Yorubas Without Tribal Marks Were Considered Poor – Obasanjo

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PublishedSeptember 20, 2026, 5:25 AM UTC

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Yorubas without traditional tribal marks were considered poor in the olden days.

Obasanjo said the marks served as a means of identification, especially during the slave trade era.

Speaking on the Curiosity podcast, the former President explained that the markings helped people recognise members of their own communities even after being separated from their homes.

“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.

“If you are a Yoruba man and you don’t have tribal mark, you must be very poor, because you no get money to make mark,” he said.