09 Jun 2013

Body art, which dates back as far as thousands of years has become a form of expressing fashion, love, experiences in life and identity of the gang one belongs to in today’s generation.

But the question is, can this practice affect an individual spiritually or physically?      

Francistown based tattooist, William Ineeleng, commonly known as Willy, has been in the body art industry since 2009.

Some forms of body art are tattoos and body piercing.

He said there are misconceptions about this business, which needed clarification.

“Some people believe tattoos are somehow related to satanic agents, but that is just a rumour as there is nothing like that.

Some people have come to believe that at night tattoos become alive and come in form of demons and spirits and they attack those who have them,” he said.

Willy says he has tattoos that express his religious beliefs but they have never come alive.

He pointed out that for safety reasons, he sterilises his tattoo guns, uses one needle per client and also strongly advises people to express their life experiences through tattoos.

For his part, Unaswi Jenamo, a youth who already has a tattoo regrets having it.

He said the reason he hates the tattoo is because he did it during his teenage years.

Jenamo, who now wants to remove his tattoo, said he did it under the influence of alcohol and peer pressure.

“For one to make a tattoo it is a personal choice, if you follow the bible it is against it. Without being stereotypical, I will not deny anyone from having one,” he said.

Another youth, Bibi Mphotsha, who has two tattoos advises people not to be influenced by their peers and to desist from designing tattoos that display their loved one`s names.

She says that can only be done if they are either married to them or they are their children, because once the relationship turns sour and ends, a replay of memories get to torment them.

A pastor, Ralph Mmakgotsho says people have been given a free will but should make sure that their will is in line with the will of God. 

He says a tattoo is an image, which can turn into an idol and God is against an idol as expressed in Exodus chapter 20.

“If one has a lot of tattoos, they become spirits and they will be living in his body and the person will have an identity crisis, displayed by many characters and behaviours as spirits and demons will be living in him,” he affirmed.

Pastor Mmakgotsho advices people to desist from having tattoos because they are satanic agents seeking bodies on which they can abide in.

According to Dr Davis Makwinja, body art should be done by professional artists regulated by a health board to avoid cross infections such as HIV and AIDS.

He stated that tattoos can result in cancer caused by ink, and can also cause an abscess from skin infection if safety procedures are not adhered to.  ENDS