Tribal marks were once used as a means of identification, inoculation against diseases and beautification. Sadly, the tradition is fast fading out and this is due to several reasons. Timothy Opaluwa writes

Kunle Idowu, a 54-year old business man who is an Abeokuta resident has always been asked jokingly by friends if he was attacked by a tiger or a lion. This is because his handsome face bears the tribal marks known as ‘Abaja Owu’; three bold horizontal marks atop three equally visible vertical ones on each cheek.

According to Idowu, “I cannot subject my children to the embarrassment I suffered over the marks I have on my face. During my school days, they called me all sorts of names because of the bold tribal marks my grandparents put on my face. I have been rejected by ladies severally due to the marks on my face.”

Nowadays, tribal marks have become dying mementos of an ancient era. Some of the young people who have it feel resentment towards their parents for giving them such scars.

Across the major and minor tribes in Nigeria, tribal marks have been a way of identification. Ethnic groups such as the Yoruba, Hausa, Kanuri, Nupe, Jarawa in Plateau and Igala are known to have some of the marks. Such marks reveal instantly, the tribe of anybody who bears them.

Giving reasons why tribal marks are predominantly used in some parts of Nigeria, an expert in History and Philosophy, Dr Babalola Adeyinka who spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend said, “Tribal marks came into Nigeria during the colonial era when the colonial masters were capturing people and taking them to foreign countries for slavery, people started giving their family members marks to locate them if ever they were captured and to recognise them when they are freed. These permanent marks are ways of identification passed on from family to family, members of the same village, identification of royal lineage and people from the same lineage.

“It was also used during the period of inter-tribal wars. It was a simple means of knowing where someone came from; that is to identify their towns of origin and families. People believe that a person with tribal marks will not remain missing for too long. Such a person, if separated from his relations during war or other conflicts, would meet someone who would identify his town and even his family through this marks. Such wars have ceased, making tribal marks is a thing of the past,” Adeyinka explained.

Continuing, he said some people also give these marks for protection against certain diseases. “The marks were not only given on the face, but also on the chest, back, stomach, thigh or arm. For instance, in Akoko-Edo area of Edo State, the three-quarter-inch vertical mark on each cheek is an inoculation against convulsion, which is mandatory for babies. Since most childhood killer diseases now have vaccines, herbal or local inoculations that resemble facial marks are fast going out of fashion. In recent times, it is very difficult to find tribal marks on people who are younger than 35 years in Nigeria. The culture may remain a while with traditional institutions, but this also will disappear with time,” Adeyinka noted.

Corroborating Adeyinka, An octogenarian, Alhaji Bolaji Adekunle, who also spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend, noted that tribal marks were used as a source of identification in the olden days.

“People who were migrating to other places had these marks given to them as a mark of identification so that whosoever came in contact with them would know instantly where they were coming from. For instance, there are tribal marks that tell you instantly that someone is an Egba man, an Ilaje person or an Ijesha man. In my days, they are considered beautiful. I am a first son and I was given these beautiful marks at birth. Ironically, things have changed. None of my children or grandchildren have any tribal marks. That tradition is fading out now.”

It is interesting to note that tribal marks are not limited to Nigeria, but to other countries as well. For instance, the Nuer of Sudan give tribal marks as a mark of transition from childhood to boyhood; hence, it is meant only for boys from age 15 and above. It is a ritual deserving a lot of courage as the traditional healer usually cuts each of the six vertical marks so deep that the cheek bones are often exposed!

After the marks heal, the Nuer boy becomes a responsible and respected man in his community. He can then marry and settle down to adult life.

Going down memory lane, it could be recalled that from the First Republic to the present day, Nigeria has had several leaders who wore their tribal marks like garments of honour. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ladoke Akintola , Chief Lamidi Adedibu, General Sani Abacha, Chief Richard Akinjide, Olusegun Obasanjo amongst others wore distinct tribal marks that stood them out in the days they held sway.

Although these marks have a long history of tradition and culture, some Nigerians believe the practice of tribal marks should be stopped, because they are old-fashioned.

A medical doctor, Godwin Atabo, wonders why anybody should still be interested in tribal marks in spite of the deadly infections, including hepatitis and HIV, which can be transmitted in the process. Atabo advises that since the process, unlike male circumcision, cannot be done in hospitals with properly sterilised equipment, it should be discouraged.

Some Nigerian states have enacted laws to ban giving children tribal marks and imposing heavy fines on violators or prison terms.

For instance, Ayo Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, made facial marks and tattoos illegal in the state in 2006 in line with its Child Rights Law. Also, former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, banned people in the state from giving facial marks or tattoos to their children.

Nowadays, many children are no longer given tribal marks, thanks to modernisation and extant laws.

http://www.leadership.ng/news/469347/the-dying-tradition-of-tribal-marks

Hmmmm, it can no longer exist with the present world.

