Tribal marks! At what point does it go from culture to child abuse? | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Friday 25 July 2014

Tribal marks! At what point does it go from culture to child abuse?

When we look at this pic, there's nothing traditionally or culturally wrong with it. Tribal marking has been happening for centuries and it's accepted. But there are those who believe that when it's done on a child who has no say in the matter, its a clear case of child abuse. They've tried to kick against it ...with of course...no luck! What do you think of tribal marks on children? Let's discuss!

136 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its too bad dat some tribe still stick some much to their culture. Dis is wikednx to d child. I will be cool if people start calling me 'LIB Princess' pretex4luv@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

This is plain child abuse and wickedness. Why would you mutilate a child in the name of fucking tradition? It would be a huge shame if educated parents still do this shit in this age and time

Anonymous said...

tribal mark is good;but d one wey person go carry long mark lik witch na im i dey against. henry say so.

Unknown said...

Linda make person no try that nonsense on my child ooh. What nonsense tribal mark

Unknown said...

I don't really knw wat de tribal mark stands 4. But its a no no 4 me oooo. Imagine de amount of pain dat baby is going through. If I had such mark I will never forgive my parents. Gosh. I'm out. ***CATCH ME IF U CAN***

Unknown said...

It makes a child look uglier, it should be stopped...It looks so painful..

Anonymous said...

First of all this must be photoshoped and second of all its a no no they grow up hating themselves.
Cooldavoe@yahoo.com

cad&kraft said...

Wickedness of the highest order

APPLE said...

May God Almighty protect us from EVIL, ILLITERATE, WICKED, IGNORANT, SENSELESS …Parents!!!!! AMEN!!!

Unknown said...

Linda make person no try that nonsense on my child ooh. What nonsense tribal mark

Unknown said...

Tribal marks is part of our culture nd will still b 4 a very long time, depends on d type of Mark tho, d one obasanjo got is jst horrible and ugly, its not child abuse, its our culture, tho i wunt giv my kids or want anybody else to have one, its jst one of those things we can't take away... Nd yes, i hav tribal marks around my belly button... Not really visible but i like it a lot

Amaka.u.l. said...

Like seriously,I dnt like dt..i hate seeing it on ppls face.

Toronto Finest said...

Its just a CRAZY thing

Anonymous said...

Linda Ikeji, please fix your website.
I have been an avid reader (LIBer) for over 3 years now but for the past 2 months, we struggle to open your website. You know why? It is too heavy and takes forever to load despite having a very good internet connection. Fix it please or reduce the contents, it is too heavy or use a better host.

Sort it out please or you'll continue to loose more LIBers.
Good luck and remain blessed

k_maxy said...

Totally barbaric

Admiral said...

Bastards.....

Unknown said...

What sort of culture or tradition is that? One word, "inhumane".

summyTee said...

Honestly with dis picture above,its not Encouraging...Mehnnn..dis is Wickedness,can't allow any body asin anyborrri try dis on my Child not even my Enermy...!!

Unknown said...

I hate that thing called tribal marks,it disfigures ones face, I can never break my baby's face in the name of tribal marking.

Anonymous said...

This one I'm seeing here in this picure is an abuse. God! that little guy is in pains. I can't imagine my child going through this all in the name of culture. Let him grow up and then decides if he wants tribal marks or not. Then we'll know it's his decision.

Anonymous said...

Its nt ghud... To me, it makes d child look ugly..... Evn d adults with it too .... Vivian

Vixen said...

Some tribal marks are mild,while some could be so bad like the 1 up there,but tribal mark should be abolished!








*Vixen

OSINANL said...


WHEN IT IS DONE AGAINST THE CHILD'S WILL

Vixen said...

Some tribal marks are mild,while some could be so bad like the 1 up there,but tribal mark should be abolished!








*Vixen

Vixen said...

Some tribal marks are mild,while some could be so bad like the 1 up there,but tribal mark should be abolished!








*Vixen

Anonymous said...

I do not see it as child abuse...cos its been their belief nd culture rite frm d start

sleeky said...

It is child abuse period

Anonymous said...

