IN today’s evolving cultural landscape, body piercings have transitioned from traditional practices to mainstream forms of self-expression, particularly in Nigeria, where regional attitudes toward piercings differ significantly.
Body piercing refers to the production of a semi-permanent or permanent opening through the skin or a mucosal-lined surface such that a decorative item of jewellery may be inserted.
The most common example, by far, is earlobe piercing, which is mostly done at birth for female children. But as children come of age, some of them tend to extend the piercings to other body parts such as nostrils, tongues, eyes, belly button, lips, tongue, eyebrows, nipples, and genitals, irrespective of gender which may or not be connected to cultural norms. Some of these norms can be attributed to culture, spirituality, religion or self-expressionism.
Many studies have shown that body piercing and tattooing have become more common in today’s popular culture, but these practices are not solely modern trends.
An article by the American Academy of Paediatrics states that archaeological evidence indicates different forms of body decoration have existed in human societies for thousands of years. While previous research has mainly explored the connections between personality traits and the likelihood of getting piercings or tattoos, few have examined the subject from an evolutionary viewpoint.
Body piercings can be seen as a form of self-expression, a way to take ownership of your body and showcase your identity.
In Nigeria, body piercings were traditionally widespread in the northern region, where many young women would have two or more ear piercings and occasionally a nostril piercing. This practice were deeply rooted in some northern cultural norms.
Image by Myriam – No AI pictures in my gallery. from Pixabay
In contrast, in modern times such piercings were less common in the southern parts of Nigeria, where they were viewed with suspicion and often associated with negative stereotypes. Women in the south who had body piercings were frequently considered to lack moral values or be of questionable character, reflecting a cultural divide between the two regions regarding the practice.
This was the reality Adebimpe Adetunji, a middle-aged woman, was faced with when she intended to pierce her nose in her early twenties.
“When I was younger, I wanted to pierce my nose because I really liked it and I was in a northern environment where it was quite common but my boyfriend warned me of the cultural implications as a Yoruba girl and I saw reasons with him which made me drop the Idea,” Adetunji stated.
She added that over time, nose piercings have become widely accepted across different tribes and cultures. Despite her age, being in her mid-fifties, she is now considering getting a nose piercing herself.
“I have decided to pierce my nose but I would use very small jewelry and just one on the left part of my nose,” Adetunji further stated.
She said although the idea of getting a piercing has resurfaced for her, she still dislikes some of the more modern trends. These include septum piercings, piercing on both sides of the nose, and piercing in other areas of the ear, like the tragus.
Today, it is common to see young people with multiple visible piercings on various parts of their bodies, reflecting a growing trend of self-expression through body modification.
This surge in popularity includes piercings like the septum, double nostrils, and multiple ear piercing, which were once less common but are now becoming more mainstream among younger generations across Nigeria.
Hannatu Abdulwahab is one of such youth that has faced backlash from strangers due to her double nostrils unconventional piercing.
“I got my first piercing in 2019 when I was in my final year, and it was normal because Ilorin is north central and it is a norm over there. I got my second piercing during my service year.
I faced a lot of disdain and judgements because it was strange to a lot of people especially adults, they felt it was immoral. I have gotten insults like prostitute, a wayward child, a mannerless child, any sort of insult you can think of,” Abdulwahab said.
She mentioned that her distinct style of dressing might have contributed to the stereotype she faced characterised by beads adorning her body and anklets on both legs.
“I also do not dress in the usual way everyone does, my looks are alté (alternative). I have beads all over my body and I think that actually contributed to it also, I had anklets on both legs.
I had gotten used to the insults to the point that i didn’t even realised when it stopped because now compared to then I don’t get people to judge me. In the space of four years, it has reduced,” Abdulwahab stated.
This might be the privilege Aisha Adio, another individual with double nostrils piercing enjoys as she told The ICIR that has not gotten any judgmental remarks or looks since when she got another piercing on the other side of her nose since 2023.
“No one has made a negative comment on my piercing. It was only when I was in camp that we were all asked to remove our piercings and some earrings too on arrival.” Adio stated.
Disapproval can also be found in the professional workforce as some employers still harbour reservations on the unconventional modern-day piercings whilst some employers have evolved significantly, particularly creative fields like fashion and technology, are becoming more accepting of body piercings, viewing them as expressions of individuality and creativity.
In a recent post, an X user named @chrisllonaire expressed his frustration over a situation involving a candidate who had applied for a personal assistant position with the CEO of an oil servicing firm.
