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.

 

[balanbalis]

I have developments on this.

The earrings were apparently an old tradition to pierce a baby boy after many miscarriages in a row. My adeero has pieced ears for this reason.

And the ancestor offerings were a yearly tradition where you'd pour tea on doorways as a way to show respect. This stopped really early in the 1980s.

 

[cunug3aad]

I have developments on this.

The earrings were apparently an old tradition to pierce a baby boy after many miscarriages in a row. My adeero has pieced ears for this reason.

And the ancestor offerings were a yearly tradition where you'd pour tea on doorways as a way to show respect. This stopped really early in the 1980s.

My shaaax nooo Happy they stopped the waste of my shaax

 

[balanbalis]

My shaaax nooo Happy they stopped the waste of my shaax

Ma jeceshahay caano? Wait till you find out about the caano shub ceremony

 

[cunug3aad]

Ma jeceshahay caano? Wait till you find out about the caano shub ceremony

Yaaaaayah dont remind me Xaaaax

 

[nothingfrosty]

I

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

I’ve seen another picture of a Somali man with earrings @balanbalis

 

[balanbalis]

I

I’ve seen another picture of a Somali man with earrings @balanbalis View attachment 359833

That’s awesome, thank you

He has crazy drip

 

[nothingfrosty]

That’s awesome, thank you

He has crazy drip

It reminds me of samburu/rendille culture although I don’t think it’s worn for the same reasons and I think Somali men didn’t stretch their ear lobes

 

[balanbalis]

Found another pic albeit low wuality

I’m pretty sure it’s the same guy as the first picture. But he’s on the far right again.

 

[Riftvalley]

There was a practice of cutting a little bit of the top of ear. I not sure what the purpose was .

 

[balanbalis]

There was a practice of cutting a little bit of the top of ear. I not sure what the purpose was .

I’ll be looking out for pics of that then

 

[Wabari]

Here is the guy you are referring to his name was Adam and the little guy is Yousef

 

[Wabari]

I

I’ve seen another picture of a Somali man with earrings @balanbalis View attachment 359833

They are not Somalis it’s Borana Oromo.

 

[Wabari]

Clear images.

interesting post

 

[Wabari]

I’d like to clarify that these archives don’t actually show Somalis but rather the Afar people also known as Dankali, a name referencing their harsh Danakil Desert homeland, with "Dunkali" likely being a colonial misspelling. The term "Guerriers" (French for "warriors") thus referring to Afar warriors from Djibouti, documented under French colonial rule. For comparison, here are the separate archives featuring actual Somali warriors.

 

[Riftvalley]

I’ll be looking out for pics of that then

It will hard to notice, essentially a very minor cut on the top of the ear. My cousin has it. I think it may had something to with infections or something. God knows best.

 

[bobby_hill-Punt]

Clear images.
View attachment 359869
View attachment 359870
interesting post

We need to bring back the Somali saber / dagger