http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/07/20/nigeria.scarring.ceremony/index.html?npt=NP1

Osogbo, Nigeria (CNN) -- In a dark room, the High Priestess used her ceremonial knife to cut two teardrop scars beneath her baby grandson's eyes. As baby Enitan cried out, the marks ran red with blood.

It took only a few moments, but scarred him for life.

In her small mud-brick home in southwest Nigeria, priestess Ifaponle Ogunjinmi performed the Yoruba tradition of giving tribal marks to the youngest member of her family.

"The tribal mark is to identify the family," Ifaponle said. "Everyone in the family must have it."

Ifaponle rubbed the secretion of a snail on Enitan's cheeks and then pressed dark charcoal dust into the open wounds to stop the bleeding. To finish the ceremony, a chicken was brushed across Enitan's head.

"The snail is for cooling the wounds, like water on fire," Ifaponle said. "And the chicken is to clear the body of all illness. It will be sacrificed in two days."

Yoruba tribal scars have a variety of patterns and meanings.

Most obviously, they appear as a series of cuts and lines across the face to identify a person's family and regional heritage. Others, appearing as lizards or scorpions anywhere below the face, are a form of body art.

But they all have spiritual significance.



Video: Tribal markings under fire in Nigeria
RELATED TOPICS
Nigeria
Africa
Meta Ogunjimni, the child's father, led us into another dark, musty room at the back of his home. 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.

The costume consists of a large ornamental mask used in local religious ceremonies. It is decorated with three small wooden faces, each adorned with scars across their cheeks.

"I have inherited these facial marks from my grandfather," said Meta, pointing at the scarred wooden faces on the masquerade, "they help protect me."

Though facial scars can be found across Africa, they are becoming increasingly restricted to people in the rural regions.

The Nigerian government has moved to outlaw the practice, but many states have yet to approve the law. Many human rights organizations argue that the scarring of children is abuse and have often associated the practice with female genital mutilation.

However, regardless of their efforts, facial scars are becoming harder to find for a different reason -- displacement of old ways by Western influence.

"Our grandfathers, who made tribal marks compulsory for everyone have died," Ifaponle said. "In the modern world, many fathers don't allow any marks on their children."

In her arms, Enitan suckled on a bottle of warm milk. He will carry his Yoruba traditions with him for life, but he may well be one of the last.

Video and photos in link

I dont have tribal marks but I dont see whats so BAD about it.

I have my penos circumcised because my parents thought thats what good christians get done. But what the FUK makes the bible, torah or quran any better than my own yoruba tradition?



Or what about babies getting ears pierced- Im sure its excepted because white people do it also

It was the same tribal marks/traditions that help repatriated slaves keep their AFRICAN identity during slavery.

african culture has to be preserved. the only change that can occur in this instance is that of reducing the pains during the marking. perhaps, the kids has to be sedated prior to the marking. applying local anaesthetics on the sites prior to the marking will be a good idea. just my humble opinion.

but it should be done away it,we are now in modern world atleast no more slavery.howver i do respect cerain traditons sometimes

sjeezy8:

It was the same tribal marks/traditions that help repatriated slaves keep their AFRICAN identity during slavery.

~Bluetooth:

but it should be done away it,we are now in modern world atleast no more slavery.howver i do respect cerain traditons sometimes

I think circumcision should be done away with aswell.

1. Babies' nerves are not even developed till a few months. So they dont feel any pain from the "abuse". Babies sometimes dont like being touched, so they cry. Not because of pain, but because they dont like being touched sometimes.

2. Yes, tribal marks need to stop! Now sure how I escaped it though. 

"I have inherited these facial marks from my grandfather," said Meta, pointing at the scarred wooden faces on the masquerade, "they help protect me."

Who be this one? Prolly from Oyo state 

Some of those marks actually look quite nice, well, the ones not on the face anyway, or if on the face, not huge gashes. The same people who are attacking "tribal marks" as child abuse will later argue against circumcision, in fact it's even happening amongst the cult of atheists.

ezeagu:

Some of those marks actually look quite nice, well, the ones not on the face anyway, or if on the face, not huge gashes. The same people who are attacking "tribal marks" as child abuse will later argue against circumcision, in fact it's even happening amongst the cult of atheists.

Where else do ppl have tribal marks? 


And nobody should be contesting against circumcision. Have you seen an uncircumcised de/ek? its nasty! They better continue with it

sjeezy8:

I think circumcision should be done away with aswell.

