SOUTH ETHIOPIA

THE MURSI >>The lip plates of Surma and Mursi Women

A new sect of people from Europe and other parts of the world who pierce their lips and other parts of their boy in aspiration to be like some tribes in the wilderness of Africa and increased sexual stimulation are coming in to the scene. Apart from this new trend in the modern society, there are very few groups of societies in the world whose women wear labial and lobular plates. The Mursi and the Surma, who live in the lower Omo valley region of Ethiopia, are the most typical ones.

The plates, made from red or black mud or wood, are produced into different sizes by the mursi/surma women themselves. The shape varies from circular to trapezoidal, some of them being hollow-centered, and with decorative incisions.

These plates are worn by a mursi or Surma young woman in her twenties. First, when a mursi or surma girl is contemplating of marriage, about six months prior to her engagement, the lower lip will be cut into which a small wooden or clay disk is inserted. Gradually the plates or disks will be progressively replaced until the required plate size is attained. The plates have a symbolic function.The bigger the lip plates the higher the bride price. These plates should be worn all the time except when sleeping and at private mealtime. It is also possible to remove the plates when there are no Mursi or Surma men around.

Concerning the tradition, there are a number of beliefs as to why the Mursi/Surma women ended up wearing plates. Some say it is a strategic measure taken by the Surma fore fathers to discourage the Arab slave traders who were looking for unblemished slave girls. The second suggestion is related to the belief of the Surma/Mursi people themselves. These people believe evil spirits possess a person entering by way of his mouth. So lip plates are taken as a preventive measure. The third and most likely theory is to declare social status of the girl's family by showing the number of cattle expected for her hand in marriage.