Depending on their social status and the size of their herd the men of the Hamer tribe can have up to 3 wives. The first wife receives the privilege of wearing a large metal necklace with a long protruding thorn torque called a Bignere made of iron and leather as seen here. Both a phallic and status symbol. The second and 3rd wives wear simple round metal necklaces. When you see Hamer women you can immediately identify their status by their jewellery.
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This woman is from the Mursi tribe, who reside in the lower Omo Valley of Ethiopia, her village is in Margo National Park. She hasn’t undergone the traditional lip plate custom however she carries a clay plate in her ear lobes which have been stretched by the same method. First, a slit is made with a razor blade, then a wooden plug is put in the lobe to stretch it. A bigger wooden plug stretches it further and so on until finally, a clay plate is carried.
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This shot wasn’t set up it was one of those lucky moments when the light and timing were impeccable. I was setting my equipment up at about 6:30 am in the village of Naregeer in the remote Upper Omo Valley and I looked around to see this young boy observing me while balancing on the tree trunk. I took the photograph within a minute.
This image was a finalist in the prestigious international ‘Head On’ portrait photo awards.
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One of the most famous traditions of Surma women is the clay lip plates inserted into their lower lip. (Surma is the collective name given to the Suri and Mursi tribes of the Omo). This practice happens when a woman reaches the marriageable age of about 13-15 years old. The two lower teeth are knocked out, usually by a rock and a slit is made in their lower lip in which a small wooden plug is inserted. This plug is replaced by a larger one ongoing until the lip is stretched enough to hold a clay plate. The lip plates signify status and beauty.
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In the Omo Valley of Ethiopia, one of the most famous traditions of the Surma women (a collective term for the Mursi and Suri tribes) is the wearing of clay lip plates, a prominent feature in African tribal art. This practice begins when a woman reaches marriageable age.
The process involves knocking out two lower teeth, usually with a rock, and making a slit in the lower lip, where a small wooden plug is inserted. This plug is gradually replaced with larger ones until the lip can accommodate a clay plate. This custom symbolizes beautification and status, often fetching a significant dowry for her hand in marriage.
Explore the unique traditions of the Omo Valley tribes through my fine art prints.
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This Mursi woman from southern Ethiopia had the largest lip plate I had ever seen, so heavy she had to support it with her hand. Lip plates, made from natural clay, are a significant aspect of African tribal art. This tradition is slowly fading as younger women avoid this practice.
In the Mursi tribe, when a young woman reaches puberty or marriageable age, she starts the process of stretching her lip to wear a lip plate, a symbol of beautification and status. A large lip plate can fetch a significant dowry for her family. The process involves knocking out two lower teeth, making a slit in the lower lip, and gradually increasing the size of a wooden plug until it can hold a clay plate. This results in a lifelong deformity, with the lower lip hanging loosely without the plate.
Discover the rich traditions of the Omo tribe and African tribal art through my fine art photography prints.
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Group of Mursi women from the lower Omo Valley. Notice only one woman has a lip plate. Today, many young women of marriageable age choose not to have a lip plate. The scarification patterns on their arms are created by cutting the skin with a razor blade and inserting ash into the wound. The infected skin raises, creating distinctive scar tissue.
Explore the unique traditions of the Omo tribe and African tribal art through my fine art photography prints.
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In the Omo Valley of Ethiopia, the Hamer tribe’s traditions offer a fascinating glimpse into African art and customs. Men, depending on their social status and the size of their herd, can have up to three wives. The first wife is distinguished by a large metal necklace with a long, protruding thorn torque called a Bignere, made of iron and leather, serving as both a phallic and status symbol. The second and third wives wear simpler round metal necklaces. The jewellery of Hamer women immediately identifies their status, reflecting the rich tapestry of African tradition and tribal wall art.
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This woman belongs to the Mursi tribe, residing in the lower Omo Valley within Margo National Park. The Suri and Mursi tribes are collectively known as the Surma. Only Surma women wear lip plates, a tradition they undertake upon reaching marriageable age. This practice serves as a significant status symbol. Discover the rich cultural heritage of the Omo tribe through my fine art prints, capturing the essence of African tribal art.
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In the Omo Valley of Ethiopia, when a Mursi woman reaches puberty and is of marriageable age, it is traditional for her to undergo the practice of inserting a lip plate into her lower lip. A slit is made with a razor blade, and the lip is gradually stretched over time by inserting a series of wooden plugs. Once sufficiently stretched, a heavier clay plate is placed in the lower lip.
A woman with a large lip plate is considered a measure of beauty and status, fetching a high dowry price. One theory suggests that this tradition began to deter slave traders from taking women from the villages.
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I photographed this young woman in a sorghum field in the village of Naregeer in the Upper Omo Valley near the border of South Sudan. Traditionally the clay pot carries milk, water, or sorghum beer. The Suri are nomadic pastoralists, they grow sorghum, beans, and maize and depend on their highly valued cattle for survival.
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