Lalle design also known as henna plays a vital role in the northern part of the Nigeria, it is a special natural essential used in beautifying the body. This traditional practice has been in existence for decades mostly in the the northern region, even though history has it that it came from North African during the slave trade. This act of beautifying the skin with lallie is popular among the Hausa, Fulani and the Kanuri culture. “The Lalle” which is a form of traditional tattoo is used to design the arms, hands and legs. it is not permanent and this type of tattoo can lasts from a few weeks to a month.
Lalle is acquired from Lalle leaf which is dried and then transformed into a powdered form. It is mixed with water, lemon, dye and Bintu Sudan (an oil perfume) and then transfered into a nylon bag with a tiny hole at its tip. Cultural women create beautiful designs by pushing out the paste gently on the skin.
You should use allow it dry on your skin before washing it off with water. The beautiful design impressions stay on the skin, making it look elegant and attractive. Apply oil perfume to the tatooed part to make it shine and last longer. If you want your designs to look red, put the lallie paste on the desired part of the body and wrap designed part with nylon for few hours. Make sure to wash the paste before it dries off for a perfect finish. You can also achieve this reddish or orange look by mixing the lalllie with Rani Hanne paste that can be brought from Arab countries.
Not everyone can be a lalle artist, it is not just something you inherit, it is an artistic work that requires passion and love. It is known as Kunshi in Hausa language. People use it for all kinds of events and festive seasons like naming ceremonies and sallah celebrations. it is can also be used for medicinal purposes like healing open wounds, burns or rough foot. it is also used to dye the hair and the men also use it for their bears.
Lalle design is a well known practice during weddings in the North. It is celebrated in the northern part of Nigeria as part of the marriage rites and is widely accepted as a sign of blessing and fertility. Kamu is a day specially selected to celebrate the beautification the bride’s skin, arms and legs with Lalle. This is done by the aunty of the bride and it signifies that she is now a woman and she is to become somebody’s wife. This celebration continues the next day where the Lalle artist designs the bride and her friends arms, hands and legs. Local entertainers make the event blissful by performing lovely traditional songs; they beat their drums and blowing their flutes while people dance and cheer at the same time. In ancient times, this natural beautiful temporary tatoo was celebrated with no loud music; the Lalle artist just designed the bride and her friends’ skin and food and drinks are served to the guests.
