"...However, French colonization throughout Northern Africa may have had a deeper impact, implementing a European moralist viewpoint, which frowned upon facial and hand tattoos displayed on Amazigh women, disregarding a tradition that dates back thousands of years, that not only embodied feminine beauty through their ceremonial tattooing, but celebrated a richly detailed Amazigh culture. It was during the height of occupation by the French up until the 1950s and the emergence of Islamist Revivalist Movements of the the same era, that tribal Berber woman began to retract from being tattooed and the practice began its decline from the 1950s onward.
The symbolism of Amazigh tattoos are of a distinctly feminine representation, usually at the discretion of the tattooist, who would always be a woman. Each symbol holds a deeper meaning, such as the siyâla, when a young Berber woman begins menstruating – vertical lines, sometimes applied as a palm tree motif, are sketched onto her chin, thought to be in homage of the goddess Tanith. Tattooing of Amazigh women would continue to occur on her body as she matures, such as symbols relating to the Partridge bird, considered a sacred bird under the Amazigh matriarch, reflected in Berber tattoos as a patterned diamond shape, as observed on the bird's face and chest. This tattoo would be placed either in the middle of the forehead, neck or top of their hands, as a visual representation that she is a “good wife”, has sharp eyes and is vigilant against dangers that might affect her family or the greater tribe. Yet, it would be fertility tattoos that became the most important oucham (marks) in warding off evil spirits, known as jnoun, these tattoos were applied around the eyes, mouth, nose, navel and vagina..."
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