The lip plate, also known as a lip plug or lip disc, is a form of body modification. Increasingly larger discs (usually circular, made from clay or wood) are inserted into a pierced hole in either the upper or lower lip, or both, thereby stretching it.
Archaeological evidence indicates that labrets have been independently invented no fewer than six times, in Sudan and Ethiopia (8700 BC), Mesoamerica (1500 BC), and Coastal Ecuador (500 BC). Today, the custom is maintained by a few groups in Africa and Amazonia.
In Africa, a lower lip plate is usually combined with the excision of the two lower front teeth, and sometimes all four.
Among the Sara people and Lobi a plate is also inserted into the upper lip. Other tribes, such as the Makonde, used to wear a plate in the upper lip only. In many older sources it is reported that the plate's size is a sign of social or economical importance in some tribes.
However, because of natural mechanical attributes of human skin, it seems that the plate's size often just depends on the stage of stretching the lip and the wishes of the wearer.
The tradition to wear plates has appeared not because of beauty, rather vice- versa. For example when Ethiopian Mursi,were captured and taken into bondage, they violently had crippled themselves, and nobody wanted to take them after that. Now the size of a plate is a beauty criterion. The more is plate, the more cattle will be given for the bride. Girls-
mursi always have a choice to do the hole in a lip or not. But for the girl without the stretched lip a very small repayment is given.
The original purpose of lip plugs may have been to deform, affording women a sort of protection against Arab slavers. However,David Livingstone asked a
chief the reason for them and in surprise the chief answered; for beauty!
He continued in his wisdom that " They are the only beautiful things women have. Men have beards women have none. What kind of person would she be without Pelele? She would not be a woman at all."
What a beauty enhancer ! I hope most female readers will get a lip plug or plate too to make them look beautiful.
Archaeological evidence indicates that labrets have been independently invented no fewer than six times, in Sudan and Ethiopia (8700 BC), Mesoamerica (1500 BC), and Coastal Ecuador (500 BC). Today, the custom is maintained by a few groups in Africa and Amazonia.
In Africa, a lower lip plate is usually combined with the excision of the two lower front teeth, and sometimes all four.
Among the Sara people and Lobi a plate is also inserted into the upper lip. Other tribes, such as the Makonde, used to wear a plate in the upper lip only. In many older sources it is reported that the plate's size is a sign of social or economical importance in some tribes.
However, because of natural mechanical attributes of human skin, it seems that the plate's size often just depends on the stage of stretching the lip and the wishes of the wearer.
The tradition to wear plates has appeared not because of beauty, rather vice- versa. For example when Ethiopian Mursi,were captured and taken into bondage, they violently had crippled themselves, and nobody wanted to take them after that. Now the size of a plate is a beauty criterion. The more is plate, the more cattle will be given for the bride. Girls-
mursi always have a choice to do the hole in a lip or not. But for the girl without the stretched lip a very small repayment is given.
The original purpose of lip plugs may have been to deform, affording women a sort of protection against Arab slavers. However,David Livingstone asked a
chief the reason for them and in surprise the chief answered; for beauty!
He continued in his wisdom that " They are the only beautiful things women have. Men have beards women have none. What kind of person would she be without Pelele? She would not be a woman at all."
What a beauty enhancer ! I hope most female readers will get a lip plug or plate too to make them look beautiful.
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