One day when we were moved to the city, I decided to do it. I was 14 years old, I asked my mother to do it but she refused," says Masoudi. The rosette, composed of triangles: the one with the point up represents fire and virility, while the triangle with the point down represents water and femininity Even though tattooing is frowned upon in Morocco by today’s predominantly Islamic religion, its roots in the ancient Berber culture ensure that it remains a part of their custom. The people described and quoted .. were welcoming and warm, strong people living a difficult and hard lifestyle. Most were farmers and herdsmen.. in and around Khemisset in the Middle Atlas area of Morocco. Stories of the Leus’ escapades and travels lend a unique perspective to parts of tattoo history that remain unexplored by many of us. Berber tribal tattooing in Morocco is one of these unique traditions and looks that lends itself to diverse ethnographic history; fast disappearing even thirty years ago when this book was first written, the women represented now are largely gone, taking their history with them. Berber Tribal Tattoo Berber Tribal Tattoo Tattooing has boomed in popularity over the last decade. What do you think Felix would make of today’s tattoo scene?

It is therefore not surprising that it appears as one of the oldest rites of the Berber people, one finds it especially on women on parts of the body such as the forehead and cheeks and many others. This would make a perfect gift or coffee table book for those in the market for that kind of thing, or anyone who has traveled to or longs to travel to Morocco, but the content is so culturally relevant, meaningful and important, that it would make a worthy and valuable addition to personal, public, private and academic libraries around the world for its art historic, sociological, and anthropological significance alone. Berber tattoos complete this elegant and well-groomed look: these geometric signs in the shape of an arrow, a point, or a triangle, cover their faces, hands and ankles, the only uncovered parts of their bodies. Spiritual virtues: Berber tattoos are known to have a purifying nature, according to the Amazigh people they have the ability to purify body and soul. Spiritually, they represent sacrifices for the purification and redemption of the soul, the tattoo would act as a bridge between the body and the spirit aiming to attain spiritual fullness. Berber Tattooing is a unique and tender record of the tribal skin art of Morocco’s Middle Atlas. The result of a series of chance encounters, Felix & Loretta’s Leu’s road trip in 1988, opened a doorway into the intimate world of the women of the Berber tribes. In this book, the women tell their individual stories, revealing the traditions of the tattoo in their culture, together with insights into the lives that they led.The basic designs are the basis of all decorative tattoo fantasies and carry names that change when modified or composed according to the art and inspiration of the "maalema." The most common are: the comb, fly wings, fishbone, saw, and pigeon's foot. The facial tattooing of women in the ancient Berber tradition is a mark of cultural identity and womanhood. Many tribes in Africa view the body as a canvas for decoration and would prefer to wear little to no clothing. Body decorations and transformationswere made to mark certain milestones in a person’s life. Berber Tattooing: The Disappearing Tradition of Amazigh Tattoos, Tattoo Idea Book, Tattoo Symbol and Meanings, Tiny Tattoos Book Felix was ahead of his time in his art and an individualist in his lifestyle. The younger generation of tattooers knows little to nothing about his story in tattooing and I feel that I am the best person to tell it. In August 2018 my daughter Aia Leu, the publisher of seedpress.ie, encouraged me to put together the material I had begun to gather about Felix’s tattooing. She would then publish it. We had collaborated on “Berber Tattooing in Morocco’s Middle Atlas” in 2017 and we worked well together once again on this book. Together we chose the format, paper, fonts and worked out the layout. I wrote some texts and we included Felix’s own words in excerpts of interviews he had given. With her help and a lot of hard work on both our parts the book came to life.

They are indigenous inhabitants of that region who came with their own language -Tamazight- culture and religion. Amazighs also share a common heritage and linguistic origin with various dialects such as Tachelhit-Tamazight-Tarifit-Taqbaylit and Tamasheq.Some tribes used tattoos to intimidate their enemies; The hostility of a tribe or the clan spirit retained their purity in these distinctive tattoos. Historically, women in the Berber culture or Amazigh were tattooed facially in a time that predates the arrival of Islam in North Africa. Now with the influx of Islam, many believe that any alteration to the creation of Allah is haram or forbidden. In Arabic culture it is referred to as C’est Haram, which translates to mean, ‘it is forbidden.’ Looking at Felix’s art, particularly his ink drawings, I can see some similarities with Filip’s style. What was Felix like as a father and teacher? Tattoos have largely disappeared among the Berber tribes due to the fact that the Berber tribes have disappeared. Is there still a tribe? The Berber society has changed," says Es-Semmar.