Men and Earrings // "Ancestor Offerings"

[balanbalis]

I remember that my mum told me (culturally) Somali men used to wear earrings/get their ears pierced if they were an only child. She also said the practice became less popular as the sheikhs in her neighbourhood used to tell people off for it.

The reason I remembered is because of this picture where the man on the right appears to have earrings.

ALSO, she told me how there was a festival (?) where people used to leave food at the doorway for their ancestors, I don't remember this as well as the first one so some details may be skewed. But this also became less popular as sheikhs told people off.

These both likely grew less popular in the 1980s, for context.

 

[The alchemist]

I have seen 100s of old pictures; this is the first time I have seen a man with earrings, and none of the European travelers ever mentioned it when they described the males. And they described the phenotype and wear very illustratively. In my assessment, if it were a thing, then it could not have been common. Maybe it has a narrow, specific meaning, or it was a rare practice. Or maybe a thing within a specific clan. Or perhaps a social innovation that was a trend for a limited amount of time in a limited area.

Check out my new thread on why those guys wore feathers, though.

Tapestry of Feathers

For people who know a thing or two about Somali historical culture, feathers on the heads of males are granted to the ones who best others in a fight to the death. This feather-wearing is a practice that goes back to the Nubian days: From Lower Nubia between 3500-3000 years ago: Othere Lower...

www.somalispot.com

 

[balanbalis]

I have seen 100s of old pictures; this is the first time I have seen a man with earrings, and none of the European travelers ever mentioned it when they described the males. And they described the phenotype and wear very illustratively. In my assessment, if it were a thing, then it could not have been common. Maybe it has a narrow, specific meaning, or it was a rare practice. Or maybe a thing within a specific clan. Or perhaps a social innovation that was a trend for a limited amount of time in a limited area.

Check out my new thread on why those guys wore feathers, though.

Tapestry of Feathers

For people who know a thing or two about Somali historical culture, feathers on the heads of males are granted to the ones who best others in a fight to the death. This feather-wearing is a practice that goes back to the Nubian days: From Lower Nubia between 3500-3000 years ago: Othere Lower...

www.somalispot.com

Thanks for the input (and the self-promo lmfao ) i'll add on any other evidence of this earrings 'trend' if I can find any

 

[The alchemist]

Thanks for the input (and the self-promo lmfao ) i'll add on any other evidence of this earrings 'trend' if I can find any

I came only to siphon your momentum.


Jokes aside, I wrote that thread after seeing this, since I had put it on hold. Might as well.