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Posted February 28, 2018 by GP Manalo in Movies/TV
 
 

The Cultural Influences of Marvel’s Black Panther

8. Scarifications – Ancient Tattoos of Africa

In the film you may have noticed how there are some characters with dotted patterns on their faces and chests. Those are influenced from an ancient African culture of tattoos called scarification. These are merely not wounds from battle but a decoration of the body done by Ethiopia’s Bodi, Mursi, and Surma tribes. Scarification is practised by incising the skin with a sharp instrument such as a knife, glass, stone, shell, anything that can let the holder control the shape of the scar tissue on various parts of the body.

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Examples of Facial and Body Scarifications done in real life and in the film. Top Right Photo by Giancarlo Leg and Bottom Left Photo by Eric Lafforgue.

 

There are many different reasons as to why they let them do such practice among themselves — Scarification marks can symbolize one’s identity through their status, clan, or tribe much like for W’Kabi, it does appear that he and the entire tribe who protects the border of Wakanda has identical facial tattoos to show that they are part of said tribe. On the other hand, scarification marks is also said to show one’s strength, for the Karo people of Ethiopia it is said that they impart these tattoos on the chests of the warriors to represent the killing of their enemies. A practice of scarification that Killmonger does allude to from his kill count during his time in the military. Despite these two different uses of scarification one would say that it is their way of showing pride among themselves or their tribe.

 

The practice can be quite dangerous, especially when you think about how the older tribesmen and women have survived through the process considering they had no access to cleaner alternatives in terms of healing these scars. Once seen as beautiful or empowering, is now perceived to be “primitive” by urban Ethiopians and that many are too afraid to do such a thing due to the endangerment of being exposed to AIDS or HIV. Despite these negative perceptions it still plays a part in the tribal life for one’s pride among themselves, their tribe, and above all their growth.

 

Sources:
Afro Legends

Daily Mail


GP Manalo

 
G.P. Manalo is a student by day, and a resident tortured writer by night. Writing to keep him sane from all the Business School papers and presentations piling up each week.