Tribal marks are incisions made on different body parts practised by many tribes in Nigeria. It is common among the Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, Benin, Tiv and Hausa tribes.
It is a symbolic and cultural practice among various tribes in Nigeria; these body marks are mostly incised for ethnic identification, spiritual protection, beauty and social status.
These incisions are a form of identification for various clans and families, and there are distinct ways of making marks on the body.
Making of these marks can be painful, and any sharp objects like razor, knife, stone and glass can be used to make cuts on the body or face; after the incision, native dye from charcoal is applied for proper healing.
Tribal marks are well dominated in Africa; it can be traced to Egypt in the 5th century. During that time, immigrants living in Egypt cut themselves with knives to differentiate themselves from the Egyptians.
This practice was later adopted by many kingdoms, tribes, and people in Africa; some families distinguished themselves from the enslaved people with tribal marks.
These tribal marks, which vary widely among areas and ethnic groups, are still practised throughout West Africa and Nigeria. These traditional ancient practices symbolised social importance to their cultural heritage. In Nigeria, tribal body-marking shows a person’s tribal identity.
The marks mean differently to different people and tribes among the Tiv. Tribal marks are done to appease the gods; it is a ritual between two persons for marriage. The Yoruba tribe, particularly in Oyo state, gives tribal marks to every first child to show that the child is legitimate.
The Fulani and Efiks groups use tribal marks to symbolise status and ornamentation for the women. In Eastern Nigeria, tribal marks are used mainly by women for ornamentation among the Igbo people.
The tribal body-marking is done on the face and other body parts. Some tribes perform body marks on newborn babies or young children while others wait for puberty to perform the ritual and show their courage, beauty, and marital status among their peers or clan.
Some cuts are on the tribe member’s faces; others have incisions on their backs and stomachs. Facial body marks are also a cultural practice for beautification, rituals and identification, and there are also different types being done on the body.
Some rituals are performed to initiate the person into clans, families, peers, marital and social status. These marks can be on any part of the money.
The healing and ritual mark incisions can be done on any body part where the ailment afflicts the person. These marks are usually tiny, and some are very difficult to spot. Some people perform body marks for spiritual rites on an evil child called (Ogbanje in Igbo or Abinku in Yoruba).
In the South-west, among the Yoruba tribes, tribal marks are called Pele, Owu, Agbaja, Ture, Mande, Bamu, Baramu and Jamgbadi
In Benin, tribal marks are known as Iwu, while among the Hausa’s tribal marks are called Zube, Yan Baka, Doddori and Bille. The Fulani tribe refer to tribal marks as Kalangu.
Few families and parents now practise tribal-marking; the practice of having tribal marks is fading because of civilisation.
It has been banned in some states in Nigeria because children are prone to get infected after incisions with unsterilised sharp objects, which makes them open to infections.
Civil societies, individuals and governments are pushing for the eradication of tribal marks in local communities.
