Much like the Mursi, the Surma, whose only divide with the lands of the Mursi is the Omo river, also have the custom of women wearing lower lip discs. The lower lip discs (or lip plates) of the Surma only differ from those of the Mursi in that the Surma mostly use semi-circular plates rather than the round discs of the Mursi. The social and historical background for the custom is likewise very similar to that among the Mursi (see cat. no. 127). The present ivory Surma disc has a thickened edge on the upper side and a smooth underside. It has a nice honey-brown patina (the result of the natural darkening of the ivory) as well as fine age-related crackling on both sides. To fit inside the lip, the disc has all around its outer edge a groove. The Surma disc shows only minor cracks on the edge of the bow and an early break-off of a small piece from one of the corners (resulting, in fact, in a ‘nicely rounded’ feel). Ivory lower lip discs of the Surma people, like those of the Mursi people, are very rare finds today. From the mid-20th century onwards no ivory discs would have been made any longer. The Surma have been using clay and wood since then. And among the Surma, too, this is a rapidly disappearing custom. H: 6.2 cm; W: 10.5 cm; 1.7 cm thick. First third of the 20th century. (ME) ASA

Provenance: Acquired many years ago from a traveller to south-eastern Ethiopia. Currently: Austrian Private Collection.

additional image:
A woman of the Surma, with “lip plate” in her lower lip. In the valley of the Omo River, South Ethiopia
Photo from: “AFRICA. Musica y arte” by Elena Martinez-Jacquet & David Serra