LIFESTYLE: FACIAL AND TRIBAL MARKS

Facial marks are usually made on the face and are used as a means of identification and beauty,  particularly during the period of intertribal wars, slave trade era and cultural events respectively.

The primary function of the tribal marks is for identification of a person's tribe, family or patrilineal heritage. Facial marks varied in design and style from one community to another.

Other secondary functions of the marks are symbols of beauty, creativity and a way by assumption to keeping mischievous children alive (ila Abiku) from spiritual attacks

The marks were usually made on the face by cutting or incising the skin. These marks were seen as an important part of cultural identity and tradition, with each community having its own unique style of "marking" like the people of Oyo, Egbas, Ekitis, Ijesha, Tiv of Benue, Igala of Kogi, Kanuri of Bornu, Kaje of Kaduna, and even in Kano and Enugu etc. There's a tradition of marking a baby's ear at birth, this is also seen as a way to bring fortune and good health to the child. 

While tribal marks were once a common practice in Gbongan for example, and other Yoruba communities, the tradition has since declined in recent years due to concerns about health risks and changing attitudes towards body modifications. While some people still choose to mark their skin as a symbol of their cultural heritage, many young people have embraced other forms of expression. The present day tattoos are in same way some communities adopted to inscribe names or special designs in relation to family culture and traditions on the bodies of their children to prevent sudden loss. This was so due to way of dressing, almost half naked then. Most of these marks and inscriptions which include artworks like lizard, pot, wooden comb, axe and so on, were found on body region areas of belly, arm, waist, chest, thigh and back to mention few.

However, extinction of this practice and its oblivion was as result of the Nigerian government and various organizations who vehemently campaigned against it on the reason to end the practice, thereby, promoting modern forms of identification and self-expression.

One can not do without mentioning some negative impacts this practice have brought, this include;

 - Health hazards through the use of unsterilized tools during incisions.

 - Uneven and unprofessional way of designing some marks to defacing the body.

 - Tribal hatred as a result of easy identification with unprovoked aggression against each other.

 - Psychological and human complex amongst others at maturity

With modern technology, changing social norms and other enumerated negative factors above, tribal marks are becoming less common and un-fanciful anymore, though they remain an important part of Nigerian culture and history on the marble.