Thursday 31 July 2014

Yoruba tribal mark

Yoruba physical appearance which is fast disappearing because of the extant laws, and international campaign, is the tribal marks. Tribal or facial mark- is a specific mark, which comes in different shapes and sizes, commonly found on the face. There are various tribal marks, by different ethnic groups within Yoruba nation. The Ijeṣa people are known by "pele."
Pele, is a-four-horizontal-line; a-quarter-of-an-inch-long made on the cheeks on both sides of the mouth. The Ondo natives of (Ondo State) are identified by half-an-inch-vertical lines on both sides of the nose down to the mouth (marks are thick and long). Other Yoruba ethnic groups have different types of facial marks; Ogbomoso natives of (Oyo State) are identified by multiple straight and curved lines (Gombo) on both sides of the face. Other sub-groups within Yoruba nation have only curved lines on both sides of their face. Even, a particular mark, may have varieties among neighbors; for instance, Pele has about three versions: Pele Ijesa (discussed) Pele Ekiti (quarter-of-an-inch-horizontal-line) and Pele Akoko (about the same length, but comes in either vertical or horizontal format); the style will depends on Akoko by Ekiti, Bini and Okun neighbors. The purpose of facial marks in the past was to identify each group within Yoruba nation, to beautify, and to identify slaves. Because of the health implications and several abuses, it has become an outlaw practice in Nigeria.
Yoruba has the following tribal marks
Abaja
Kẹkẹ or Gọmbọ
Ture
Pele
Mande
Jamgbadi

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