After successfully passing the first interview, the candidate was preparing for a second round with the CEO. However, the executive criticised her appearance, specifically targeting her multiple ear piercings, a leg chain, and visible panty lines.
“I’ve been fuming for the past 12 hours. Someone applied for a personal assistant job to the CEO of an oil servicing firm. She scaled the first interview and was set for the second round with the CEO and another person.
“But the guy totally frowned at her appearance just because she had multiple ear piercings, wore a leg chain, and had visible panty lines. Seriously, what happened to being decent about stuff you don’t like? If you’ve got reservations, keep them to yourself. I’m boiling over this. The post read.
Some X users supported the executive’s action while stating that such appearances might not reflect the company’s values.
Navigating employment opportunities, Abdulwahab stated that she usually removes one of her nose rings when attending interviews or applying for in-person opportunities.
“Whenever I am going for interviews or applying for opportunities, I remove one of my nose ring because I know I am going to get judged because of it. I have gotten an employment referral and I had to remove my nose ring due to my previous experience. because you get judged even before they hear what you have to offer
Aderayo Akolade said that she decided to pierce her nose in an effort to stand out and to deter herself from self-harm. However, the experience didn’t go as planned, as the piercing became infected, leading to unexpected complications.
“I always wanted to pierce my nose just to look different, but at the time I pierced my nose I did it cause I didn’t want to self harm. It mostly occurs when I’m overwhelmed with my feelings or resenting myself when I make a mistake .
“I just made the decision on a random day, I went to a jewelry stall and I had the left side of my nose pierced. I didn’t really feel the pain like I imagined,” Akolade stated.
Non-suicidal self-injury, or self-injury, involves intentionally harming oneself, like through cutting or burning, without the intent of suicide. People often engage in it as a way to cope with emotional distress such as sadness, anger, or stress.
Though it may offer temporary relief, it is usually followed by feelings of guilt and the return of negative emotions. While serious injuries are not usually the goal, self-harm can sometimes lead to unintended severe or even fatal consequences.
“It was all going great not until I misplaced the jewellry I used in piercing it and I got another piece of jewellry which I didn’t know was fake. This affected the healing process and it got infected and really painful. I had to close the piercing,” She further stated
Akolade treated the infection using a saline solution made from sea salt and water. She mentioned that she’s waiting for the piercing to fully heal before attempting to re-pierce it.
Akolade’s experience with a piercing infection is just one of several health risks associated with body piercings. Other potential health implications include allergic reactions to materials used in jewellry, which can cause irritation and discomfort. Keloids, or raised scars that form due to excessive collagen production during the healing process, are another concern. If a piercing is improperly executed or if unsuitable jewellry is used, there is a risk of tissue damage, potentially affecting surrounding tissues, nerves, or blood vessels.
Moreover, over time, some piercings may lead to complications like migration, where the jewellery shifts from its intended position, or rejection, where the body pushes the jewellry out. These issues can also result in permanent damage to the skin or underlying tissue
Aisha Suleiman, who is a piercer, explained that she usually takes safety precautions such as cleaning and sterilising the equipment for several minutes in front of the clients before proceeding to pierce.
“I make sure to clean the equipment for some minutes and I do so in front of clients for them to witness. I analyze the faces of clients and access how and what part should be pierced by asking which part of their face do they look prettier” Suleiman stated
She also mentioned that she utilises social media platforms such as TikTok and Youtube to stay informed about trends and to learn new piercing techniques.
“Most of my clients usually come to pierce their ears and when they are scared about the process, I show them videos of previous customers who didn’t even flinch to allay their fears.”
When asked about after-care treatments she stated that she usually recommends treatments such as hot towels, shea butter, and gentle rubbing.
Muneerah Owolabi, a medical officer, noted that to reduce the risk of developing keloids after a piercing, it is best to choose an experienced piercer who uses sterile techniques.
“It’s crucial to follow aftercare instructions meticulously, including keeping the piercing clean and avoiding any irritation to the area. Additionally, consider avoiding piercings in areas where you have a history of keloids,” She said.
Owolabi also noted that is best to opt for hypoallergenic materials such as titanium, surgical stainless steel, or gold as these materials are less likely to cause allergic reactions or irritations that could lead to keloids
“If you notice early signs of a keloid, such as raised tissue at the piercing site or unusual redness, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional.
There are topical treatments available, such as silicone gel sheets or steroid creams, which may help prevent keloids post-piercing. It’s best to discuss these options with a dermatologist, as they can provide personalised recommendations based on your skin type and history” She further highlighted.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org