But as tattoos take hold, Rwandans avoid the real thing. Tattoos are not common in Rwanda, but look around and you will notice that it’s a growing fashion on our streets.

"I’m dying to have an angel tattoo similar to that of Mariah Carey,” says Janet Kamikazi, a teenage girl.

"I love her so much, and once I get the tattoo, it will remind me of her.”

Traditionally, body modifications were considered a taboo in Rwandan culture. But as time goes by, many cultural briefs have been altered by modernity.

Dickson Gasana, a tattooist in Nyamirambo, a suburb of Kigali city, explained in a telephone interview that lately more people have been coming to him wanting tattoos.

The trend is mostly associated with celebrities and it has carried on to the Dotcom generation who regard such stars their role models. Like Kamikazi young Rwandans are impressed by the tattoos of their idols in the west.

"I have been admiring people with tattoos since I was a child, and I always wanted to get one,” says Peterson Musoni, 25. Despite these influences, something stopped Musoni from going ahead with the tattoo.

"I was worried what family and friends would say about me.”

Many people who consider getting tattooed are held back by the fear of being criticized by the public. And I discovered there are those who are decidedly anti-tattoos.

"As a Muslim, I despise people, women especially, who wear tattoos in the name of style, says Sarah Uwera, adding, "I think there are plenty of crazes which can make one look sexy and attractive without necessary injuring the skin.” Another factor is pain.

"As well as be worried about what people would think, I was also terrified about how much it would hurt,” Musoni explained. Rwandans have thus opted for temporary tattoos instead of the real thing.

"Most of our clients prefer airbrush tattoos, because they are temporary and painless. They are made using an airbrush with specially formulated paint,” says Gasana.

Gasana added that during the process of tattooing, they use the laser-cut stencils, freehand or a combination of the two. Strong paints are used and they can be mixed to create different colours.

Such is the quality of these temporary tattoos; they are often mistaken for the real thing. The advantages for the ‘faux-tattoo’ are many. There’s no pain and they disappear within a week.

You can also chop and change; a dolphin one week, a dragon the next. But perhaps most importantly they are no health threats involved. HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, and other infections can be transmitted through the use of dirty needles.

Dr. Kanimba, a medical practitioner says tattoos can cause other health problems too, because it involves inserting coloured materials beneath the skin surface.

"Allergic reactions to the tattoo dyes are also a danger,” added Dr. Kanimba.

In addition, if you already have a skin disorder, such as eczema or psoriasis, you might experience chronic flare-ups at the site of the tattoo, which can also lead to skin cancer.

Tattoos can be wonderfully decorative, giving you that extra something.

Tattoo is also a great way of putting finishing touches to your evening outfit and makes you stand out. It is also a great way to have fun and look trendy. It’s also an inexpensive way to express yourself in public.

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