HENNA: A growing tradition in arewa.

By; Garba Saadatu Ibrahim U17mm1035

 

There is no doubt that henna is a beautiful and unique adornment mostly applied by women in northern Nigeria. Henna is powder gotten from a tree that turns into a paste when mixed with water, it comes in two colors, black and red. Henna has been in existence for centuries, women especially in Africa have been using Hanna for adornment, it is a unique pattern drawn on both hands and feet to beautify the body.

In northern Nigeria, henna is referred to as “lalle” or kunshi. Henna pattern comes in different styles, The black and red henna can be drawn as flowers as seen in the pictures below: Henna artists also make use cello tapes to make different patterns to beautify the hands and feet, these patterns are made with red henna that has been mixed with water, hibiscus water, Muhallabiya and other elements to make a beautiful maroon color, The darker the henna the more enticing it is. For the black henna, it is mixed with water and hydrogen which is used to design unique patterns all over the hands and feet.

Weddings in northern Nigeria are synonymous with henna, there is hardly a wedding in Arewa without henna adornment on the bride, bride’s family and friends. Henna has become a tradition in northern Nigeria as weddings have an event called henna party, It is a gathering where bride, her family, friends and other well-wisher invite henna artists to apply henna of different designs. It is a lively event where the bride and her friends enjoy good music, food and other activities celebrating the bride.

Henna artists in Arewa are making a lot of money from their craft, these days Henna prices range from two thousand naira to fifteen thousand naira depending on the popularity of the artist. Bridal henna costs way more as more effort is put to make sure the bride comes out the best.

A popular henna artist in Abuja @henna_by_naseeba___ on Instagram charges over twenty thousand naira for henna designs. Her designs are unique and eye catching which brings a lot of customers. A lot of Arewa brides go to her for their henna designs, she makes a lot from bridal henna with lots of recommendations from satisfied customers.

Instagram.com/henna_by_Naseeba Her beautiful designs make the prices she charges worth it as she is extremely talented when it comes henna designs. Henna by Naseeba is one out of many henna artists in the north, there are other talented henna artists like @ummibridalhenna @hennatemple and lots more on Instagram. Henna has become an essential beauty item for women and it is transcending tribes, race and religion.

 

Posted at; 10:33pm