Makonde Male Bust with Facial Tattoos, Jacaranda Wood (Dalbergis Nigra)EVC. This piece pre dates the time of the “forbidden tattoos”. Makonde are an ethnic group in southeast Tanzania. Here is a link regarding the history of the “forbidden tattoos” of the Makonde and the history of the region. It is definitely worth reading. The United Republic of Tanzania. African state that in 1964 merged. With Zanzibar to form the United. Republic of Tanganyika and. Zanzibar, later renamed the United.