Bagisu emphasise men’s beauty more than that of women. The circumcision ceremony that symbolises the beginning of manhood is intended to make a man worthy.
Going through it shows a man’s endurance, courage and strength, making him attractive. Women show off their dancing skills, adornments and attire which are all representations of beauty.
Bagisu men treasure light-skinned women with big bums and busts. They are captured by charm and fleshy bodies.
Iteso
A woman proves her beauty through hard work and submission. A charming medium-sized woman is a jewel. However, brown girls are considered exceptionally attractive. In case a man is not satisfied, a girl’s family is asked to pay high dowry to compensate for lacking beauty.
Samya
To the Samya, a beautiful woman is endowed with strength, grace and endurance. The gap in the teeth also counts for beauty here. Men look for medium-sized, fairly tall women with chocolate-brown skin. Hair is a big deal and women struggle to maintain long, black, soft hair.
Banyarwanda
Graciousness means beauty among the Banyarwanda. This is shown in the way they dance, talk and walk. A beautiful woman is delicate, with chocolate skin, a curvy body, shapely hips and a narrow waist.
A long neck, usually adorned with beaded ornaments, turns heads. One’s gum must be dark, which shows a high intake of milk, thus good health.
Langi
Being slender, tall and with a smooth chocolate skin are symbols of Langi beauty. Women also weave their hair into different patterns to beautify themselves. Shear butter is used to smoothen and soften the skin.
Bakiga
In earlier times, a woman with a thick body and strength was precious. There was no room for thin, frail women, because they were thought to be sickly and weaklings.
Today, a gap in the teeth and a smooth skin are still treasured. Much as strength is supreme, one is expected to be calm and submissive. Being social and kind is an added advantage.
MOST people believe beauty is relative. Indeed, the Greek saying ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ comes to life when different people, cultures and tribes describe beauty.
In Uganda, different tribes set different physical standards of beauty. In some instances, they are the same, depending on the region, beliefs, environment and other factors.
Some tribal defination of beauty are representative of their regions. However, what is considered to be beauty in one tribe could be undesirable in another.
What was considered beautiful back in the day is gradually fading out as other trends are adopted. However, most people in rural areas all over Uganda still uphold the traditional standards of beauty.
Baganda
For one to be considered beautiful, their behaviour is paramount, hence the emphasis in childhood training about how one should behave in public. At a certain point while growing up, a girl is taken to her paternal aunts for more training.
In the Baganda, for a girl to be considered beautiful, she must walk gracefully like a princess and talk in a calm tone (simbo).
The way a girl talks and walks is essential because it reflects her life. If she walks carelessly talks loudly, she is considered chaotic and disorganised. Calmness portrays kindness.
Physically, a beautiful girl must be tall, have large white sparkling eyes, a chocolate brown flawless skin, a gap in the middle of her upper teeth (muzigo) and soft black hair. A small long nose is also an asset.
Girls with a little fat and folds in the neck are considered extraordinary. Shapely, medium-sized legs are also an indication of beauty. The feet are scrutinised because some are considered a bad omen.
Karimojong
A face creatively aligned with tiny scars, plenty of ornaments and animal skin worn in the neck, waist, ankles ears and arms, and with two teeth of the lower jaw knocked out, denote beauty.
Soft brown eyes, white teeth and a dark skin cannot be ignored.
According to the elders, knocking out teeth is traced to the meningitis outbreak in Karamoja.
Since the disease locked the victim’s jaws, the teeth were knocked out to administer aloe vera and other herbs. This later became a symbol of beauty in the culture.
Ornaments are a sign of wealth. The more one has, the more desirable they became. In Karamoja, a strong woman is a beautiful woman. Her strength or the lack of it are exhibited during the ceremonial fight held during courtship.
A handsome man has numerous scars made with thorns and a razor blade all over his body. The patterns are drawn with a lot of creativity.
They are a symbol of manhood. They are also a testimony of the battles one has worn. An ostrich feather worn by the men attracted attention.
Banyankole
A fairly fat lady with a curvy body, large hips and dimples is considered beautiful. A gap in the middle of one’s upper jaw and white large sparkling eyes will score one marks.
Fatness represents health and fertility which are crucial. In this part of Uganda, beautiful girls maintain a soft, flawless complexion using ghee and butter normally applied on the lower arms and thighs.
In fact, stretch marks are a sign of great beauty. A beautiful Munyankole girl must also be shy and ‘naïve’. Submitting to one’s husband is key. Appearing vulnerable enlists more applications from suitors because of the feeling that she needs protection.
The Lugbara
The nature of a girl’s family greatly contributes to her beauty. That is used as a yard stick for her morality and potential. Traditional Lugbara women knock six teeth out of their lower jaw.
They scar their faces with patterns and wear ornaments. Girls who lack this are held in contempt and not considered beautiful.
The Lugbara are very keen on faithfulness and hard work. One is closely watched and assessed to test faithfulness. She demonstrates her ability to work by doing chores.
Bagisu
Bagisu emphasise men’s beauty more than that of women. The circumcision ceremony that symbolises the beginning of manhood is intended to make a man worthy.
Going through it shows a man’s endurance, courage and strength, making him attractive. Women show off their dancing skills, adornments and attire which are all representations of beauty.
Bagisu men treasure light-skinned women with big bums and busts. They are captured by charm and fleshy bodies.
Iteso
A woman proves her beauty through hard work and submission. A charming medium-sized woman is a jewel. However, brown girls are considered exceptionally attractive. In case a man is not satisfied, a girl’s family is asked to pay high dowry to compensate for lacking beauty.
Samya
To the Samya, a beautiful woman is endowed with strength, grace and endurance. The gap in the teeth also counts for beauty here. Men look for medium-sized, fairly tall women with chocolate-brown skin. Hair is a big deal and women struggle to maintain long, black, soft hair.
Banyarwanda
Graciousness means beauty among the Banyarwanda. This is shown in the way they dance, talk and walk. A beautiful woman is delicate, with chocolate skin, a curvy body, shapely hips and a narrow waist.
A long neck, usually adorned with beaded ornaments, turns heads. One’s gum must be dark, which shows a high intake of milk, thus good health.
Langi
Being slender, tall and with a smooth chocolate skin are symbols of Langi beauty. Women also weave their hair into different patterns to beautify themselves. Shear butter is used to smoothen and soften the skin.
Bakiga
In earlier times, a woman with a thick body and strength was precious. There was no room for thin, frail women, because they were thought to be sickly and weaklings.
Today, a gap in the teeth and a smooth skin are still treasured. Much as strength is supreme, one is expected to be calm and submissive. Being social and kind is an added advantage.