The Mursi (Murzu) people are a tribe of cattle herders and sorghum-farmers in eastern Africa. They are usually tall, dark and quite naked except for a long spear or an AK-47 rifle slung over a shoulder. The reason why Mursi people carry AK-47s is that the neighboring peoples like the Banna and the Bodi threaten them by raiding their prized cattle. The Mursi women are famous for wearing plates in their lower lips. These lip discs are made of clay. Girls are pierced at the age of 15 or 16. Mursi is the language of these people; few of them are also familiar with Amharic which is the official language of Ethiopia. The literacy level is very low and the religion of the Mursi people is classified as Animism although about 15% are Christians. The estimated population of the Mursi is around 3900. Source: gadling