In Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, the Mursi tribe is famous for one of Africa’s most striking traditions — the massive clay lip plates worn by women. The process begins when a girl reaches her teenage years, around 15 or 16. Her lower lip is pierced with a small incision, and a short wooden peg is inserted to keep it open. Over time, as the lip heals, the peg is replaced with slightly larger discs, stretching the lip gradually. Eventually, the women begin inserting handmade clay or wooden plates, each o