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t1/ SCARIFICATION IN AFRICA
Sensitive content.
Scarification is an ancient African body art that involves purposely scarring the skin to create marks & patterns.
Dahomey Tribal Collection Stamp
Sensitive content. Scarification is an ancient African body art that involves purposely scarring the skin to create marks & patterns.
Dahomey Tribal Collection Stamp
t2/ Scarring was developed to suit our dark skin pigmentation which isn't ideal for Tattooing.
Boko Man from DR. Congo 
Boko Man from DR. Congo
t3/ By opening the skin, the uppermost layer of pigment was broken and filled in with slightly lighter shades of scar tissue.
t3 a/ Nyagatom Man ( Ethiopia 
& Sudan 
) with special scarification, which means he has killed many enemies.
& Sudan ) with special scarification, which means he has killed many enemies.
t3 b/ Scarring on dark skin
t4/ Reasons to Scar; Beauty
Scars are thought to beauty the body , especially for women. It's normally done during rituals like onset of puberty, first menstrual cycle & childbirth
Bodi Tribe Girl - Ethiopia
Scars are thought to beauty the body , especially for women. It's normally done during rituals like onset of puberty, first menstrual cycle & childbirth
Bodi Tribe Girl - Ethiopia
t4 a/ Mursi girl- Ethiopia
t4 b/ Nuer Tribe- Sudan
t5/ Reasons to Scar; Strength & Courage
Scarification is quite painful and is a test of courage. One should not cry out as it's a sign of weakness.
Scarification is quite painful and is a test of courage. One should not cry out as it's a sign of weakness.
t5 a/ The results are beautiful after scarification.
Dinka Girl- Sudan
Dinka Girl- Sudan
t5 b/ Mursi Tribe- Ethiopia
t6/ Reasons to Scar; Protection From Death
Spirituality plays an important role in African culture. Facial scarring is sometimes used to protect a person from death.
Dinka Man Sudan
Spirituality plays an important role in African culture. Facial scarring is sometimes used to protect a person from death.
Dinka Man Sudan
t6 a/ c1880- 1942, Bwaka Woman , Congo DRC
t6 b/ c1957- Bakutu Woman, Belgian Congo
Reasons to Scar; Fertility
Scarring was prized in young women of marriageable age. Abdominal scars are seen as a indication of a womans willingness to have children. The scars are also erogenous & make her more receptive to her husband's sexual attention.
Surma mum
Scarring was prized in young women of marriageable age. Abdominal scars are seen as a indication of a womans willingness to have children. The scars are also erogenous & make her more receptive to her husband's sexual attention.
Surma mum
t7 a/ c1940s- Yasayama woman, Belgian Congo
t7 b/ c1910- Zulu Maidens ( RSA 
)
)
t7 c/ Toposa woman- Ethiopia
t8/ Reasons to Scar; Family Pride
Scarring can also be a matter of family pride as a coming of age ceremony for women.
c1940s- Bakutu Woman, Belgian Congo
Scarring can also be a matter of family pride as a coming of age ceremony for women.
c1940s- Bakutu Woman, Belgian Congo
t8 a/ Nuer Woman- Sudan
t8 b/ Bodi woman- Omo Valley, Ethiopia
t9/ Reason to Scar; Identification of Tribe/ Family
Nuer Man, Sudan , with distinctive markings -gaar, which indicates they belong to the tribe & are fierce during conflict.
Nuer Man, Sudan , with distinctive markings -gaar, which indicates they belong to the tribe & are fierce during conflict.
t9 a/ Scarring may cover many areas of body
t10/ Early Age Scarring;
Some communities scar at an early age for babies & toddlers to mark new beginnings & phases.
It can also be done to treat diseases like convulsion, measles and pneumonia.
Some communities scar at an early age for babies & toddlers to mark new beginnings & phases.
It can also be done to treat diseases like convulsion, measles and pneumonia.
t11/ Modern Scarification;
Scarification, or Tribal Mark's as referred to currently, are slowly disappearing and being replaced by tattoos.
Modern Tribal Mark -Moniasse Sessou, Artist/ Model with roots from Benin.
Scarification, or Tribal Mark's as referred to currently, are slowly disappearing and being replaced by tattoos.
Modern Tribal Mark -Moniasse Sessou, Artist/ Model with roots from Benin.
