Multimedia

Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe

Sputnik

Some time ago, Jolan Deschepper took a journey across the tribal territories of Ethiopia's Omo Valley, home of the Hamer people. 

Hamer (or Hamar) is an ethnic group that relies largely on a pastoral lifestyle, with cattle playing an important role in the life of the tribe.

Only around 10,000 of the 45,000 Hamer people in southwestern Ethiopia reside in cities, the majority still live in the countryside and adhere to ancient traditions and rituals.

For some westerners, these rituals may seem shocking. Hamer women often "decorate" themselves with scars, considered to be signs of loyalty and devotion to men.

Boys of the tribe are initiated into manhood through a ceremony called "bull jumping" in which they have to run across the backs of a row of bulls.

Like many other African tribes, the Hamer tribe often use face paint in their rituals.

1 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
2 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
3 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
4 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
5 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
6 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
7 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
8 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
9 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
10 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
11 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
12 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
13 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
14 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
15 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
16 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
17 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
18 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
19 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
20 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
21 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
22 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
23 / 23
Rituals and Daily Life of the Hamer Tribe
Discuss