18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Woman of Holy Tribe

Despite a difficult rural life with living in traditional straw huts this Holi tribe's woman is full of optimism. Each Holi woman has a unique scar pattern on the face dedicated to a specific family. By looking at her face, we can see which family she belongs to. Now Scarification practices are illegal in bigger cities and You can find it mostly in rural areas.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2018
Date Uploaded: 08.2020
Photo Location: Issaba village, Benin
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Elena Bobrova