THE LIP PLATES OF THE MURSI:
One of the last tribes in Africa where it is common practice for women to wear huge ceramic or wooden plates in their lower lips is the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia. A Mursi girl's bottom lip is cut by her mother or another elderly woman in the community when she is 15 or 16 years old. A wooden plug keeps the wound open for roughly three months as it heals. Mursi girls are never forced to have their lips pierced; it's entirely their decision. (Of course, peer pressure is greatest around age 16, regardless of culture, which is why many girls choose the lip plate.)
THE BULL JUMPING OF THE HAMAR:
The majority-pastoral Hamar tribe of Ethiopia, also called the Hamer tribe, values and respects their cattle and has an athletic initiation process. The art of jumping a bull is central to this culture. All boys must participate in the three-day bull leaping ceremony, which is crucial to maintaining the honor of the initiate and his family. 15 castrated bulls whose backs have been rubbed in excrement to make them slick must be crossed by the novice making the task tougher. He will have to wait a whole year to try again if he fails, but what if he succeeds? It indicates that he is prepared to wed a woman of his parents' choosing, have children of his own, and keep a herd of cattle.
THE RED OCHRE OF THE HIMBA:
The women of this well-known tribe in Namibia are renowned for having stunning complexion and hair with red undertones. What is the cause of the deep colour? Otjize is a handcrafted red ochre, butter, and fat paste. As soon as they are mature enough to take care of their own hygiene, girls in the tribe begin using otjize. Long-standing rumors about the practice's true origins have led many to assert that it serves as sun protection or a bug deterrent. The Himba tribe, however, claims that it is done solely for aesthetic reasons
THE SPITTING OF THE MAASAI:
Spitting is regarded by the Maasai people of Kenya and Northern Tanzania as a blessing and a sign of respect. Spitting is a method used by tribespeople to greet or bid farewell to friends, seal a deal, or wish someone luck. Before shaking hands, two pals will spit in their palms to greet one another. To wish a newborn a long life and good fortune, family members will spit on the infant after he or she is born. A father will typically spit on his daughter's forehead on her wedding day to wish her a happy marriage.
THE HEALING DANCE OF THE SAN:
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This is possibly the most amazing tribal tradition there is. Dance is revered as a spiritual power by the San people of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Angola. The trance dance, also known as the healing dance, is one of their most important tribal customs. For several hours, the entire community gathers around a fire, guided by healers and elders, chanting and facing around the fire until a strong trance-like state is produced. They have access to the spirit world when in this state (and are often able to walk over fire). The San healers aim to drive out a force they refer to as "star sickness," which they say is responsible for jealously, rage, and disputes, in addition to curing the community's physical illnesses.
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