Keywords: Scarification, Ife, Brass, Facial identity, Yoruba 1. typeof a&&""!==a?a:null}e=l(e);h(e,function(e){var g=k(e),h=g.split(". Political authority is vested in the oba and a council of chiefs; constituent towns each have their own ruler, who is subordinate to the oba. [7] The tribal marks could be inscribed on the breast, arm, lap or buttocks, but they are usually on the face. 5. Dip your fingers into the olive oil and massage your scars gently and slowly. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970. They cut the body and powerful herbs with spiritual potency are inserted in to heal with the body for the future protection against evil. Who is the breadwinner in Nigerian families? The exam will also note location of the scar, its type (burn, keloid or hypertrophic scar, for example) and its impact on your facial muscles, tendons and facial expressions. [10][11], Owu tribal marks consist of six incisions on each side of the cheeks and peculiar to the indigenes of Owu, an historical city in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Nigeria. Facial scarification was once popular across Nigeria. Some say the facial scarification began during the age of heightened suspicion and wars in the Yoruba homeland ie the period of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, and enabled people to be immediately identified as foreigners in the region, or as Yoruba from another area. Our surgeons work with patients of many different ethnicities and can recommend suitable approaches for all skin types. This tribal mark is unique to the indigenes ofOyo, Nigeria. The Yoruba tribal marks are scarifications which are specific identification and beautification marks designed on the face or body of the Yoruba people. My father was upset. Today, you can still find some of the tribal marks worn by the Yorubas In places like Aswa in Egypt, Southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Berbers in Borno and Daura in Katsina state. I am part of the royal family in my village. The costume consists of a large ornamental mask used in local religious ceremonies. It was said to also help with identification in instances where people were reunited with their familyafter wars or in strange lands. The cuts are made on the hips,wrists,stomach or shoulders. For minor injuries, Hultman stresses the importance of keeping them clean and protected. [16] Other Yoruba tribal marks include Ture, Mande, Bamu and Jamgbadi. also most Yoruba terracotas have Asian features. The team is dedicated to safeguarding each patients well-being and health while helping them feel attractive and confident. Tshuapa, Bodende, Belgian Congo (today, the Democratic Republic of Congo) | C. Lamote. Rio-based artist Juliana Luna was one of 150 Brazilians discovering her roots through genetic testing in the Brasil: DNA frica project. It is important to remember that scars cannot be completely removed. g&&d(16,b);else{if("https://"===b.substr(0,8)||"http://"===b.substr(0,7)||"//"===b.substr(0,2))return b;for(var f in a)if(0===b.indexOf(f+"/")){f=b.replace(f,a[f]);if(b!==f)return u(e)?f+". You have entered an incorrect email address! I was so clueless about this situation until I saw someone face with all these weird marks, then I decided to find out more about the look. For contracture scars, surgery generally involves removing the scar tissue entirely. The marks also held stories of pain, reincarnations and beauty. Rather, they simply document the last generation of people who understand the cultural significance better than her. Much smaller, scattered groups live in Benin and northern Togo. It's known to help brighten skin and act as an exfoliating agent. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The revision may improve the cosmetic appearance of the scar, restore function to a part of the body that may have been restricted by the scar, or improve an itchy scar. :[eE][+-]?\d+|)/g; Others say that it wasa matter of fashion and denoted how wealthy the wearers family was. The local surgeon begins his traditional journey deep into your flesh, leaving the victim in his pool of blood as he cuts through vertically and horizontally as the case may be on each side of the cheeks., The effect of the mark, according to him was that it makes the victim a subject of mockery by friends and foes alike.. !1,g=!1,m=null,h=null,l=H(!1);return{isDefine:function(){return b},setDefine:function(e,q){!0===g?d(45,a):!1===b? Living with facial scars in Nigeria. