Facial scars are an African characteristic used to distinguish tribes.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The custom of “tribal mourning” is still present in some areas African continentDespite its decline in recent decades, it is still used as a traditional means of expressing tribal affiliation and cultural identity, amid growing controversy over its health risks and impact on children's rights.

In West Africa, facial scars are used to identify ethnic groups, families, and individuals, and also to express personal beauty.

The practice dates back at least hundreds of years among scattered tribes, and in some tribes, the scarification process is part of the rite of passage into adulthood.

Houda in Benin maintains the tribal scarification ritual

In the town of Oueda in southern Benin, the Houda community maintains a tradition of marking children’s faces as part of beliefs associated with “Voodoo” rituals, where these marks are believed to connect the child to his ancestors and strengthen his spiritual and familial belonging.

The rituals begin with two days of celebrations, before the children undergo a series of procedures including being given new names, having their heads shaved, and then being taken to special monasteries, where they are said to communicate with the spirits of their ancestors with the help of soothsayers.

During the scarification process, the locations of the incisions on the face are marked using ash, before sharp tools are used to create permanent wounds that leave distinctive marks for each ethnic group, in practices that vary in form from region to region within Benin.

Some families see these rituals as an integral part of their heritage, and this practice as an important part of their traditions.

In contrast, voices rejecting this practice are increasing, whether due to its health or social effects, as specialists warn of the risks of disease transmission resulting from the use of unsterilized tools, especially with some practitioners continuing to use the same tools for several people.

A number of people from these communities say that tribal scars can cause psychological and social suffering, especially when moving to large cities, where they may be subjected to bullying or social stigma.

Health concerns, primarily the transmission of diseases such as HIV, have led some families to refrain from subjecting their children to these practices, emphasizing the possibility of preserving cultural identity through alternative means, such as language, traditional dances, and celebrations.

In neighboring countries such as Nigeria, some states have moved to enact laws prohibiting the practice of scarifying children, as part of efforts to protect their bodily rights and prevent practices that may endanger them, since facial mutilation was common throughout Nigeria in the past.

Families and communities would carve deep wounds, usually on the cheeks or forehead, on children, mostly as a mark of identity.

However, this practice has begun to fade since a federal law banned all forms of child mutilation in 2003.

So the current bearers of facial markings in Nigeria are the last generation – and their facial lines are as diverse as the many ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Nevertheless, this custom persists in some areas, and even takes on different forms, with some girls choosing to have scars in other parts of the body as a sign of courage or belonging.

The debate surrounding “tribal mourning” reflects a broader conflict between preserving cultural heritage on the one hand, and the requirements of public health and human rights on the other, at a time when the countries of the continent are striving to achieve a delicate balance between identity and modernization.