Nollywood actor Olaiya Igwe has revealed that he once disliked his tribal marks despite asking for them as a child.
Speaking about culture and tradition, Olaiya said he admired tribal marks while growing up and insisted on having them because he considered them attractive.
The actor explained that he was raised in a polygamous home where tradition required only the first child of each wife to bear tribal marks.
“In my family, my dad had six wives but only five gave birth and my mom was the second to the last. Traditionally, only the first born from each wife was mandated to have tribal marks, but because I was very sharp, I requested for it. But when I eventually understood the meaning of tribal marks, I started to dislike it. I realised it wasn’t really our culture; it was lack of exposure,” he stated.
The actor also questioned the relevance of tribal marks in modern society, saying advancements in technology have changed how people identify family ties.
”Does it stand as DNA? No. These days, DNA can expose who truly belongs to a family. Somebody might give all the children tribal marks thinking they are from the same lineage, only to later discover otherwise. It was when I saw the late Ade Love and Sunday Omobolanle’s tribal marks that I started liking it again,” he added.
Olaiya Igwe, whose real name is Ebun Oloyede, is known for his roles in Yoruba language films and has spent decades in the Nigerian movie industry. He adopted the name Olaiya Igwe after gaining popularity in the stage play Olaiya Ni Mi.
Tribal marks were once common among several ethnic groups in Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba, where they were used for identification, family lineage and cultural identity. In recent years, the practice has declined as more Nigerians view it as outdated and unnecessary.