If it even exists, "foundation" dey for them ladies to cover it up

It's a good thing, let the tradition die out completely. I can't imagine my self disfiguring the face of my child all in the name of culture. His/Her face will now look as though he/she was attacked by a tiger.

Lol...I thought these folks love tradition so much. Why are they abandoning their tradition because "It embarrasses them"

liberty300:
Lol...I thought these folks love tradition so much. Why are they abandoning their tradition because "It embarrasses them"

... Because indeed, It's embarrassing.

Is that why the behave like cowards

Not only fade away it needs to be scrapped away and draft a big apology for those affected by those who did it.

You don't see football players with tribal marks. and nowadays most parents wants their wards to become an European football star so they desist from the tradition.
Personal Simple View - PSV

Let it go extinct abeg! Can't imagine having that on mah face...arrrrrrrrgh

This is why nnamdi kanu call them people from the zoo..this guys are from cat family..

People need to b arrested for this rubbish........

My say

We Africans are hypocrites and damn inferior. Just imagine if tribal mark was a Western culture, people will still be spending a lot of money just to have their face marked. Tell me the difference between tribal mark and permanent facial tattoo.
I am not in support of tribal mark tho but if tribal mark should be stopped so tattooing also should be. The last time I checked, tattoo was a means of identifying animals.

deewhone:
Let it go extinct abeg! Can't imagine having that on mah face...arrrrrrrrgh

Fine girl, u're too pretty to have such on ur face. Dearie

Dolypson04:
We Africans are hypocrites and damn inferior. Just imagine if tribal mark was a Western culture, people will still be spending a lot of money just to have their face marked. Tell me the difference between tribal mark and permanent facial tattoo.
I am not in support of tribal mark tho but if tribal mark should be stopped so tattooing also should be. The last time I checked, tattoo was a means of identifying animals.

Lame argument. Tatoo is a choice, scarification is not. Babies and children do not ask for it.

Dolypson04:
We Africans are hypocrites and damn inferior. Just imagine if tribal mark was a Western culture, people will still be spending a lot of money just to have their face marked. Tell me the difference between tribal mark and permanent facial tattoo.
I am not in support of tribal mark tho but if tribal mark should be stopped so tattooing also should be. The last time I checked, tattoo was a means of identifying animals.

lol, wat is dis one saying. Comparin tattoos to ugly tribal marks. Coman stop tattoos let me see u na. Mtcheeeew

SeverusSnape:

... Because indeed, It's embarrassing.

homosexaulity is not embarrassing....mtschewwwwwwwwwwwwww....

Dolypson04:
We Africans are hypocrites and damn inferior. Just imagine if tribal mark was a Western culture, people will still be spending a lot of money just to have their face marked. Tell me the difference between tribal mark and permanent facial tattoo.
I am not in support of tribal mark tho but if tribal mark should be stopped so tattooing also should be. The last time I checked, tattoo was a means of identifying animals.

no,no...tribal marks is not good,but tattoos are good...dont mind dem...they just love whorshipping white-people and hate dem selfs...hypocrites....

tsdarkside:


homosexaulity is not embarrassing....mtschewwwwwwwwwwwwww....

Who's talking about homosexuality now?

inoculation against diseases

for this reason, I have very tiny ones on my face(my nose is flanked by them).

Durentt:
Fine girl, u're too pretty to have such on ur face. Dearie

make we hear word jare! You don go check her dp already. Haba!

It should fade away Biko.

This is 21st Century

BALLOSKI:
make we hear word jare! You don go check her dp already. Haba!

weytin man go do na

QuotaSystem, aresa(ekoile) has similar marks all over their faces.

Bobbystanley:
It should fade away Biko.

This is 21st Century

We are yourobas.its our tradition.

Tribal mark was a means of identification in some part of Africa including d Old Tattoos that came into being again in d 20th century both r means of identification. why shld we stop tribal mark is it bcux it's looks horrible while some handsome, lets take a look at d new tattoo newly came in through d western world was firstly done by d Yorubas dis was done in any case if their wards got missing people can identify him/ her by d tribal marks and no d name through d tattoos in d body. Westernisation got so many of d Africans traditions missing. Okay, looking at sagging found at every nook and cranny of d Africans house was through Western world this we don't know dt the dn prisoners in America use this as sign whn breaking prisons, we r lossing much of our rich cultural heritage to Westerns craziness.

Imagine using cutlass and matchet to scratch a God given face making it to look as if he or she belongs to the cat family and u call it tradition,mbanu,this is horrofic,they should stop it biko.

Durentt:
weytin man go do na

Why is it that it is only people from the southeast and niger delta that does not have tribal marks?