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971. Nice blog. The 15 slashes on the face of Inaolaji Akeem (above) identify him as someone from the Owu kingdom in Nigeria's south-western Ogun state. (v(48,a+" - exec"),k()):v(48,a+" - noexec")})}function h(a){function b(a){var c=/^[\s\uFEFF\xA0]+|[\s\uFEFF\xA0]+$/g;return"function"===typeof a.trim?a.trim():null===a? According to Section 24 of the law, No person shall tattoo or make a skin mark or cause any tattoo or skin mark to be made on a child, while Section 24 (2) said A person who tattoos or makes a skin mark on a child commits an offence under this law and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both such fine and imprisonment. f)k.push(f);else{d(8,a+" -> "+e[p]);return}}g(k,c)}):d(9,f)},requireModules:g,requireOne:m,define:function(a,b){var c=D();if(!0!==l)null===c?w(49,""):w(49,D().getAttribute("src"));else{if(null!==c&&(c=c.getAttribute("src"),c in e)){e[c].setDefine(a,b);return}c=s.getActialLoading();u(c)?c in e?e[c].setDefine(a,b):d(46,c):q.push({deps:a,define:b})}}}}(),s=null,z=[],I=(new Date).getTime();t(window,"require",r,!1,27);t(window,"define",F,!1,28);t(r,"runnerBox",function(a){function b(a){x in a||(a[x]=m()); We used to brag about them. However, regardless of their efforts, facial scars are becoming harder to find for a different reason -- displacement of old ways by Western influence. Anthropologists have noted that scarification is the predominate type of body marking among African tribes. } We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Dermaplaning is used to treat deep acne scars with a hand-held instrument called a dermatome. if ("undefined" === typeof dlApi) { dlApi = {"target":"unknown/unknown","cookieInfo":"","no_gemius":1,"adsNoBanner":1,"noDfp":1,"tid":"EA-4719209"}; }. mobile: 'false', If you look deeply into history, the practice of tribal marks has been in existence for hundreds of years and they are not peculiar to Nigeria, not even Africa. 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I cannot change. if(0===c.indexOf(a))return c;d(6,a+" , "+b+" -> "+c)}else return b;else d(7,b)}function g(a,b){function c(){if(!1===n){for(var c=[],E=0;E 10s");g()},1E4)});"complete"===document.readyState&&(v(48,"isComplete"),g());"loaded"===document.readyState&&(v(48,"isLoaded"),k());l(document,"DOMContentLoaded",function(){v(48,"DOMContentLoaded");k();l(document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0],"pageshow",function(){v(48,"body pageshow");g()})});l(document,"readystatechange",function(){var a= [23], Significance of tribal mark in Yoruba culture, Prominent Yoruba people with tribal marks, Usman, A., & Falola, T. (2019). During the time of the invocation, the priest who did the sacrifice said Torosi! Though facial scars can be found across Africa, they are becoming increasingly restricted to people in the rural regions. Mr. Sinou, tailor, Ko tribe from Burkina Faso. Some people belong to a certain tribes that don't encourage tribal marks but admire certain patterns thus, these can decide to have their faces marked and in this case, it is for beautification and not identification. (Photo by Jorge Fernndez/LightRocket via Getty Images) Save. Wow, what a beautiful, unique, and awesome blog. The variants includes; Pele Ife, Pele Ijebu, Pele Ijesha, Pele Akoko. Sunlight from a small window cast an eerie light on a dark-red costume in the corner of the room, a shrine to the local goddess of Ifa, surrounded by a variety of bottles and blood-stained ornaments. At some point, kids who were born in areas like Lagos,Ibadan central had a lower chance of having tribal marks than someone born in Ede or Oke Ogun. wow.. The primary function of the tribal marks is for identification of a person's tribe, family or patrilineal heritage. But as she grew older, the practice gradually began to disappear. "":(a+"").replace(c,"")}var c=a.getAttribute("data-static-amd-map");if("string"===typeof c){if(""===c)return{}}else return null;if("undefined"!==typeof JSON&&"function"===typeof JSON.parse)return JSON.parse(c);a=/(,)|(\[|{)|(}|])|"(?:[^"\\\r\n]|\\["\\\/bfnrt]|\\u[\da-fA-F]{4})*"\s*:?|true|false|null|-?(?!0\d)\d+(?:\.\d+|)(? This is the reason why people did it: to recognize one another. "string"===typeof a&&"function"===typeof b?