In parts of southwestern Ethiopia, some Mursi women are known for wearing large circular plates inserted into their lower lips. The practice is one of the most recognisable cultural traditions associated with the Mursi people.
To someone seeing it for the first time, the practice may look surprising. But within the community, it has cultural and social meaning.
1. The plates are traditionally made from clay or wood
The circular objects are commonly called lip plates. They are carefully shaped and can vary in size and appearance.
2. The lower lip is gradually stretched
The process traditionally involves making an opening in the lower lip and gradually increasing its size. Not every Mursi woman participates in the practice.
3. It is associated with cultural identity
Lip plates have become an important symbol of Mursi identity. Their meaning can vary between individuals and generations.
4. It is not a universal requirement
It is misleading to suggest that every Mursi woman must wear a lip plate. Some women choose not to, and attitudes towards the tradition can differ.
5. The tradition is changing
Education, tourism, social change and contact with other communities have influenced how younger generations view traditional practices.
It is also important to remember that the Mursi people are more than the photographs of lip plates that often circulate online. They have their own language, history, social structures and everyday lives.
The lip plate tradition shows how different communities express beauty and identity in ways that may be unfamiliar to outsiders.
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