It is purely child abuse...... My Yoruba friend wants to surgically remove his tiger mark that he was given from birth if he has the chance...... Tribal mark on a young child is synonymous to Britney spears wanting to draw tatoo on her childs body when he was younger...... Are there still crude people that put their beloved kid through this painful method?#cheEzyjayne

Bold Kid said...

This is too much...a lil tribal mark is ok...buh still I don't like it lil or not. Doze days shub be gone pls.

Anonymous said...

Though I'm not against it cos I have on my chin,but I wouldn't want anyone marking my child esp those long one's. #Myssjez...

Chialuka said...

In some cultures, they believe it is the antidote for some sickness but modern facilities have found solutions to such problems.

Ms_chee_

Unknown said...

Its culture or belief.some belief that when a child sicks a lot,by giving the mark,they belief the child will be well or it scares evil spirit away. As for me I hate it

Anonymous said...

Did u escape from "ARO"? Or what the eff is ur problem with being called LIB princess? oponu

Dan Skila said...

I called it child abuse, imagine the pain the baby have to go through, still it would make them look uglier, when you see some marks, u go think say them fight with lion

danskila1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Yours might not be tribal marks, might be ogbanje marks. Oya hask ur mother

Anonymous said...

#CHILD ABUSE. please make it stop

Livvsreamblog said...

It's totally rubbish

Chris said...

You see nothing wrong with it? smh...If you have a say would you want to be subjected to tribal mark/torture?

Anonymous said...

Youruba Illiterates oya answer

Unknown said...

Yoruba people una don. See am? Always keeping face like they fought with A lion or something.....tribal mark my foot!

Anonymous said...

Omg!! Is dat ow its done. Dis one don pass be careful oo

Anonymous said...

This too bad all because of tradition. This is outrageous.

Anonymous said...

Child abuse! I have a child and I would never allow anyone subject my child to such inhumane act in the name of culture.

Amarachukwu. said...

Is a true child abuse,is painful n there is no gain in it.

Anonymous said...

woooo did you guys see that? lols thought that is an old fashion i eman i thought is being forgotten uh. jopeyemi@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

That's nonsense hw could they do such a thing in dis computer world people that are still doing dis should be blame tneyoth@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hi LIB princess ;-)

Peejay said...

Dear anonymous, I have brought this matter to her attention severally with no response or improvement.
Linda, we will soon conduct general exodus to another blogger. Keep ignoring feedback from well meaning LIBers.

Anonymous said...

Linda,miss Child Right Activist...i'm not in support of this barbarism,but let me ask you, is circumcision child abuse?

Unknown said...

Jixox ehhhhhh! Look @ that poor baby taking ol the pain oh my Africa! Its here 2 stay just like male circumcision, its culture and its a peoples way of life buh moderation in everything is the key word, @ least we ol knw that there were some fetish and barbaric behaviours embedded in the western cultures that inflicted more pain than promote a way of life which today has been abolished creating a more friendly cultural atmosphere am saying this cuz of the people that wuld claim that its right tearing lil babies faces wiv unsterilized sharp objects ol in the name of promoting culture. There are better ways of promoting culture such as artifacts, songs and ballad, language, clothing, food etc the worst is that these kids develop inferior complex comparing themselves with other kids of their age and this greatly affects their personality in the long run, for instance tribal marks will most definitely disqualify or discourage the most beautiful girl from contesting in any sort of beauty pageant, I believe that ignorance is the main catalyst to this phenomenon.

Anonymous said...

I was given a huge tribal mark in the middle of my face as a child.Now working and living in america,i hate it so much and would do anything to get it out.still considering surgery or laser cos it just gets people scared of me ,plus im female.i dont think it should be going on in this age please.it is wickedness and certainly doesnt add any plus to a childs life.

Unknown said...

ITS SO WRONG.... IT MARKS D CHILD UGLY ND SCARY..... IT SHUD BE KICKED AGAINST









Moye B.

Justyswt said...

Don't like it at all. Nobody shld try it on my kids. It disfigures the child.

Lolo the great manager said...

Am totally against this, gosh!

Anonymous said...

Linda, just imagine yourself with tribal marks. END OF DISCUSSION.

Unknown said...

In my own book, tribal marks is wrong.. Kpakam.

