Tanzanian facial markings that aren’t tribal;

This is to raise awareness that not all facial markings you see around Tanzanian or indeed African faces are for the purpose of identifying clans or tribes from one another as is generally assumed, some were done for different reasons entirely, their basic characteristic is that they are not endemic across the whole tribe. Whereas some markings (scarifications) were for the purpose of decoration and had to be gender specific, the ones discussed here were not.

1.     Two  small circles of about an inch in diameter each on either side of the nose on the cheeks of the Maasai just below the eyes was supposed to PREVENT an eye infection to young children that used to be rampant during the flowering of the acacias. These can also be found in other nearby tribes such as Wagogo,Wanyaturu and Wairaq especially the older generations as the habit kind of died out with the coming of schooling and hospitals. The markings were made by stamping using  smoldering hot hollow circular objects such as  bamboos or the mouth of a gourd, Later metallic items were used. A concoction was then rubbed on the wounds so caused. It should be noted that not all babies born in these tribes or with parents inclined to protect their children in such manner were born during the flowering of the acacia so expect to find some without these markings. 
2. One spot at the forehead about one centimeter in diameter among the Wagogo and Wanyaturu and very rarely among the Wairaq.This was done when the child’s fontanelle appeared to be more depressed than usual which raised perception of a disease by the parents. This was done using a dry burnt pellet of sheep droppings .I personally witnessed this being done by the parents of a hospitalized baby right at the hospital, only a few meters away from the ward where the mother pretended to take the baby out for some fresh air, the father started a small fire and burned a plastic rear end of a ball point pen and proceeded to brand the hot melting thing on the baby’s forehead amid terrible weeping. He chewed some roots and matted the paste on the fresh wound,the mother then went back in with the baby on her shoulders covering it completely from prying eyes.

 Two lower front teeth pulled out,this was done among the Maasai,Wachaga,Wairaq,Wagweno and     Wapare(there may be more),the purpose was to allow access to the inside of one’s mouth if in any case one lost consciousness due to sickness or fainted as a result of over exhaustion while walking in the plains,it  eased the possibility of inserting water or a thin porridge or medicine to the person in question.

4   Two slits beneath each eye, horizontal or vertical done with tip of a knife on the face of a baby that had a habit of crying endlessly was intended to CURE the baby of the crying habit from getting hurt as a result of the tears flowing across the wounds causing pain due to the salinity in the tears.These small wounds were maintained fresh by the mother by removing any formation that THREATENED to cure them before the intended effect had taken place. You may note that the scars are a bit wider than normal at the middle of each slit due to constant removal of dried blood during the natural healing process. The markings are found among the Wakimbu,Wanyiramba,Wachaga,Wagweno and Wapare.

     The last is not a facial marking and needs a lot of close research as it is a form of secret treatment done for purposes closely resembling war preparedness. The knees of male Datooga children are split open on one side  and the knee caps removed by pushing them  out sideways so that their ability to run is enhanced for the purpose of cattle rustling. You may note this from the way a person treated as explained runs in a forward leaning posture and walks as if the lower leg is about to swing further ahead in relation to the upper leg.