Melanin Monday
This archival postcard, dating from between 1929 and 1937, features two Sara men from Equatorial Africa (formerly French Equatorial Africa), distinguished by their facial scarifications — powerful cultural markers of identity, maturity, and belonging.
Culture: Sara people
Medium: Printed on cardboard
Dimensions: 13.9 x 8.9 cm
Source: Collection of the National Museum of World Cultures (Netherlands)
Theme: Tattooing and ritual scarification practices
These forms of body modification, often misinterpreted or erased through colonial narratives, are deeply rooted in ancestral tradition and spiritual symbolism. Each line tells a story — of lineage, resilience, and connection to community.
Most of these photos were taken during the Balolo mission in Congo — a so-called “civilizing mission” funded and led by European powers. In reality, it was a violent campaign to erase African spirituality, dismantle cultural identity, and enslave countless lives — all under the guise of bringing Christianity.
We won’t be tagging any photographer here — consent cannot be established for obvious reasons.
But what we do ask is that you take a moment to look at these faces.
Staring straight into the lens, during the height of colonization.
You might see an “object,” an “exotic specimen,” or an oppressed person?
Let me offer you a clearer view:
This is an unbothered gaze.
Wearing his scarifications like a crown — marks of pride, of identity, of heritage.
It’s crucial that we learn to contextualize images of scarified bodies.
This was the Belgian Congo, between 1908 and 1960. After that, photos like these became nearly impossible to find. That alone should tell you how “successful” the mission was in its goal of cultural erasure.
Some now say scarification is “ugly,” “not aesthetic”?
If you’re of African descent, this is not just skin.
This is your ancestry.
Thank you.
Afroderm — our Afrocentric edition — was a powerful moment on every level. Thank you for your energy, your attention, and your presence.
Whether you’re a tattoo artist, a passionate supporter, or simply curious, your presence was essential. Our traditions, our practices, and our cultural heritage within the tattoo industry are still at risk today. And thanks to you, on May 10th and 11th, we were able to keep these ancestral knowledges alive — and bring them back to life.
We truly hope you left having learned, felt, or understood something meaningful. And if we had the chance to meet, we sincerely hope to see you again at a future edition.
A huge thank you to the tattoo artists. Your talent, your respect, and your commitment honor us. None of this would have been possible without you.
Thank you @chantayblue@markedbynish@mani.tattoo@emmanuel_item@eza_izzink@nacral.ttt@artenesis_@jeekey_tattoo@jadeshaw_tattoos@habibee.bounce
Also the best gems 💎 artist in town the one and only @http.layali
Special mention to the scenography team @event.initial@jngaelle@clalfbvr — you gave the space a soul and turned it into a true immersive experience.
And finally, all our respect to the official AFRODERM team who welcomed and guided you throughout the event:
@maee.ttt@oriishas.ttt@lisa_yaourt@mizustudio.ttt@shelsy_cvt@l33l0uu@motheranhedonia@rare_gem_realness
This video is just a brief glimpse of what we experienced together. Thank you for being part of the story.
Comment “AKWASAK” if you want to learn more about this new Caribbean tattoo movement.
Akwasak is a contemporary tattoo style I created inspired by pre-Columbian Caribbean history, ancestral migrations, and ceramic patterns from the Saladoid era that spread through the Antilles long before colonization.
It was born from one question:
what would a tattoo style rooted in Caribbean identity look like if we looked beyond colonization and reconnected with our earliest visual histories?
I’ll send you a DM with a link to the full article on my website where I break down:
the creation of Akwasak
the meaning behind the patterns
the history that inspired it
and why reclaiming our narratives matters.
Let’s share this family. We don’t need to be old and gone to make history.
We control our own narrative.
Let’s rewrite.
Let’s reclaim.
AfroDerm rejoint l’Orléans Tattoo Show 2026 ✨
Cette année, l’éducation et les origines seront au cœur du programme.
À cette occasion, AfroDerm s’associe à @orleanstattooshow pour proposer un temps de transmission essentiel autour de l’histoire du tatouage.
Conférence — 1h30 à 2h00
Animée par @justpigment (Dimitri Andrew), tatoueur et chercheur spécialisé dans les traditions africaines.
Cette intervention abordera :
– l’histoire du tatouage sur le continent africain,
– les pratiques ancestrales et leurs significations,
– les controverses contemporaines autour du tatouage sur les peaux foncées,
– les biais persistants dans l’industrie actuelle.
📍 Rendez-vous le 28 février à 14h00
Lors de la convention @orleanstattooshow
Les billets pour assister à la convention sont toujours disponibles
lien en bio du compte @orleanstattooshow
Que vous soyez curieux·se, passionné·e, client·e ou professionnel·le, cette conférence se veut un premier pas vers le rétablissement des vérités historiques du continent africain dans le tatouage, et une invitation à repenser nos pratiques avec plus de justesse et de conscience.
