Tunesien, die Kunst der Berbertattoos (360° - GEO Reportage)

An ancient tradition is inscribed on the beautiful yet wrinkled faces of their grandmothers; they are the last generation of women in Tunisia to wear Berber tattoos on their faces and bodies. Since the mid-20th century, this tradition has been frowned upon under the increasing influence of Islamic society. A young tattoo artist now wants to breathe new life into these ancient motifs. A film by Myriam Bou-saha © 2016, Licensed by MedienKontor / ARTE Subscribe to wocomoTRAVEL: https://goo.gl/tIk2Qc Follow us on Facebook:   / wocomo   Press release: There are only a handful of tattoo artists in Tunis, and 28-year-old Manel Mahdouani is the only woman among them. She doesn't have her own studio, and her profession isn't recognized. But she has many young clients who want to have traditional Berber motifs tattooed instead of the Western "trendy" motifs. Manel sets out to find elderly women who not only wear tattoos on their faces and bodies but also know the stories behind them. 360° - GEO Reportage follows the young tattoo artist Manel in search of the past. Despite the state of emergency imposed on Tunisia, Manel Mahdouani sets off on her journey from Tunis to the south of the country. She wants to meet the women who had tattoos in their youth. Her motivation? Professional and personal curiosity, as her grandmother was also tattooed, and she wants to learn more about her own family's past. She belongs to the generation that no longer knows anything about their grandparents' motives and therefore wants to lift the "veil" of this tradition. Why did men and women have these mysterious motifs tattooed on their faces and bodies? In the countryside, she learns for the first time about the meaning of the tattoos, and sometimes the grandmothers, who are over 80 years old, reveal quite intimate confessions to her. The further Manel ventures into the south of the country, the more complicated her research becomes, as people here aren't necessarily open to a young stranger. But at the end of her journey, the tattoo artist has a well-stocked sketchbook in her luggage and returns to the capital full of hope and confidence. Will her commitment pay off, and will the ostracism of her profession eventually subside?