TRIBAL mark has been an age long tradition and to a large extent forms a part of the African tradition. In some parts of Nigeria, tribal marks are seen as a rich cultural heritage for various reasons.
Tribal marks were as a result of different things like religious beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation, which could be either hearsay or just the societal norm of the community, normally traced to a deity.
For instance, in the Yoruba culture, if a woman continues to have still birth, the child is given marks on a certain part of his/her body to avoid the alleged evil child coming back.
However, in the ancient times, tribal marks were also seen as a good means of identification of people from different communities. Members of the same village, clan, or lineage, home town always carry the same tribal marks and so a visitor can be easily recognised. Also, parents used tribal marks to identify their children, thus it is a way of a father acknowledging the authenticity of his children.
In addition, the tribal marks were used as a sign of identification during the civil war in Nigeria, as some people have testified that their tribal marks saved them at that time.
Every tribe in Nigeria has its own tribal mark; some are parallel on either of the cheeks, others run horizontal while some others are either by the lower part of each cheek near the jaw etc. Each ethnic group in Nigeria has its own distinctive model or pattern of tribal marks. For instance when you see a person with vertical mark on the cheeks it shows the person is from Ondo State, when you see a person with short vertical mark on both cheeks that person is either from ebira land, or some part of Bassa land.
Also, when you see a person with tiny short horizontal marks close to the mouth you can say the person is from northern region; however, it is interesting to say that some tribes even though they are not in the same region, have similar tribal marks. However, tribal marks help both the educated and uneducated to at a glance say a person’s ethnic group, town or clan.
Though there were advantages of these tribal marks during the war period, there are also disadvantages of the marks.
The ancient tradition of tribal mark is fast becoming a thing of the past and it is gradually being replaced with tattoos for both beauty and so called spiritual purposes.
The popularity of tribal marks has gone down drastically, as young people who have tribal marks, most of the time, have decided against continuing the practice. Research has it that the pain of the tear and the risk of contacting infection coupled with the negative attention that often comes with the tribal marks, must have influenced such decisions.
In recent times, tribal marks have become very hard to find for reasons which can be attributed to the introduction of western culture and influence, which has brought an end to so many cultural and traditional practices.
Also, the incidence of HIV/AIDS, which cannot only be transmitted through sexual intercourse, but also by sharing sharp objects, contributed immensely to the sharp decline of the practice of tribal mark.
While the custom of tribal marks is fast losing its ground, many individuals, who have tribal marks, have different ideas and comments on the issues of tribal marks. Some people, especially our elders, still see it as a good way of identification while the young generations see it as an outdated custom as they now prefer tattoos instead. This is because they believe that tattoos are trendier than tribal marks.
However, some people still wear tribal mark with pride as they see it as being patriotic to their native land and make them feel like they are true sons of their community.
The tradition of tribal marks has faded away and tattoos are fast replacing it, but the question remains that, are the tattoos fulfilling the purpose for which our tribal marks were administered in the first place?