Scarification

Scarification

Today in class we learnt about scarification, it is something i have never learnt about before. I had seen it before but never known what it was called or why they do it. I was abit nervous about learning about this because I am very squeamish and am also abit funny about bumps on the skin. But I  was still intrigued and tried to put this aside and learn about what scarification is about.

 

We started off in class by watching a presentation about Scarification and what it was all about. We then had to watch a video of the  procedure of scarification. I found these quite uncomfortable to watch, as you can see the person having it done was in real pain and I found it quite hard at the start tin understand why would you put yourself through something that is so painful. I still find it hard to understand but this is probably because I am really bad with pain, but it's what they believe in so I appreciated that.   

Scarification is made by small cuts, scratches and burns on the skin. The procedure of scarification is performed like a ritual in many tribes. A lot of the tribe gather around to watch it happen, they start scarification from as young as 3 or 5 and then they also perform scarification again  to show the a boy is  becoming a man and vice versa. After the initial cutting is done they then brush leaves onto of the cuts to try and subside the pain and then everyday they splash their cuts with water so that they don't heal. The aim in scarification is to get a good rise, the patterns are very intricate and every one is very different, the designs are amazing and so detailed! 

 

We also learnt about the crocdile tribe, we watched a video on the National Geographic Website about the ritual procedure they undertake. I found it fascinating, a couple of days before they are about to be scared they go into a tent and must stay here, sleep here etc and must not leave until they are going to the ritual. They then will lie down within the keeping room and the scarification is performed without any pain relief, they are then kept in here for a few days after the scarification is performed. So that they can get a good rise on it, this is part of the ritual. 

I was shocked when i heard but actually not surprised after watching the video that people have died from the pain they were in from scarification. They don't get any pain relief apart from a small shot of alcohol, they would be shaking from all the pain. It's just amazing what they would go through for their tribe and what they believe in. I've attempted my own scarification, wait to see the post of what it looks like and how I did it!!