A glimpse inside Indonesia's Mentawai tribe

A TATTOOED tribe in Indonesia sharpen their teeth with chisels and display animal skulls in their homes

Shot in July, these incredible pictures were taken by Muhammad Fauzy Chaniagom, 19, a young photographer who spent four days with the Mentawai tribe in West Sumatra.

The tribe consists of around 64,000 members and is known for their distinctive body art and practice of sharpening their teeth, which they believe makes them more attractive.

Their homes are known as Umas which are built using bamboo, wood and grass, and are furnished with the skulls of hunted prey.

The tribe members have tattoos, which are applied using a needle and wood, which are used to represent them and their communities

Muhammad, who is from North Sumatra, explained that the Mentawai people are friendly and welcoming.

He said: “The tribe literally greeted me with open arms – they had smiles and hugs for me when I arrived.

“While the Mentawai are one of the few tribes left in Indonesia, they are in danger of being wiped out as the industrialised world creeps ever closer to them.

“Many of the tribes people reject anything to do with modern life and want to stick to their traditional clothes, equipment and traditions, such as their tattoos.

“The roles within the group are very well defined, with the men hunting for prey and the woman cooking and taking care of the children.