Hell no. . . i think the west just got it mixed up but prolly wont be happy if my parent had given me tribal marks

the "teardrop" marks mentioned in the original article, are mainly done to give some kind of "spiritual" protection against whatever type of evil forces in the environment.

my point?


it's done across africa [ no part where it isnt, so i dont want to hear any trash like "they dont do it where i come from"] anywhere there's a dibia or babalawo. The marks arent always on the face but could be hidden on some other part of the body.

if you want to eliminate the practice, then get africans to give up their belief in juju and the various enemies in their families and environments who are always out to get them, and you might just get something done.

but dont hold your breath.

the same nchara posting articles about tribal marks (and ifa priestesses), is also a regular customer of various traditional herbalists, witchdoctors and lord knows what else, i'm sure.

he's probably swallowed more potions and magic concoctions than most people here can count.

Ileke-IdI:

1. Babies' nerves are not even developed till a few months. So they dont feel any pain from the "abuse". Babies sometimes dont like being touched, so they cry. Not because of pain, but because they dont like being touched sometimes.

2. Yes, tribal marks need to stop! Now sure how I escaped it though.

Who be this one? Prolly from Oyo state

~Bluetooth:

Hell no. . .

WRONG!

You guys should know that 50- 90% of circumsions are done wrong- Guys with uncirumsized peenises - ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER ORGASMS!

I was watching doctor OZ and guys actually grew their skin back and SAY IT FEELS BETTER-

Ileke-IdI:

Where else do ppl have tribal marks? 


And nobody should be contesting against circumcision. Have you seen an uncircumcised de/ek? its nasty! They better continue with it

Uh, did you look at the slideshow?

~Bluetooth:

but it should be done away it,we are now in modern world atleast no more slavery.howver i do respect cerain traditons sometimes

Should we also consider the MODERN art of TATOOING one's body slavery? It is equally painful, and marks up the body as well.

I am not for marking up the body in anyway BUT if tradition is for it, there is NOTHING non-modern about it considering we have simply moved it to a whole new level! I just wish we would maybe wait for the kids to decide if they want to have 'abulas' on their faces or not.

FOr those saying to do away with circumsicion, lets also do away with cutting out our appendix as well.

ezeagu:

Uh, did you look at the slideshow?

O I see what you mean.

sjeezy8:

WRONG!

You guys should know that 50- 90% of circumsions are done wrong- Guys with uncirumsized peenises - ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER heavenly feelings!

I was watching doctor OZ and guys actually grew their skin back and SAY IT FEELS BETTER-

oh please,circumsized guys are better off.have you seen an uncirumsized penees before ?

~Bluetooth:

oh please,circumsized guys are better off.have you seen an uncirumsized penees before ?

It might look ugly yea but shiot if it makes it feel good during intimacy I would rather have it,

its called foreskin restoration- and they said it feels better, when a kid is circumcised they lose nerve endings thats like cutting a [b]clit[/b]oritis in half.

I dont know any babe who wants their clit cut- so why should guy be doing thier own like that

sjeezy8:

It might look ugly yea but shiot if it makes it feel good during intimacy I would rather have it,

its called foreskin restoration- and they said it feels better, when a kid is circumcised they lose nerve endings thats like cutting a [b]clit[/b]oritis in half.

I dont know any babe who wants their clit cut- so why should guy be doing thier own like that

mehn i'm circumcised and i dont feel bad about it,the feeling is still the same to me

~Bluetooth:

oh please,circumsized guys are better off.have you seen an uncirumsized penees before ?

Dude, circumcised d.i.ckxs are prone to infection cus they always got dirt in em! Plus, every gal I discussed it with says they stink to high heavens and that they'll never give a guy with an uncircumcised diyyxck a b.j!

sjeezy8:

It was the same tribal marks/traditions that help repatriated slaves keep their AFRICAN identity during slavery.

FL Gators' facial tribal marks actually aint that bad. . . . .

bk/babe90:

FL Gators' facial tribal marks actually aint that bad. . . . .

I know that you love me. But you're a ghetto boy so. . . .

bk/babe90:

Dude, circumcised d.i.ckxs are prone to infection cus they always got dirt in em! Plus, every gal I discussed it with says they stink to high heavens and that they'll never give a guy with an uncircumcised diyyxck a b.j!

GBAM.

My personal phiysician who is German Caucasian can give you a million and one reason to support male circumcission.
Most notable is the increase in sexual pleasure.
Have you seen rashes on uncircumcised dicks well hidden under the covering skin?
It is "eklig".
I have tribal marks on my face which now looks beautiful but you all need to see my passport picture when I was 3 to understand the pain I must have gone through.