 Uli designs are characterized by swelling and tapering curves interspersed with angled lines and abstract motifs.These designs are either stained onto the body or painted onto walls, and are temporary in both cases, wearing off in a week on the body and washing off walls during the rainy season.The process of creating Uli is not described as painting in the Igbo language, but rather as writing (ide uli) or drawing (ise uli).