Gold said...

Abeg e no dey reign again ......d one wey dey my face stil dey vex me

Olubukola Ozone said...

I used to think it was culturally okay until I saw dis pic... So, dis is how it looks like while dis thing is bin done. Its child abuse

Angie said...

This can only happen in Nigeria, where anything goes..and it's pure child abuse!
Some of my siblings have it, not this type tho.. This particular type is common with yoruba peeps; makes them look so scary..


*My R1.50c comment*

Lolo the great manager said...

Linda pls fix ur blog. There's sthg wrong

Anonymous said...

Thanks for bringing this up. It's so frustrating. I've high speed Internet but and it never used to take so much time opening this blog. I complained weeks back, Linda still hasn't sorted it out. Do something and let us know what you're doing to improve your blog.

pretty girl said...

It's a biggest child abuse buh why dis OMG

pretty girl said...

Dat is it joor

nikkiebillz said...

Yes,u are right! Some culture believe is an antidote 2 some sickness,which also prevent some children from dying @ early age.light one is still ok,but deep marks no no no!

Anonymous said...

Bloody Fooooooooooool u are.

iamjavademon said...

Anybody who says tribal marks are good and doesnt have one is just an idiot. If i had tribal marks i would have killed my parents by now.

Anonymous said...

Omo see wound o!!!

iamjavademon said...

Our culture was to worship false Gods and we don't anymore so we should do away with useless and nonsense cultures. Period.

Anonymous said...

It's barbaric
Crazy & inhumane
I have little on my face, and am hoping to clean it up finally as soon as possible
I thank God, it's even little& am looking handsome with it....praise God





BORN TO SHINE!!!!

Anonymous said...

Its nt reali mkn sense, hw cn u use blade nd tear a childs body al in d name of tradition .......... D smal ones are a little owk bt d big onc are lyke wateva


MZ G says so

Anonymous said...

Crime against humanity

Anonymous said...

Tribal marking becomes child abuse when it is performed on a child below 12years of age, cos at this age, a child is too small to stand on his/her right. My opinion is that the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF should abolish it. Or better still, Senate should pass the bill into law,stating that any parent caught performing tribal marking on a child should be jailed for Fourteen years. JENE.

ary said...

jeez

Jessica law said...

Linda am against tribal mark for me is a child abuse chikena.

Anonymous said...

Didn't men with many wives mark their children in the olden days so they can identify them?

I have a small mark in the middle of my chest, and I swear I remember when they held me down and did it with a razor blade...

It's highly unnecessary in this day and age, I'm sure if you ask adults with the facial marks they wish they never had it.

Kimmy *****

Anonymous said...

I ve tribal marks n i was told its bcos i ws convulsing as a baby dat i ws giving. even though my mum kicked against it,ma grandma stil went along saying its for me to b alive.although its just 1 1,i despise it n ve to keep explainin to pple d main reason i ws given cos ppl say i dnt look d way i talk.anyways wud soon do away with it wit cosmetic surgery,yes its nw possible.

Anonymous said...

Didn't men with many wives mark their children in the olden days so they can identify them?

I have a small mark in the middle of my chest, and I swear I remember when they held me down and did it with a razor blade...

It's highly unnecessary in this day and age, I'm sure if you ask adults with the facial marks they wish they never had it.

Kimmy *****

Anonymous said...

I ve tribal marks n i was told its bcos i ws convulsing as a baby dat i ws giving. even though my mum kicked against it,ma grandma stil went along saying its for me to b alive.although its just 1 1,i despise it n ve to keep explainin to pple d main reason i ws given cos ppl say i dnt look d way i talk.anyways wud soon do away with it wit cosmetic surgery,yes its nw possible.

Freshini-mills said...

well, I think they should allow children to grow up and make the decision of wanting or not wanting tribal marks. Culture is important. but some of those that do the markings have very bad handwriting, #justsaying.

Siseko******* said...

If we say that giving a child tribal marks is child abuse then what do you say about circumcising male child without their consent.

chincobee said...

like seriously, i wanna believe this doesnt exist again....i cant imagine the pain dey go thru.

Anonymous said...

YORUBA PEOPLE.