Transmission, mémoire et responsabilité collective.
On vous y attend.
Tatouer les peaux foncées demande des connaissances spécifiques.
Pas parce que c’est « plus compliqué », mais parce que ce secteur a longtemps été pensé par et pour des peaux claires.
Ce post ne prétend pas être exhaustif.
Il rassemble cependant les grands points de vigilance qui posent encore problème dans l’industrie du tatouage :
lecture de la peau, choix des contrastes, cicatrisation, discours, représentation
L’objectif n’est pas de pointer du doigt,
mais de donner une vision d’ensemble des obstacles que rencontrent encore trop souvent les personnes à la peau foncée lorsqu’elles se font tatouer.
👉🏾 Dernière slide : une liste de tatoueur·euse·s non exhaustive, des artistes qui travaillent réellement avec toutes les carnations, et pas seulement autour du sujet. @taiyo__lee@blackdoll_art@leogavaggio@ananda.tattoo@eza_izzink@habibee.bounce@artenesis_@isthisreal.ttt@katie_mcpaynetattoo@therapi_ttt@jcinkme@tommy.iink@fauxfuyant@kalioffthewall@oaks.foret@witchy.ttt@kaoh_tattoo@nacral.ttt@missjoy_do_tatoueuse@cursedbanana09
Si ce post peut ouvrir des discussions, susciter des remises en question ou simplement éviter des erreurs : il aura déjà rempli son rôle.
La mélanine n’est pas une contrainte.
Le manque de formation, lui, en est une.
La France n’est pas composée uniquement de peaux claires.
Il est temps d’arrêter cette hypocrisie.
En ce moment, une vague de tatoueurs adore se plaindre de la baisse de leur activité, alors qu’ils ne font absolument rien pour inclure tout le monde.
On entend souvent l’excuse : « mais ils ne viennent pas vers moi, pourtant la porte est ouverte ».
Mais concrètement, que faites-vous pour rendre votre contenu réellement accessible et accueillant pour les peaux mélanisées ?
Nous vivons dans une société profondément mixte et diverse, et ne pas représenter tout le monde rend votre vitrine artistiquement et éthiquement douteuse.
Quand je vois certains tatoueurs étaler leur notoriété, jouer aux anciens, ça me donne la nausée.
Parce que la réalité, c’est que vous êtes frileux dès qu’il s’agit de peaux mélanisées.
Il est temps de se remettre en question.
Il est temps de se bousculer.
Merci infiniment à @juleschabanne d’avoir permis la mise en lumière d’un sujet si important. T’es le meilleur 🙏🏿
Today we’re with Zack — one of Chantay’s clients — who asked for one of her signature silhouette characters, inspired by the cover of Octavia Butler’s book.
@chantayblue has been part of AfroDerm since the very beginning. She is, without a doubt, one of the most unique tattoo artists when it comes to African-inspired aesthetics. Her work carries both finesse and power — every piece feels intentional, rooted, and alive.
We’re truly blessed to have Chantay as a collaborator.
And big thanks to @hallieaduke from @2way.studios for shining a light on such a phenomenal artist.
“We tend to forget that the origins of tattooing and body modification started on melanated skin.”
AFRODERM: Inside the UK’s first tattoo event dedicated entirely to Black skin shows how art, heritage & education can collide in a space never quite given its spotlight. From breaking myths about tattooing on darker tones, to centring African roots and pre‑colonial body practices, this article promises insight into an event that is both a culture‑shifting moment and a safe homecoming.
Want more? Link in bio to read the full piece.
Photos by Hallie Duke @hallieaduke
Written by Claude Knight @claude_knight
There are moments in life when you know you’re witnessing something special…Your hairs stand on end and you’re lost for words – not because there’s nothing to say, but because you’re focusing on savouring every last sensory detail.
That’s how it felt documenting @afro.derm 's first UK event. On behalf of @storiesandink , I spoke with the convention's founder, Dimitri Andrew @justpigment and London-based tattoo artist, Nish @markedbynish . Together, we explored the movement’s origins and mission, and frustrations shared by Black tattooists and collectors. Two incredible days dedicated to undoing the harm inflicted by colonialism and yt supremacy. Truly precious time spent exhibiting and celebrating the Afro roots of tattooing and body modification.
I also spoke with the amazing Jade Clark @clarktattoos and Emmanuel Item @emmanuel_item about their work. And how weaving Afro-centric elements into their designs pays homage to their lineage and identities.
Writing this was an absolute dream, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Let me know what you think! 🖤
Please follow and support AFRODERM and the amazing artists involved. I’m so excited to see how this international community grows. And for more tattoo lovers to learn where it all started.
📸 Photo credits:
✷ Hallie @hallieaduke
✷ Tamara @tamarabelibi
✷ Levi @leviarmstrong
✷ Erinn @efortson
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Want me to write something for you? Email me at [email protected] 💌
