Suri

The Suri, also known as Surma or Surmi, are an ethnic group of southwestern Ethiopia, with some communities in neighboring areas and across the border into South Sudan. They are part of the Surmic subgroup of the Nilo-Saharan language family. They inhabit the Omo River valley in the southwestern part of the country, among other Surmic groups.

They speak Suri, a Surmic language; closely related to other Surmic languages such as Mursi, Kwegu, and Me’en. The language is used in daily life and in traditional rituals; literacy remains limited; there are efforts to preserve the language amid shifting education.

The Suri are primarily pastoralists and horticulturalists; cattle are central to wealth and social status; women traditionally wear lip plates as a symbol of beauty and social identity. Scarification marks and distinctive body adornment are commonly observed. Social organization features age-sets or kin-based lineages.

Since the late 19th century, the Suri have encountered external authorities, missionaries, and development projects. In recent decades, land use changes, resource pressures from agricultural expansion, and dam projects on the Omo River have affected their livelihoods and traditional practices. Tourism and media attention have also shaped external perceptions.

Estimates place Suri communities in the tens of thousands, primarily in Ethiopia's Omo valley, with smaller populations extending into adjacent regions.