GETTING A TATOO

The art of tattooing is a trend which has caught on fast with the youth in Ghana, but I doubt if most of its patrons have stopped to find out more about it.

I searched for information about the subject and was amazed to find a wealth of information on the subject. I have put together the information in a form we can all appreciate and assimilate.

ORIGINS

Did you know……….

The word tattoo was coined from the Polynesian word ‘Tatau’ back in the year 1769

It is practiced by cultures across the continent from as far back as the Paleolithic/Neolithic period
It is done for spiritual, cosmetic, identification, religious ,medical and social reasons.
It involves inserting ink into the dermis layer of the skin
The first Ink machine was invented in 1891,before then tattoos were made by scarification using knives and other sharp objects.
Natural Dyes and Ink have now been replaced by inorganic products composed of titanium oxide and iron oxide
Tattoo ink have been known to cause allergic reactions and blood borne infections
Tattoo ink have been proven to cause interference in MRI procedures especially those containing iron oxide
All tattoo parlours in the developed world are regulated the states food and drugs regulatory body
Tattoo artist are expected to undergo hygiene training before practicing.

One interesting thing about those getting tatoo is those who are dark skinned aka 'KOO JACKIE or KOO DARKIE'. You can hardly has been design on the skin yet they go in for it. It was very fuuny watch a TATOO artist on the ONE SHOW on VSAT 1 , a Ghanaian tv station. The Tatoo artist said he educates his potential clients on the advantages and disadvantages of getting a Tatoo. Then the host of the show noticed he himself (the tatoo artist) has NO TATOO on his skin, not even a single mark. His reason was , he didnt want it on his skin since taking it off is 'impossible'  but loves to design them on people. This is just like  'shoe makers' who walk around in town with torn 'chale wote' .

In Ghana, before TATOO became common, when you see someone with a TATOO, you begin to have a funny perception about the person. Its either the person is 'wild' or 'criminal' since those with TATOOS in the yankee movies we watch were the 'KILLERS'. Now, it has become a 'fashon' for a lot of people to get a TATOO. One group of people who have really caught up with it are the SPORTS men and women especially football players. It sometimes look great, others are horrible.

So folks before you enter that TATOO shop to get one, think seriously about it especially the health and social implications and ask yourself ....." DO I NEED TO GET A TATOO ?"

This is food for thought for the discerning reader.

By

E.B and Q.B

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