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Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia and their Suprising Lip Plate Beautification

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The Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia also known as Mursu or Mun, a Nilotic pastoralist ethnic group found in the South Omo Zone of the Southern regions, roughly between the Rivers Omo (Warr) and Mago (Mako), and near to the border with South Sudan.

There are 7,500 Mursi in the country as per the 2007 national census, 448 of them reside in cities.

The Mursi homeland is one of the most remote areas in the nation, sandwiched between the Omo River and its branch the Mago.

They switch locations twice a year, between the winter and summer, because of the climate. Along the banks of the Omo River, people raise livestock and cultivate crops.

Also Read: History of the yoruba tribe of Nigeria

Language and Age Group of the Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia

The Banna, Bodi, Karo, Kwegu, Nyangatom, and Suri are among their neighbors. They are native speakers of the Surmic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family, which is known as the Mursi language.

A highly regarded and well-liked pastime among Mursi males, especially single men, ceremonial dueling (thagine), a sort of ritualized male aggression, is a crucial component of the Mursi identity.

Age sets, in which males are organized into designated “age sets” and go through several “age grades” during their lifetimes, are a significant political element. Married women have the same age grade status as their husbands.

Scarification of the Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia

After murdering an adversary, the guys exercise mild scarification on their shoulders and shave geometric designs on their heads.

They physically apply white chalk paint on every inch of their bodies to decorate them for dances and rituals. Stick battles in groups are practiced by young, single guys.

The winner is brought on top of poles to girls who are standing beside the arena and deliberating who would propose to him.

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Lip Plates of the Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia

A young Mursi girl gets her lower lip pierced when she is 15 or 16 years old so she may wear a lip plate. The more cattle her bride price will bring in for her father, the larger the lip plate she can accept.

Even for wild people, the particular “ornament” of the face that they utilize is totally peculiar. The issue is that young females in this tribe get their lower lips clipped.

They start inserting wood billets into the lip, each time increasing the diameter.

Body Painting and the Donga Ceremony

Mursi men also paint their faces and bodies with white paint. The males have to pass a test before they may get married, just like any other ethnic clan in the lower valley.

A Mursi man must confront one opponent while using a stick known as a donga.

The men then engage in a fight, hitting one another with sticks. The first combatant to submit is eliminated, and the victor is put before a gathering of ladies to choose his future wife.

Scarification is a practice among the tribe’s men as well. This is the mark of a foe he killed, like other tribes.

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The way of life of the Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia

The Mursi tribe of Ethiopia have a difficult and even deadly way of life. However, they have mastered the art of good living, and they have plenty of time for rest, conversation, music, and rumors.

They have a strong oral tradition that they use to communicate and preserve their history, intellectual understanding, and moral tales. For the Mursi, religion, and healing are closely related.

People’s encounters with the social and natural worlds inform their knowledge of both disease and the divine.

It is the priest as well as members of other smaller ritual families who are seeking to treat epidemics, droughts, and agricultural pests. Priests offer the backdrop for a healthy community.

A healing tradition among the Mursi also emphasizes the abilities of female healers. The Mursi tribe of Ethiopia practice Animism, despite the fact that there is a Serving in Mission Station in the northeastern region of Mursiland that offers basic healthcare and education.

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