THE YORUBA TRIBAL MARK

ILA

YORUBA TRIBAL MARK

Ila (Tribal mark) is very common among the Yoruba tribe especially in the olden days. 

Tribal mark is a specially drawn mark on the face since childhood, especially when still an infant.

Some tribal marks are meant to beautify someone faces, while some are used as traditional rites. Majority of tribal marks are used as a symbol or identification of a particular tribe in Yoruba land.

Each tribe has its own way of drawing their tribal mark; it may be in different shapes and sizes. “Pele”, a type of tribal mark is common among the Ijesa people. It is a four-horizontal line, a-quarter-of-an-inch-long made on the cheeks on both sides of the mouth. The Ondo people are well known by half-an-inch-vertical lines on both sides of the nose down the mouth and they are thick and long. The Ogbomosho natives are known for their multiple straight and curved lines called “Gombo” on both sides of the face. There are three types of “Pele” the Pele Ekiti, Pele Ijesha and Pele Akoko. The main purpose of tribal marks in the past was to identify each group within the Yoruba nation, to beautify, and to identify slaves. Here are some other types of tribal marks in Yoruba Land: -Abaja, Tire, Gombo or KekeMande, Jamgbadi, Pele. Please note that, Ila or tribal mark is different from the scars or marks drawn on the body of an Abiku (a child predestined to die). The mark on the body of an abiku is drawn in order to identify him/her whenever he/she returns again.