Samuel Osaze, a poet and festival administrator, has unveiled his latest documentary film, ‘Ema/Udeh (Ancient Healing Tattoo of the Esan People),’ aimed at celebrating the history and cultural richness of the Esan community.

This legacy project explores the traditional practice of body marking and its various purposes. The film strives to present this ancient custom impartially, engaging with both practitioners and community members to provide a comprehensive perspective.

The documentary is now accessible for global screenings.

Featuring insights from university professors and conventional medical professionals, the film presents a range of opinions intended to stimulate public discourse. It seeks to foster discussions about traditional practices in relation to modern medical approaches, grounded in the belief that such conversations can enhance healthcare quality and collaboration.

The documentary showcases esteemed scholars and medical authorities, including Professor of Dance Studies and Performance Aesthetics Mariam Asabe Iyeh, Professor of Philosophy Matthew A. Izibili, Dr. Aloja Airewele, and Dr. Abel Toms-Oriakhi. The traditional tattoo artists highlighted in the film are primarily women dedicated to the practice for life-saving purposes rather than financial gain. Samuel Osaze produced and directed the film, with contributions from female Ema/Udeh tattoo artists Justina Okoh, Martha Wilson, and Anthonia Imhanlu. The production team also includes Terh Agbedeh as the director of photography and Otatane-Oso Andrew as the film editor.

The documentary film explores and addresses various questions surrounding this fascinating practice. It poses inquiries such as: Is there a basis for comparing contemporary tattoos with the traditional Esan body marking? What is the process of Ema/Udeh? What factors contribute to its enduring appeal, and what advantages does Ema/Udeh provide that modern medical treatments do not offer for the same condition? How valid is the assertion that orthodox medical methods cannot treat splenomegaly? Is splenomegaly specific to the Esan/Edo population, and how do individuals from other ethnic backgrounds manage this condition? Additionally, how can this ancient practice be enhanced to align with contemporary global health standards?

"Ema/Udeh not only serves a healing purpose—a fact it has demonstrated despite skepticism—but also creates meticulously crafted artistic expressions that captivate both the bearer and the audience, transforming the individual into a living canvas for the tattoo artist. Consequently, Ema/Udeh practitioners embody both healing and artistic roles, functioning as medical professionals dedicated to the welfare of their community. This intersection of art and medicine is epitomized by the Ema/Udeh artists of Esanland," Osaze stated.

Further elaborating, Osaze indicated that the documentary examines Ema/Udeh through four essential lenses: aesthetics, therapeutics, identity, and spirituality—key aspects that set Ema/Udeh apart from the broader context of scarification.

The poet and filmmaker expressed that "In addition to its medicinal, aesthetic, spiritual, and identity-related meanings, experts are beginning to view the practice as evolutionary, potentially transitioning Ema/Udeh from its current private exhibition to a more public platform. On this platform, the healing yet artistic designs can be reproduced for wider appreciation."