Ashabi said...

Tribal Marks! Its part and parcel of our culture, a form of identity also but with the era of civilization and modernization, we have come to regard this as Child Abuse. Having one or two tiny marks is ok I mean is going to judge any parents for that but when you see a child or even a mature person with three four five six...big tribal marks on each cheeks you can't help but feel their pain and probably what they might have gone through growing up. I call it pure wickedness

Anonymous said...

I knw must of the tribe do it 4 identification and also 2 avoid witchcraft activities on dam buh in dis modern world I tink is wickedness marydanladi180@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Olorun Oba Ooo, see cutting I swear if this boy grown up and the man way do am like I swear he go kill am sharp sharp... Moratti say so via Opon Ifa

Anonymous said...

Thiss is rubbish, all in the name of culture, it's so annoying seeing this pic the baby is in so much pain and sure he wnt be happy about this when he grows up

mmike9@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Ikeji publish this o!Tribal mark has been part of the Nigerian culture, but colonialism, neo-colonialism , western education and the constant way Nigerians always try to be foreign has made it look like its something bad. We are ignorant of our culture. Religion and other form of socialization have blinded our eyes to the fact that we once had a culture. . How can we solve our present problem when we have forgotten our root? believe me; we had an established culture before the coming of the Europeans. I won't put a tribal mark on my child, but I just want you guys to know that our fore fathers had a way they lived, and yes, they weren't considered as 'unbelievers'! Cheer up!! enjoy ur new found religion and culture! But one thing is clear; our fore fathers had less troubles!

MISS E said...

It is horile. Nothing that should remain traditionally or culturally. First the child does not have a say if he/she wants it or not. Second, it jst difigures people's faces and embarasses them when they are older. Thrd, a person does not need a mark to identify with his/her tribe or ethnic group.

MISS E said...

It is horile. Nothing that should remain traditionally or culturally. First the child does not have a say if he/she wants it or not. Second, it jst difigures people's faces and embarasses them when they are older. Thrd, a person does not need a mark to identify with his/her tribe or ethnic group.

Anonymous said...

Even giving birth to a child doesn't give you right to disfigure his/her face.

Ifeanyi said...

Even giving birth to a child doesn't give you right to disfigure his/her face.

Anonymous said...

Tribal. Marks is no crime in Africa,where I come from we don't do mark bcos we are from Royal home why my mom from Benin republic do cos dey are also from Royal home bt I think it ok,if oyinbo fit draw tatoo for all him bodi y nt hv mark. Spicy

Anonymous said...

So what's child abuse there? You this Linda always steering up useless controversies.Whats the difference between how tribal marks are done and how tattoos are done that most youngsters are having these days.If tribal marks is child abuse then piercing your daughters ears and circumcising your sons should also be termed child abuse because I'm pretty damn sure the children been pierced or circumcised would have the same reaction as that child in the picture.Those who want to give their children should give if they like,which one is child's consent.who consented you Linda or me before we were born in this horror of a country or into the families we were born.biko If anyone one wants to abuse a child there are 1001 ways to do so and tribal marking is not one of those ways!

Chikaka said...

Child abuse. Just like female genital mutilation aka female circumcision.

Anonymous said...

Pls yoruba ppl take note,this is barbaric.

Unknown said...

God,this is so annoying mhen. it even makes some of them look very ugly. this is madness

Anonymous said...

I I HAVE 4 TINNY TRIBAL MARKS ON MY FACE( IGBO CULTURE) DONE COS AS AN ANTI CONVULSIVE PRECAUTION. BUT I HAVE BEEN CLEANSED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR ANY OTHER SPIRITUAL RELATION TO THAT. HOWEEVR THAT BEEN SAID I DONT LOOK LESS PRETTIER. I WOULD NOT HAVE IT DONE TO MY CHILD FOR WHAT EVER REASON. ITS DEFINITELY AN UNNECESSARY TORTURE AND SHOULD BE STOPPED ASAP. SEE HOW THIS CHILD IS CRYING IN PAIN.

Unknown said...

