One of the first things we noticed about
the beautiful faces of Ghana, was that of “tribal scars”. We noticed that they
seemed more present on the faces of older generations and less so in the
younger. They appear to be marks or burns present in different patterns on
cheeks and around the eyes. We started to get curious about this and did a bit
of research on the meaning and origin as we recognized they held importance and
purpose for the people we met. 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/tribal-facial-and-bodily-marks-in-african-culture--
371547037979219640/
The marks are inscribed onto babies on the eighth day of life, in the home of their father and they are given the same marks as their fathers. They are usually burned or cut into the skin, creating lasting scars. There are a multitude of reasons to be given these marks including: decoration, spiritual protection, medicinal and for identification purposes. The reasons are all dependent on location and can be different for each ethnic group.
We found that scarification is one of the unique features of Ghanaian’s and hold deep roots in their culture. In northern Ghana these were mostly used for identification and each family lineage had their own unique markings. This is to recognize who comes from what family and what tribe they were a part of. The tradition has been going on for centuries, originally used because tribes would often battle against each other not knowing who their brothers and sisters were. So, to differentiate from other tribes, they would mark themselves and their children. This was also used to guide tribes and their people back together if they were ever separated. This is where the term "travelling marks" comes from.
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| Our Friend Hamzah |
When used for decoration reasons, it was due to its aesthetic appeal among many tribes. When used for medicinal purposes, a short scar on the right check can signify a near death experience. When used at this specific time, the marks are done to save a child’s life, inscribed by a herbalist combined with medicine to cure them. This also serves as a permanent reminder for the child of their near-death experience in the future. In other regions, it is said that marking for spiritual protection was done to make children unappealing, so they are not brought to the underworld by spirits. They believed if a child was beautiful that the spirits would take them for themselves, so to make the child unappealing was to protect the child’s life.
The practice of tribal marking is fading as it has proven to be harmful to the health of the baby. This could be due to the blood loss, unsterile equipment and the unknown effects of the herbal concoctions used. Additionally, parents are less inclined to inflict pain onto their children and are now more understanding and educated on the implications of this practice.
Even though this practice is dying out it will always hold strong implications for some. For instance, during the transatlantic slave trade, people that were torn away from their families, culture, and language, now may only have their scars as a connection to their home.
We found this a vital topic to research, and we are thankful for those who shared their stories to help us understand.
Written by Kyla and Sophia
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