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15 Cultural Practices That Outsiders Couldn’t Understand

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3. Lip Plates of the Mursi Tribe

3. Lip Plates of the Mursi Tribe
Mursi women from Ethiopia proudly display their traditional lip plates, adorned in vibrant beaded jewelry and patterned fabrics. | Photo by Wikipedia

Among the Mursi women of Ethiopia, wearing large clay lip plates is a time-honored tradition. The size of the plate often reflects social status and is considered a mark of beauty and maturity. For many outsiders, the sight of these dramatic adornments can be startling or even uncomfortable, as the practice defies Western ideas of aesthetics. However, for the Mursi, the lip plate is a powerful symbol of cultural identity and pride. Discover more from National Geographic.

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