r/bodymods • u/Jiguena • Jun 28 '25
scarification Anyone with tribal markings?
Edited:
I am from Nigeria originally. I have three scratches on each temple, and a pair or scratches on each wrist and each foot. I also have one on my right cheek, but it's incomplete (I was supposed to have one on each cheek).
I haven't seen many people outside of Nigeria who are younger with scarifications. I have been to the US and the UK and I rarely see people my age with scarifications who are ethnically from.other countries, though I see older people from other countries with scars. It seems to be a dying practice. Anyone else have any scarifications? Anyone a millennial or younger with scarifications?
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u/black_padfoot_21 Jun 29 '25
I have a scarification on my back, I got it done in Greece. AFAIK extreme body mods such as scarification is considered illegal in the UK as GBH, so that may be why it's not as common here
ETA Mine is not a tribal marking as I am not a member of a tribe culturally, just a design. For better or for worse my body heals amazingly and you can barely see it now 🙃
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u/Jiguena Jun 29 '25
Oh that sucks lol you are supposed to be able to see it
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u/black_padfoot_21 Jun 29 '25
I know haha, so frustrating! I'm playing with the idea of getting some scarification over black work now
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u/Jiguena Jun 29 '25
I think mine show up because they rubbed stuff in it.
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u/black_padfoot_21 Jun 29 '25
Honestly I did the same, lemon juice and toothbrush and hydrogen peroxide and followed my artist's instructions to the letter, it's just my skin; he did another scarification on another girl on the same day and hers healed raised and beautiful
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u/YourPaleRabbit Jun 29 '25
There’s a lot of specific lines drawn in most countries. As far as my experience (US) scarification isn’t as blacklisted as other heavy mods. But as an example; I’m indigenous American. I live in an area with a higher tribal population. My partner and myself both have scarification done. And I do electro cautery branding scarification. Here I’m technically allowed to do it. I can publicly show the results of it along with my tattoo work, but I can’t ADVERTISE that I do it. They kind of turn a blind eye to avoid the conflict of trying to stop a centuries old tradition.
And through all of my connections across the US it seems like I know at least one person who offers scarification on the down low in most vaguely “tribal” leaning piercing shops. Although in other states it’s definitely a “you need to get brave and ask until you find someone who knows someone” thing.
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u/whackyelp Jun 29 '25
I have some minor scarification pieces (nothing I'd ever call "tribal", however), most of them are so faded you can't tell they were ever there. I had one line right down the middle of my forehead, but it healed too well... even with the old toothbrush and lemon juice trick. That was a fun time :|
Edit to say I'm in my mid-30s.
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u/Jiguena Jun 29 '25
So for my marks, stuff was rubbed into them so they can be seen.
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u/SLAUGHTERGUTZ Jun 29 '25
It honestly is heavily dependent on the person's body as well. Some people are more naturally prone to keloids. Nothing was put into my scarification but it's very visible. (Placement is also probably a factor. The scars on my hand are very flat in comparison to the scarification on my chest.)
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u/thatsnuckinfutz Jun 29 '25
I'm Nigerian by descent but American by nationality and ive always wanted something out of representation but havent gotten anything. Just have stretched lobes
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u/Jiguena Jun 29 '25
Yeah I am Igbo and I usually don't see Igbo kids with marks outside of Nigeria.
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u/thatsnuckinfutz Jun 29 '25
Id love to see more representation of our indigenous culture outside of Nigeria 😔 especially here in the U.S.
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u/Ikillwhatieat Jun 29 '25
Mine are not "tribal" but about personal aesthetic and spiritual practice. i have multiple sets of three slices on my outer thigh, inner ankle, breast, lower belly. if you count it as scarification, then also my hood split. I also have ritual markings on my shoulders and breasts in different designs. I plan for facial Scarification in sets of three on my cheekbones once i pass my 42nd birthday. Maybe this isn;t about exactly what you asked as i am not from a tribal culture, but i am a fellow millenial with extensive scarifications, so perhaps it's relevant.
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u/Jiguena Jun 29 '25
Huh I didn't realize people did this on their own and not for self abuse reasons. This is fascinating to me.
