Pelele Collection

Indigenous people of Brazil and Paraguay, South America
Indigenous men and women of Brazil and Paraguay, South America, wearing lip and ear plugs (pelele). This is done when the child is young, the upper lip is pierced close to the nose

Women wearing Lip-rings
Two women from Manganja tribe wearing lip-rings (pelele). When girls are very young, the upper lip is pierced close to the nose, and a small pin inserted to prevent the orifice from closing

Body Deformation / Lips
Lip-ring of South American native

Pelele and Pipe
A Congo West African with lip plates (pelele), smoking a pipe. Date: early 1930s

El Pelele (The Straw Mannikin)

African Lip Plates
Africans with lip plates (pelele), part of a circus, which was about to travel to London. Date: 1930s

Africans with Pelele
Three Congo natives with lip plates (pelele), listening to a radio broadcast in West Africa

African Radio Broadcast
Congo natives with lip plates (pelele) making a radio broadcast in West Africa

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