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The designs on these girls' bodies have symbolic meanings in the Embera culture The ancient art of body painting photos by Eric Jackson It's not something that some indigenous publicist dreamed up to wow the tourists. The art of body painting practiced among the Embera and Wounaan goes way back, probably to their common ancestors' origins in the Amazon Basin. And it's not just an art, but a science as well --- that purplish black stuff they put on their bodies is a natural insect repellant and has anti-infectious properties, and is thus a most useful technology to have if you happen to live in the jungle.
They make this stuff by crushing the immature fruit of the genip (jagua) tree The designs with which people are painted are not random. They may represent stylized snakes (considered feminine in the Embera culture), birds (which are deemed masculine) or other animals. They might stand for occupations, such as basket weaver or sorcerer's apprentice.
The dye isn't permanent, but it doesn't wash right off either If you visit Embera country, you will be politely offered the opportunity to get your body painted in the traditional way. If you have to be at work in the city the next day you may look funny, because the dye takes about a week of regular showering to wash off.
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