A statement of identity

One of the reasons scarification is primarily practiced by dark-skinned people is that their skin contains keloid, a substance that produces a raised scar. Conversely, light-skinned people have little keloid but have battle, operation or sporting scars, such as European duelling scars, war wounds, scars from animal attacks, and so forth.

Both light- and dark-skinned individuals often proudly display such scars as marks of courage or stories of survival. Perhaps the first purposely made scars were meant to mimic or symbolically express similar aspects of bravery and endurance.

In many ways, tattooing and scarification can sometimes be viewed as opposites that are part of the same process of permanently marking the body with symbolic designs. However, occasionally they are used simultaneously within the same community.

The Maori Moko is an interesting case as it combines facial tattooing with deeply cut scars to produce a truly unique effect. Importantly, Moko also is applied very differently to men and women, men’s designs usually being much more elaborate and extensive, depending on status.

Furthermore, there are status and age differences, with each geometric element having both personal and group meaning. More ancient tattoo and scarification designs from various corners of the globe may have functioned similarly but we will never recover their exact meaning.

In recent times, the main motivations for purposeful scarification are as part of an initiation or ceremony - a status symbol to make one more attractive to the opposite sex or, in parts of northern Australia, to protect against or ward off certain harmful spirits.

But in some societies - especially those with peoples that have light skins - there is an aversion to scars: they are considered “ugly”, especially if on the face or other body parts thought to be key points of “beauty”.

However, among dark-skinned groups, scars on the face, buttocks, back or other body parts may be considered to be especially attractive. Body art expert Julian Robinson has summarised some of the motivations for scarification:

Most forms of tribal scars are made in traditional designs or patterned groups on specific parts of the body as an individual passes through various stages of life - what might be described as written evidence of a person’s “rites of passage” - thus denoting the precise social status of each individual. These patterns are also perceived as symbols of tribal beauty for those able to decipher the messages conveyed, and give a unique sculptured quality to the body, which is widely admired. Cicatrix scar patterns are also widely used - they are a controlled long flat shiny scar formed by carefully cutting the surface of the skin with the design required, easing the wound apart slightly and then inflaming the open cut with ground ash mixed with a little fruit juice or other irritant so that when healed a flat shiny scar forms.

In addition to its symbolic meaning, scarring can also play an important role in preventive medicine not realized by many Western observers: the body builds up its antibodies during the gradual scarring process, so that the mature adult is more able to survive in the harsh conditions of bush life.

A common feature of scarification - and indeed all body art - is that of cultural attitudes and identity. For instance, among certain peoples of the South Pacific and northern Africa tattooing helps distinguish them from their darker skinned neighbours, as well as reflecting cultural experiences or rites of passage.

But many marks on bodies are hidden, reserved for use and display in more private circumstances. For instance, there has long been a concern, fascination, or even preoccupation with modifying both male and female genitals.

It is not something new to paint, tattoo, scar, pierce or modify a penis, clitoris or labia - some Egyptian mummies over 6,000 years old show evidence of genital modification. Today, some men risk setting off metal detectors at airports with sometimes dozens of pieces of metal through penis and scrotum.

Obviously, there is a fine line between pleasure and pain when it comes to self-expression and control. And titillation, machismo and flamboyance all feature when it comes to sex. So it is only natural to expect some of the most richly adorned parts of the body to be the genitals.

Many people wear brightly coloured underwear, at least on occasions, while others feel quite at home in lace, leather or jewel-encrusted cod pieces. Think of the bold statement of identity a pair of white Y-fronts makes!