Body Scarifications in Mursi Culture

A singular and ancient tradition, practiced today only by some African ethnic groups and among the Australian aborigines, is scarification, that is to say the practice of incising the superficial layers of the skin and not allowing them to heal normally. The Mursi, as well as other peoples of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, usually practice it with different methods and intentions.

Kitchoa scarifications are carried out with a simple but painful procedure: the skin is lifted slightly, using a curved spine, and a small cut is made with a sharp blade like that of a razor or a very pointed knife; when the wounds of these incisions heal, keloid scars remain on the skin, that is, raised marks harder than the rest of the individual’s skin, which form patterns.

These scarifications are made for both men and women and usually the upper parts of the body, such as the arms, torso, stomach, breasts and back, are engraved. For women it is ornamental and beauty scars: the young women stop the practice as soon as they give birth to their first child. Men can continue to scarify even after the birth of their first child, always as a sign of strength.

Riru scarifications are carried out with a much more painful procedure: with the tip of an incandescent spear one or more U-shaped designs, usually upside down, are carved into the skin. This type of scarification is reserved exclusively for men and is carried out on the arm; but not all men can have this scarification, only those who have killed an enemy can have it.

The shape of the riru scarification and its method of realization are very reminiscent of the miren drawings that are made on cattle, which are engraved with a pointed and incandescent iron; several scholars argue that there is a parallelism between these two practices of the Mursi.

The practice of scarification is still widespread among the Mursi, it is quite common to see the signs and drawings on their bodies, both of women and men; many argue that some, especially younger women, practice scarification to be photographed by tourists, but it is difficult to ascertain whether this statement is true or whether they have simply remained faithful to their tribal culture, as is the case with the practice of the lip plate.