All about the ancient tribes
The Mursi Tribe, of which there are less than 10,000, are well known for the large plates the women wear in their lower lip. The custom of wearing a lip plate is linked to the female’s fertility and eligibility for marriage.
It was a lesson to be learned! We were not the only farangi in the village so we were not attacked fiercely by the Mursi tribe when we got off the car; they are known to be very aggressive due to the drinking problems. And almost all the man has in possession a Kalashnikov; for the animals of course!
One of the most unusual, most aggressive tribe in the world is tribe Mursi living in a hard region of Ethiopia. “It’s better to die than live without killing” is the motto of Mursi men who in fact are all warriors.
In Africa, more precisely Ethiopia and tribes of the Mursi, Chai and Tirma, lip stretching or lip – plates (dhebi a tugoin) is seen as beautiful, denoting female maturity. Researchers claim that the lip plate worn by Mursi women is best seen as an expression of social adulthood and reproductive potential.
Mursi women are famous for their wooden lip plates – a symbol of beauty and identity. A girl’s lower lip is cut (sometimes by her mother) when she reaches 15 or 16, and held open by a sodden plug until it heals. Unmarried girls, especially those with large labrets, might wear them whenever they are in public.
The Mursi are a nomadic tribe in Ethiopia, who live in the Omo Valley. There are about 7.500 Mursi, of whom the most live in South Sudan.
The Sentinelese are the most isolated tribe in the world, and have captured the imagination of millions. They live on their own small forested island called North Sentinel, which is approximately the size of Manhattan. They continue to resist all contact with outsiders, attacking anyone who comes near.
A tribe residing in South Ethiopia and Sudan border live far away from the outside world and often kill people. The people belonging to Mursi tribe live in South Ethiopia and Oman Valley of Sudan border.
1- Somali people: They are undisputedly the most powerful African tribe there can ever be.
Through the years, larger plates are inserted into the lip causing it to stretch. The larger the clay plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets married. It is said that the clay plates were originally used to prevent capture by slave traders.
San (Bushmen ) The San tribe has been living in Southern Africa for at least 30,000 years and they are believed to be not only the oldest African tribe, but quite possibly the world’s most ancient race. The San have the most diverse and distinct DNA than any other indigenous African group.
Mursi (also Dama, Merdu, Meritu, Murzi, Murzu ) is a Surmic language spoken by the Mursi people, in the central Omo region of southwest Ethiopia. It is similar to Suri, spoken in most of the immediately surrounding area.
The size of the peg is gradually increased until he is wearing a lip plate. When these plates are removed, the lip hangs down like a rope. There are no major health issues that come from stretching one’s lip out so much. There is a major side effect to wearing one though.
Yes! Its absolutely hurt when cutting and piercing the lip, but moderately painful after the healing of the wound or during wearing the plate because lip will take elasticity. Once the cut is made, a stick is inserted to enlarge the hole, and it hurts over time, and as the lip will take elasticity.