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Like in other parts of Nigeria facial tribal mark (scar) is not a thing in most part of Edo. Those who do it, do it mostly for beauty (women) & medicine not identity. Instead for identification Edo people went for the body and torso with markings known as "Iwu".
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Edo once used facial tribal identification marks, but abandon it about 5 centuries ago when they created the Iwu (body and torso markings). Iwu markings signified adulthood & citizenship. It was usually done done shortly before marriage & slaves were not allowed to have it.
The Iwu is drawn by the Osiwu, the traditional surgeon of the Edo society & has gender variations. Iwu body markings of the male consist of 17 marks. The OBA and Princes get only 6 of the marks. The markings of the female consist of 17 marks. Princesses get 15 of these marks.
Dierick Ruyters, the Dutch who was in Benin in the early 16th century wrote:
"[The benins] cut their body from the armpits to about the groin, or in the middle, with 3 long cuts on both sides, each one finger broad, & consider this a great virtue conducive to their salvation".
![Dierick Ruyters, the Dutch who was in Benin in the early 16th century wrote:"[The benins] cut their body from the armpits to about the groin, or in the middle, with 3 long cuts on both sides, each one finger broad, & consider this a great virtue conducive to their salvation".](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhTHPrKX0AM7vfD.jpg "Dierick Ruyters, the Dutch who was in Benin in the early 16th century wrote:\"[The benins] cut their body from the armpits to about the groin, or in the middle, with 3 long cuts on both sides, each one finger broad, & consider this a great virtue conducive to their salvation\".")
![Dierick Ruyters, the Dutch who was in Benin in the early 16th century wrote:"[The benins] cut their body from the armpits to about the groin, or in the middle, with 3 long cuts on both sides, each one finger broad, & consider this a great virtue conducive to their salvation".](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhTHP3qWkAA64Aa.jpg "Dierick Ruyters, the Dutch who was in Benin in the early 16th century wrote:\"[The benins] cut their body from the armpits to about the groin, or in the middle, with 3 long cuts on both sides, each one finger broad, & consider this a great virtue conducive to their salvation\".")
"[The benins] cut their body from the armpits to about the groin, or in the middle, with 3 long cuts on both sides, each one finger broad, & consider this a great virtue conducive to their salvation".
The Iwu tattoo originated during Oba Ehengbuda, the last warrior king of Benin in 16th century. Ehengbuda couldn't leed his campaign to expand Edo to the West after he sustained serious body cuts in battle in Akure. As not to embarrass their king, his subjects imitated the cuts.
