At a young age, to beautify themselves for marriage, most Surma women have their bottom teeth removed and their bottom lips pierced, then stretched, so as to allow insertion of a clay lip plate. Some women have stretched their lips so as to allow plates up to sixteen inches in diameter. Increasing with exposure to other cultures, however, a growing number of girls now refrain from this practice. Their children are sometimes painted with white clay paint, which may be dotted on the face or body. Southern Ethiopia, 2017
Young woman from the Arbore tribe. Omo valley, south Ethiopia, 2013.
Suri mother with her young baby Southern Ethiopia, 2017
