Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken about the historical significance of tribal marks among the Yoruba people, explaining that the traditional markings were once used as a means of identification.

Obasanjo made the remarks while speaking on the Curious City podcast, where he explained that tribal marks served an important purpose in identifying people who belonged to the same community, particularly during the era of the transatlantic slave trade.

According to the former president, the markings made it possible for people to recognise members of their communities even after they had been separated from their homes and taken to different locations“Tribal marks in those old days were used so that people, even when they were sold into slavery, could identify their own people. That is the purpose of tribal mark,” Obasanjo said.

The former president also spoke about the prevalence of tribal marks among Yoruba men in the past, making a humorous remark linking the absence of such markings to Join

His comments have drawn attention to the cultural history of tribal marks, which were traditionally used by some Yoruba communities for identification, lineage and other social purposes.