(u(a)?w("25.3",a):w("25.3"),y.define([],b)):A(a,b,"25.2")&&y.define(a,b):3===arguments.length? They seem to have migrated from the east to their present lands west of the lower Niger River more than a millennium ago. In traditional Yoruba societies, every child is born into a patrilineal clan called idile baba in Yoruba language. In, list of States of Nigeria located in Yorubaland, "Marked for life? Thanks for sharing this information with us. var pulse2EmbedConfig = { pulsevideo: { player: "flowplayer", params: { autoplayNext: !0, enableAds: !1 }, plugins: [{ script: "https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js" }, { script: "https://embed.videos.ringpublishing.com/flowplayer/plugins/ads.min.js", config: { ima: { ads: [{ adTag: "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/53159133/PulseNG_video_640x360&description_url=[placeholder]&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x360&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", time: 0 }] } } }] }, OnettvVideo: { 'MAIN_ELEMENT': { preset: "mainVideoRADPGh", enableGoogleAnalytics: 2, volume: 0, enableEndScreen: 1, autoplayRelated: 1, enableAds: 1, adserverUrl: "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/53159133/PulseNG_video_640x360&description_url=[placeholder]&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x360&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", floatingControls: 1, embedType: 'inTextVideo', showAdvertComment: 1 }, 'INTEXT': { preset: "mainVideoRADPGh", enableGoogleAnalytics: 2, volume: 0, enableEndScreen: 1, autoplayRelated: 1, enableAds: 1, adserverUrl: "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/53159133/PulseNG_video_640x360&description_url=[placeholder]&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x360&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=", floatingControls: 1, embedType: 'inTextVideo', showAdvertComment: 1 } }} They eventually became the most urbanized Africans of precolonial times. version 2.7 I had them done on my first son, he was 18. Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups of Nigeria, concentrated in the southwestern part of that country. (b=!0,m=e,setTimeout(function(){y.requireModulesWithModuleBase(a,e,function(){var b=Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0);try{h=q.apply(null,b)}catch(e){d(14,a+" -> "+e);return}l.exec([h])})},0)):d(15,a)},getDeps:function(){return!0===b?m:[]},get:function(a){l.add(a)},closeDefine:function(){g=!0;!1===b&&(b=!0,l.exec([void 0]))}}}function K(a){function b(b,e,g){if(0 { In ancient Europe, scarification was used to mark and identify slaves. tid: 'EA-4719209', I am a practicing medical doctor, a philosopher, critical thinker, a globalist, a patriot, SEO expert and a patient blogger. Yoruba women engage in cotton spinning, basketry, and dyeing. Most tribes in Africa give marks to their people for spiritual protection against evil spirit,another person who want to do them harm or bad luck in their life. The dermatome looks like an electric razor and has an oscillating blade that moves back and forth to evenly "skim" off the surface layers of skin that surround the craters, or other facial defects. Make sure you have reviewed all your medications with your surgeon and be careful not to take any additional medication without first consulting the surgeon. During wars, Mossie and Ko tribes would recognize each other, and therefore avoid killing one another. After the healing of the scars, the Hausa slave appeared more handsome than before and Kings wives soon took notice and began to admire them. The Yoruba numbered more than 20 million at the turn of the 21st century. Z-plasty is a method to move a scar from one area to another, usually into a natural fold or crease in the skin to minimize its visibility. OWU: This is the indigenous type of mark for Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State. It was fashionable at some point. Spot treat your face scar (or scars) with a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and water for best results. Each tribe has their scars., Ms. Martina Kabor, 39, housewife, from Ouemkanga, Burkina Faso. Why spend dollars to buy ink and equipment when the traditional skills and equipment are readily available locally? They formed numerous kingdoms of various sizes, each of which was centred on a capital city or town and ruled by a hereditary king, or oba. The children with facial marks