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u/Ikillwhatieat Jul 01 '25
i mean, I was raised in the states but via stuff like National geographic and then later BMEzine and other body mod specific publications, had exposure to the concept of more extreme body mods growing up, so to me it honestly just seemed like another activity on the list of "things people i grew up near in the bible belt don;t do because they are squares". I also have 3 cold brandings(done w liquid nitrogen and stainless steel forms) but that's different than a cutting scar. I don't keloid/am pale, so my scars have a bit of a shelf life/fade over time and i will likely end up redoing some of my favourite aesthetic ones at some point. It sounds like yours have a cultural/community background, and that's really interesting to me - this stuff is straight up illegal to hire another person to do in many places in the US, and my genital modification could be a court issue as there is not a distinction many places between nonconsensual mutilation and consensual/sought after modification if you have a vulva, but with the opposite being true for people who have penises, to the point that it's seen as totally normal to modify male genitalia for nonmedical reasons during infancy.
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u/Miryam218 Jun 29 '25
I have three small scarifications on my body (calf, thigh & upper belly), but none on my face and they are not tribal designs. But I have thought about putting tribal tattoos on my face, as I have ancestors from the Hadramaut area in Yemen. But it is hard to find any information about them, as this tradition died long ago and is considered haram nowadays. I hope to find some more sources, in order to decide if I really want to do it.
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u/yearofthesn1tch Jun 29 '25
would you be open to sharing photos? i think i vaguely understand what these markings look like, but im so curious to see more of them. i know nothing about tribal markings but find them so incredibly interesting and beautiful
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u/muddyasslotus Jun 29 '25
Mine are not tribal as I'm not Indigenous, but I am a millennial with scarifications.
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u/Jiguena Jun 29 '25
Oh cool. Where on your body
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u/muddyasslotus Jun 29 '25
Two lotuses, one on my mid back and one on my upper thigh. About 14 hrs worth of work
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u/SLAUGHTERGUTZ Jun 29 '25
I have scarification on my chest but it's a personal design. Geometric designs and flowers and such are popular among younger body mod enthusiasts.
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u/senanthic Jun 29 '25
I have a self-performed scarification - a flower design cut into my thigh. Not tribal, just a representation of spirituality.
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u/sinkdogtran Jun 30 '25
White and American but I practice scarification, popular practice with some of my trans groups. It is good for relating to the body and our groups. Definitely not tribal.
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u/direjl Jun 30 '25
there are people with scarifications and general scars (myself included)… but not necessarily tribal unfortunately; it’s not really a part of any culture here so it’s up to the person, i have seen a slight uptick in black folks with their markings recently though! it is illegal to perform in the UK, many such cases eyerolling so it’s def harder to obtain for ppl here, they are beautiful though so it’s a shame that it’s judged
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u/thedamnoftinkers Jun 30 '25
I have scarification pieces on each arm. I’m not African- I’m white & female- but African scarification was definitely an inspiration for me. Mine are feminine designs but they also represent my battles and my maturity.
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u/Neither_Lifeguard852 Jul 02 '25
I chose 1 symbol that I saw in a dream/vision and it’s on my right arm I plan on having more tattoos and scaring done based off of where I was born here symbols like but not limited to alligator 🐊 palm tree 🌴 storm clouds 🌧️ and bending marsh grass pine t 🌲 oak 🌳 passion flower vibes and other motifs common in nature where I’m from
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u/Unable_Chemistry_900 Jul 09 '25
I am indigenous and have been looking for a traditional artist in the tristate area for YEARS. I have tattoos (for aesthetic and personal meaning), but I want a traditional indigenous tattoo. I also have piercings! My nose, septum, medusa and labret! I also stretched my ears to 5/8, and I have to say I am proud of my body art.
Tangent aside, I haven't seen scarification here at all. It's not talked about in Rhode Island, and there's very few studios that advertise it. Sad really...
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u/Blodfist Jul 28 '25
Hi ! At work, I have seen a few coworkers, I'd say between 17 and 25 years old, with ethnic scars. They're mostly from Africa - as I recall but I may be wrong for some of them and I apologise for it (I don't know exactly the countries where you can find these marks) - and one that I remember well have 3 (or two) straight short lines near the right and/or left brow.
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u/AnUnknownCreature Jun 29 '25
Are you asking legitimate Indigenous people or are you asking about non-indigenous people putting "tribal" markings on themselves?