In this present time when there's an appalling influx of deadly viruses?
At a sensitization programme on hepatitis which I attended yesterday,
it was revealed that there's this particular state in Nigeria that recorded the highest number of people
(kids between 6-12yrs)
with hepatitis and HIV,just last month!
The most shocking part was that their parents weren't victims!
Moreso, those kids were proven abuse-free MEDICALLY!
They had been infected through the use of unsterilized piercing instruments.

I do not rebel against culture or tradition but parents, please, do that with prudence.

Unknown said...

It's wicked and heartless and the child will grow up to hate the marks

Anonymous said...

I think Its ok if parents want to do that to their kids..Although I wouldn't do that to my kids...I think what needs to be regulated is the process and for it to be done under sanitary conditions and with anaethesia. People circumcise their sons and that is perfectly acceptable even tho not being circumcised does not affect the health of a boy child. So what I have an issue with is d sanitation.
Tosin

JOYCHY said...

Dat reminds of man I saw some weeks back, goshhhh d scar on his face was terrible/Ugly, very deep cuts/tribal marks.

Funny enough dose scars just remain dee 4 lyf. just dnt kn d kind of instruments dey use 4 such.
I kn some people still practice such rubbish tradition

Anonymous said...

This is non-sense, it should b stopped. see how the innocent child is crying helplessly in the picture... Custom, tradition, culture what ever it is, has to be stopped!

Adetola said...

It has to stop! The process is painful and it makes people ugly, so what's the point? I hate it..

Human Being said...

Bia LIB Princess or what, e be like say u no get work?. Every Post u go rush comment

Anonymous said...

Tosin you are uninformed ! There are health benefits of 'male circumcision' one of which is prevention if balanitis .... Tribal marks are archival and wicked .... I work in a New York hospital and have to keep on explaining to people why and what they mean even the so called slight ones on the side of people's faces. When I was in Nigeria , a girl came to me asking me to help remove her tribal marks....

Anonymous said...

their cup of tea,,,patoswife@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Much as the practice is now considered barbaric, we must appreciate the cultural value that necessitated the use of tribal marks..

These marks were required to identify kindred and slaves, cos back then we had no GPS or facebook to track or recognize a child who got missing and grew up in a foreign land. Moreso, when a child is stripped from a mother at the point of sale in a slave trade, they may end up serving on different plantations. Tribal marks were needed for recognition of family. We gotta respect that.

Anonymous said...

if I had a tribal mark God self know say I no go enter 10yrs bfore I put otapiapia fr my parents food.......God bless my parents!

Anonymous said...

if I had a tribal mark God self know say I no go enter 10yrs bfore I put otapiapia fr my parents food.......God bless my parents!

Anonymous said...

Na witchcraft be dis na see the finger when hold the baby self hmmmm so sorry baby boy

Anonymous said...

This z sufferin to a join,hw a tender child be bearin dis pains all in d of tribal mark#nonsense

Anonymous said...

Days are gone for this. Plz Check this post..
.. " I love my hips, my butt and my boobs while My boyfriend is Crazy about my lips."-Anita Joseph ...Click to Read

MXG said...

Tribal markings in our part of the world are not necessarly cultural. In parts of Africa, the horrific crimes of slavery were unleashed, those African who partook in the sale of their fellow Africans were known to mark their faces, arms and legs in an effort to be essentially "unsaleable". Because Africans with marks were considered faulty goods. Yorubas who resided in the homes of the white men who enslaved them wore the body marks as a mark of honour and branding so as to deter any random kidnapping by slave hunters. Eventually when other countries got involved in the kidnap and sale of humans the markings were given less consideration. Interestingly, Yorubas represent one of the smallest number of people stolen from Western Africa and taken to North Ameria. This could be because they became a commodity at the tail end of the evil trade when the British had had their fill and sought to enter the business of colonisation. Yorubas are the direct ancestors of Haitians who were a group of mutinous slaves who, because of their knowledge of the man's ways and language were relatively harder to transport. The later slaves were one of the first Africans to return to home to form Sierra Leone.

MXG said...

Tradition is meant to serve a people. People should not be slaves to tradition. It is wrong for you to believe that nothing can be done about evil traditions. Twins were once considered portent but are now celebrated.
You should find out the origins of your markings. They are not God and will defintely be a source of detriment in your life.