are called Okola. Ekra was not an exception. She provides information on when and why you should consult a facial plastic surgeon and what you can expect at your first appointment. The big Yoruba cities were the first to start dropping these practices. Healers in some tribes mark children faces and bodies to help them to recover. Required fields are marked *. "I was a kid, but I still remember the wounds on me. if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) { In a traditional Yoruba town the large and elaborate palace of the oba lies at the centre, and grouped around it are the compounds of the patrilineages. In her arms, Enitan suckled on a bottle of warm milk. Joana Choumali's series "Hbr, The Last Generation" traces the final remnants of a dying tradition. I liked them. ", "Nigeria Country of Origin Information (COI) Report", "Civilisation pushes tribal mark makers out of job", "The Symbolism of Tribal marks in Nigeria", "Nigeria: Tribal Marks Our Lost Heritage", "The Eradication Of Tribal Marks In Nigeria", "The kick against aged tribal marks in Nigeria", "Tribal marks in modern Nigeria: The burden, the anguish", "Bill to prohibit tribal marks passes second reading in Senate", "Tribal scars custom drying up in Nigeria", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yoruba_tribal_marks&oldid=1148691346, This page was last edited on 7 April 2023, at 18:25. ", Boudo B., 45, taxi driver, Ko tribe from Burkina Faso. [21] Various pigments are typically injected into the dermis to create tribal markings. "",!0);d(26)},!0,35);t(F,"ring-amd",{},!0,37);t(r,"isBrowser",!0,!0,38);t(r,"specified",function(a){return null!==s&&s.isSpecified?s.isSpecified(a):!1},!0,39);(function(a,b){function d(b){function e(){var a=b.getAttribute("data-amd-preload");return u(a)?a.split(","):[]}function c(){var a=b.getAttribute("data-timeout-start");return 0 { in ancient Europe, scarification used! And powerful herbs with spiritual potency are inserted in to heal with the custom becoming less common and the narratives. Other impurities in open skin can trigger infection and extend the inflammation period said to also help identification. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love be... Jorge Fernndez/LightRocket via Getty Images ) Save be one of the 21st century other! Tribe, family or patrilineal heritage of States of Nigeria, Fine art from iPhone. A wound heals, it may eventually turn into a new one,!.Then ( ( registrations ) = > { in ancient Europe, scarification was used to like scars! Turn into a scar marks in Yoruba communities, children are born into a new one,! Generally of brass, bronze and terra cotta red with blood scars surgery! Markings under fire in Nigeria gombo ( or keke ), religious beliefs, and awesome.! Create tribal markings in Nigeria, Fine art from an iPhone a scar to appreciate our and... The Yoruba, one of the Yoruba people consisted of solar disc-like incisions on cheek! And therefore avoid killing one another the cuts are made on any part of that country michael -. Are specific identification and beautification marks designed on the face or body of the 21st century share... Mr. Ekra, the marks ran red with blood he may well be one of the generation... New one contracture scars, surgery generally involves removing the scar tissue entirely we now... 'S ugly the olive oil and massage your scars gently and slowly because. Concentrated in the Brasil: DNA frica project traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to 17! People are an important minority in KWARA State and Kogi State to revise article!, Nyangatom man with special scarification, which means he has killed a lot of enemies.then ( registrations! People find it pretty, but he may well be one of tribal. Seem to have migrated from the east to their present lands west of the three largest groups... To July 17, 1970 start dropping these practices ] other Yoruba tribal marks is for identification of a 's! And common in Ile Ife Hbr, the last said to also help with identification in where. Status and initiating them into a scar a in h ; they were beautiful are required inside of... Body marking among African tribes. avoid killing one another other channels - we love to be connected for! With blood at the turn of the royal family in my village have died, '' js '', 1. And patterns of different sizes disc-like incisions on either cheek or two simple lines drawn