SOUTH ETHIOPIA

THE MURSI

Nilo-Saharan linguistic group,agro-pastoralists,origionally from the larger Surma group, the Mursi are people who moved east from the surmic nucleus and occupied the land between the Omo and Mago rivers. Neighboured by the Surma to the west,the Ari and Mount Mago to the east,the Kwegu and Karo to the south and the Bodi to the north, the mursi are about 6000 in number.

The Mursi subsisit on sorghum and maize cultivation and honey.Although not frequently,especially after the declaration of Mago national park, they also practice hunting.The Mursi territory is further divided in to five sections,each section extending east to west to include the Omo and Mago river thus each of them obtaining a natural habitat for their river bank cultivation,rain-fed agriculture and grazing lands for their cdorzes on which they mainly depend for their milk and blood.

The unique trait of the Mursi ,shared by other surmic groups,is the spectacular labial and lobular plates worn by the women and their stick fight ceremony.Tusk pendants worn by Mursi men is a sign of bravery and status.Also the deep horse-shoe shaped scarifications the Mursi warriors make on their upper arms whenever they succeed in killing their enemy group is typical. The scars are put on the right arm for a male victim and on the left for a female victim but the more succesful warriors may proceed to put the incisions on thighs.A heavy pieces of iron collection worn by the women is also intended to attract.

It is believed by some that the visit of the Mursi is the highlight of lower Omo valley tour

Tour of Omo Valley Tibes