Scarification in Africa

(By Anthony Asael) Scarification is a means of permanently marking the skin by cutting alone, without the use of pigments. The scars may be lighter or darker than your original skin tone and may raise up (keloid scarring). There are many ways to produce a scar but the cut must always penetrate the dermis if a scar is to be produced. The result depends as much on your skin as the method used. Black skin in particular is very good at producing pronounced keloid scars and this is a popular alternative to tattooing for people with very dark skin, for whom a tattoo might not show up very well.
In many parts of Africa these scars are marks of beauty and a way to identify someone belonging to a particular group. Scarification also may mark one’s status as a civilized being, adult, or member of a specific ethnic group or initiation association.
I spend a day in his school in a remote village of Benin to work on the Art in All of Us activities (www.artinallofus.org). I had really a great time thanks to the kids creativity. Please see some of their works on Benin Gallery ! hope you enjoy !!
All proceeds from sales of pictures will go to the art education project of Art in All of Us (WWW.ARTINALLOFUS.ORG)