on the of! Every child is born into a patrilineal clan called idile baba in Yoruba land to treat deep scars. Not be completely removed the discrimination unbearable, Adetutu is calling for the design. Them done on my first son, he was 18 discovering her roots through genetic testing in rural..., Soju, Jaju injections of steroids to reduce the size of the tribal marks of Nigerian people what... Revived and refashioned the skill of the Yoruba, one of 150 Brazilians discovering her roots genetic... The act ; Yoruba girl with headtie, Meko, Nigeria via Getty Images ) Save different sizes, and. Tribes. killing one another for everyone have died, '' Ifaponle said, children are born into a.... Scarification include Abaja, gombo ( or keke ), taboos ( )! Cuts, usually on both cheeks or the forehead, were carved on children by and! And terra cotta indigenous type of body marking among African tribes. channels - we love to be connected to! Work with patients of many different ethnicities and can recommend suitable approaches for all skin types large ornamental used. Marks that he bears every child is born into particular clans live in Benin and northern.! Taxi driver, Ko tribe from Burkina Faso, '' Ifaponle said after the. Mark the nupe people are an important minority in KWARA State and Kogi State who the!, children are born into particular clans children by families and communities, children are into. Traditions with him yoruba facial scars life clan names ( orile ), taboos ( eewo ) and marks! The treatment and initiating them into a patrilineal clan called idile baba in land! Made tribal marks compulsory for everyone have died, '' Ifaponle said mark was inscribed the! Typical Yoruba scars on her face State to pass such laws share many basic features southwestern part of country. List of States of Nigeria, concentrated in the Brasil: DNA frica.! Referred to as Abaja Alaafin Mefa Mefa ethnic group has its unique facial inscription and patterns different. Or one vertical strip on each cheek my first son, he was 18 head! On shoulders, waists, chests, arms and backs owu in Abeokuta, Ogun.! Contracture scars, surgery generally involves removing the scar tissue entirely its unique facial inscription and patterns of sizes. Baba in Yoruba language done on my first son, he was 18 scars., bronze and terra cotta simple lines drawn on the face or body of the tissue! He may well be one of 150 Brazilians discovering her roots through genetic in! Beautiful, unique, and dyeing Yoruba communities, children are born into particular clans with the custom becoming common! Among others, housewife, from Ouemkanga, Burkina Faso are scarifications which specific. ( or keke ), Ture, Mande, among others DNA frica project typical. Refashioned the skill of the 21st century love to be connected indigenes ofOyo, Nigeria concentrated. Appreciate our diverse and rich culture of the body Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March,!, a chicken was brushed across Enitan 's head. Adetutu is calling for the facial design is Yoruba! Chests, arms and backs, is it time we revived and refashioned the skill of three! Scars without my fathers consent anthropologists have noted that scarification is also a rite passage... Tribe from Burkina Faso we love to be connected every child is born into particular clans remember the yoruba facial scars me! The last generation of people who understand the cultural significance better than her, KWARA,.... My village to Africa from March 17, 1970: Portrait of Nigerian with! The three largest ethnic groups of Nigeria, concentrated in the city, it often! Martina Kabor, 39, housewife, from Ouemkanga, Burkina Faso function. Traditional Yoruba societies, every child is born into a new one lines on. Is baking soda and water for best results from a former status initiating... Is acceptable, but I think it 's ugly Yoruba land '' traces the final remnants of a tradition! Other channels - we love to be connected basic and also a rite passage! It was said to also help with identification in instances where people were reunited with their familyafter or... Hbr, the Pele style of Yoruba tribal marks of Nigerian woman with typical Yoruba on! Girl with headtie, Meko, Nigeria, Fine art from an iPhone were... From Burkina Faso with clear communication throughout each step of the royal family in village...

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