Marks of Identity | JuzaPhoto

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21.8 MEGAPIXEL

Benin View gallery (25 photos)

Marks of Identity sent on 30 Gennaio 2026 (13:24) by Roberto Pazzi. 0 comments, 188 views.

at 24mm, 1/60 f/5.6, ISO 3200, hand held.

Holi people with the traditional scars and tattoos (Benin). HUMANKIND, my premium, limited-edition, museum-quality standard book featuring over 200 large-format photos. Available here: https://robertopazziphoto.com The Holi people are a subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic community, living in southeastern Benin with a population of around 100,000. They are especially known for their powerful traditions of body art, including tattooing and scarification, practices that carry deep cultural meaning far beyond decoration. Men wore distinctive scarifications on their faces and bodies as symbols of identity, beauty, belonging, and cultural pride. Women traditionally received tattoos on their bellies, believed to offer protection during pregnancy and to celebrate their role as bearers of new life. These markings also played a crucial role in history: during the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, people without scarifications were often seen by Europeans as “unmarked” and therefore more desirable to capture, so the Holi's recognizable scars could help protect them from being taken. Passed down through generations of skilled practitioners, these body modifications held spiritual and social significance, and although they are less common among younger generations today, many elders still carry these living traces of heritage. Beyond body art, the Holi are also known for building homes from bamboo, often designed with a characteristic square layout. Website: https://robertopazziphoto.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/roberto_pazzi_photo

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