Popular media personality, Toke Makinwa, has condemned the traditional practice of giving children tribal marks on the face, labelling it as evil, harsh and harmful without the consent of the minor.
Tribal marks used to be widespread among certain tribes in the country before they were banned. They were usually done for identification and beautification purposes. The marks are usually inscribed on the face by burning or cutting the skin during childhood.
However, in a post on her X page, she wrote, “Today, I saw a beautiful influencer with tribal marks, and it made me think about the cruelty that culture brought us. Marking a child without his/her consent is an evil means of identification. I know our parents did not know better, but damn!”
She also acknowledged the fact that her grandmother had the mark and she often admired it on some people, but her grouse was with the fact that it was put on minors without their consent. She added, “Thank God it’s abolished. My grandmother had tribal marks too. She had on her face and arms. I wonder what life was like when she was younger walking around with it, though I’m sure a lot of people around her had the same mark; but thank God it’s cancelled (sic) now.”
Meanwhile, her post attracted several comments. One X user, Alaba_Beverly opined that tattoos were modernised tribal marks, to which Toke replied, “Tattoos are by choice. Marking a child without their consent is not the same. You rest, weirdo.”
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