Anonymous said...

From which start? Mumu.

MXG said...

Tradition is meant to serve a people. People should not be slaves to tradition. It is wrong for you to believe that nothing can be done about evil traditions. Twins were once considered portent but are now celebrated.
You should find out the origins of your markings. They are not God and will defintely be a source of detriment in your life.

Unknown said...

Lol

Anonymous said...

Who is dis moron calling herself LIB princess? Will u go and have several seat pls?

Gold said...

Linda i don tell u b4 pls do sumtin abt it

Anonymous said...

Any one that thinks tribal mark is a culture show put it on their child's face.....

talkative beibei said...

ibos mark n some part of Nigeria makes them beautiful but yorubas mark, omg they look like tigers and lions. sorry oo but dts d truth. thank God i hv none. say no to tribal marks say no to tattoos say no to female circumcision. thank God am not circumcise.. my bf loves doing it to me coz i enjoy it to d fullest, yab me ur father left yansh, linda post

Anonymous said...

To those saying it should stay because its part of culture should also remember that the killing of twins was also cultural.

The next aspect I want to tackle is those comparing it to circumcision: I ll say whats the reason for a tribal mark, if its for identification, I guess currently we have developed modern ways of identifying and verifying an individuals place of origin.
How are these marks given: are sterilised equipment used? Are the children prior tested for bleeding disorders? Are they anaesthetised? Circumcision btw is a minor surgical procedure. It also helps prevent STIs. Tribal marks dont cure convulsions /seizures in kids anticonvulsants do!
So mbok until someone can list the advantages of tribal marks I say "make it stop".

Anonymous said...

Totally wrong! Who does that these days? Maybe village people sha. Be honest people, have you ever seen a kid with tribal marks in the past 10yrs?

-Dayo

Anonymous said...

It is babaric in dose days tribal mark were use to identify family members nt in dis modern day of technology n commumication

Anonymous said...

And what will u do if as a man,u returned home from ur days hustle to see that ur mother in-law has designed ur childs face in d name of tribal marks?

Anonymous said...

Wickedness, Thats What It Is To Me. (Linda's Man)

Anonymous said...

Who ar dis retards jes shouting yoruba pple?? Dnt Hausas do tribal marks too? Infact u bitches should be nailed to d cross alongside d pple giving the marks.

Unknown said...

Tribal mark my foot! When i had my first child, my mother-in-law had to visit me αℓℓ in the ηαмє of tribal mark. Like seriously mamah? I affairhemently refused it. Not with my level of exposure and Christianity. Parents should kick against it. When your child grows and likes it, then he can go for it him/herself. Otherwise, its a child abuse.

Unknown said...

Am totally against it cuz d child doest Have a say nd wat if wen he grows up nd doesn't like it, wat happens? Tribal mark my foot...

Anonymous said...

Lib princess na Bonario wife, birds of same feather... We have to stop that rubbish called tribunal mark. (Ikponwa)

Anonymous said...

Tribal marks were uses to identify people's tribes back in the day hence the name.
In 2014 we no longer need to identify people with such markings. It is wrong!! To accept it as culture or tradition would also mean to accept FGM (female genitalia mutilation) and other form of mutilation as the norm.

Anonymous said...

Tribal marks were uses to identify people's tribes back in the day hence the name.
In 2014 we no longer need to identify people with such markings. It is wrong!! To accept it as culture or tradition would also mean to accept FGM (female genitalia mutilation) and other form of mutilation as the norm.

Nnodim said...

Tribal marks are barbaric; it is in the same group as genital mutilation in the name of culture. My Yoruba friends as advanced as they claim still relish this type of child abuse. mm-chew.

Anonymous said...

Should be stop. Good do not need any human aassistance to beautify man

Aymii said...

I repeat a very loud AMEN!!!




On 2 the Next!

Anonymous said...

eww! Jesu! this is very disturbing.i have 2on my face aswell but i am going for laser procedure next week.To be honest with you,its very annoying and degrading too.Because of this my tribal mark,i wear alot of makeup which is beginning to damage my fine chocolate skin :(. My mum did it bcos me and my sisters were seeing things shortly our father went to be with the Lord.

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