Tribal refers to a culture or society based on tribes or clans. Tribalist as an attitude emphasizes ethnic identity or pride in a cultural sense, as opposed to folkish ideologies focused on race. Viewed historically or developmentally, a tribe consists of a social formation existing before the development of, or outside of, states. ... A clan is a group of people united by kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor. ... An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... ... A race is a population of humans distinguished from other populations. ...

In pooular culture, tribal refers to a type of design or image that is loosely influenced by artwork of indigenous peoples. Often "a tribal" has reference to a tattoo. Design as a process can take many forms depending on the object being designed and the individual or individuals participating. ... In common usage, an image (from Latin imago) or picture is an artifact that reproduces the likeness of some subject—usually a physical object or a person. ... The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition. ... A Tattoo is a design in ink or some other pigment, usually decorative or symbolic, placed permanently under the skin. ...

Tribal can also refer to a type of house music, see Tribal House. House music refers to a collection of styles of electronic dance music, the earliest forms beginning in the early- to mid- 1980s. ... Tribal house refers to house music that is more drum-centric than other styles. ...