Surma: The Ethiopian tribe where a lip plate is a sign of 'extreme' beauty
The Surma people are made of three ethnic group. The Mursi, the Suri, and the Mekan people.
The Suri and the Mursi share a similar culture and the women's beauty is determined by how large their lip plate is.
Lip plates are usually made of clay or wood and range between 4 and 25 centimeters.
Lip plates are usually made of clay or wood and range between 4 and 25 centimeters.
The lip plate tradition is valued by both parents because it indirectly means that the father’s number of cows will increase when he is paid her dowry.
Any man who must marry a Suri or Mursi lady has to be wealthy because her dowry usually falls between 40 cattle (for the small plate) and 60 (for the large plate).
Because of the self-worth and importance attached to it, some girls increase their lip plate. To their delight, they are often allowed to design her lip plate.
Most times, the women don the lip plate when their intention is to look more appealing.