Uses of scarification

           Although the origin is unknown, one story states, “They developed the method of scarification to mark the family members selected to rule the captured land. In the future - when they returned to the same area and saw the tribal markings they would know they already controlled the land”. It is also said that this practice became widespread in Africa due to the growth of slave raiding during the 17^th century. Sulley Kupah, the secretary to the Gwollu Paramoncey explains that the markings “ became very important during slave raiding because people became displaced and families and tribes wanted to be able to find each other and reconnect again when held in captivity”. Among the Dagombas in Northern Ghana there is one vertical scar, which identifies them as having direct grand fathers from Nigeria. Three vertical lines mark the sides of the faces of Gonjas of Northern Ghana .

            Scars are also used to mark families within a tribe, however clan, region, and tribal markings are generally more intricate. A group of Sissala (outside Gwollu) has two marks on either side of their mouth that extends outward from their lips towards their cheeks and jaw. Three huge marks down either side of the face identify the royal family in the Mossi ethnic group in Wa. The tribal mark of The Dagbanba people consist of one to four short vertical lines on both cheeks. The number of lines depends on the parents. The Funsi people have a long mark extending from the nose to the cheek. Males bear the scars on their left cheek while females bear them on their right cheek.