Lung, O.Ohene-Adjei, S.Buchanan, C.Joseph, T.King, R.Erickson, A.Detmer, S.Ambagala, A.2019-07-302019-07-302017vol.22(6):pp708-715DOI:10.1111/tmi.12878http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/31875Various forms of body modification may be observed in sub-Saharan Africa. Hypotheses and theories of scarification and tribal marking in sub-Saharan Africa are described, plus the procedure of scarification, examples from several African countries, assumed effects in prevention and treatment of diseases, and the medical risks resulting from unsterile manipulation. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltdenscarification, theories of tribal marking, social significance, medical consequences of scarification, sub-Saharan AfricaArticle