honorable mention
SERGIO GALAN SANCHIS spain
title
The Surma women
The Surma or Suri are an ethnic group of the Southern Nations of Ethiopia. Part of them lives in West Omo Valley area and part in South Sudan. The Suri population was 32,000 in 2016.
As they live isolated, they keep their traditions somewhat intact.
The Surma decorate their bodies with corporals paintings and every sort of elements, the insertion of a clay plate in diferent places and scarification as an expression of creativity, and a distinctive linked with the group they belong to.
The most characteristic beauty item in Surma people is the insertion of a clay lip plate in order to show beauty and get married. They have to remove their bottom teeth and pierce the lower lip to allow the stretching and insertion of the clay plate. The large the plate is more beautiful is the bride and more expensive is the dowry.
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entry description
This is a series of portraits of Surma women in their village.The Surma or Suri are an ethnic group of the Southern Nations of Ethiopia. Part of them lives in West Omo Valley area and part in South Sudan. The Suri population was 32,000 in 2016.
As they live isolated, they keep their traditions somewhat intact.
The Surma decorate their bodies with corporals paintings and every sort of elements, the insertion of a clay plate in diferent places and scarification as an expression of creativity, and a distinctive linked with the group they belong to.
The most characteristic beauty item in Surma people is the insertion of a clay lip plate in order to show beauty and get married. They have to remove their bottom teeth and pierce the lower lip to allow the stretching and insertion of the clay plate. The large the plate is more beautiful is the bride and more expensive is the dowry.
about the photographer
I'm a passionated traveler. I try to catch what amazes me in my photographs and writtings.back to gallery