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Issue 24
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The lower Omo River valley in south-west Ethiopia is one of the last unspoiled wilderness regions in Africa. Isolated by the 4500m-high Abyssinian mountain range to the north, the impenetrable swamplands of the Nile to the west and the desert of northern Kenya to the south, the valley shelters several small groups of pastoral peoples. Each group competes for superior pasture lands and cattle herds, fiercely raiding one another for livestock and killing whoever gets in the way. Among them are the Hamer, the Karo, the Geleb, the Mursi and the Bodi.
Although the Omo River peoples practise subsistence farming, cattle remain the focus of their existence and their ritual practices. In Hamar and Karo societies, a youth does not enter manhood until he has performed the ceremony known as the "Jumping of the Bull".
Geleb men flaunt their masculinity and attract the opposite sex in courtship dances by wearing oxtail tassels attached to their elbows and by imitating the horns of their favourite bulls with their arms. Among the Bodi and Mursi, even the victors of their stick fights, who are chosen as husbands and celebrated for their bravery, are required to pay a sizeable dowry of cattle.
Possessing little in the way of material culture, Omo peoples place great emphasis on beautifying the body using techniques of painting and scarification. Body artists accentuate the fine facial features and enhance the graceful movements of their subjects with the use of vibrant designs. This dynamic activity has created one of the purest of Africa's ancient art forms.
Visiting The Omo
The dry season (July to August and December to January) is the best time to visit the Lower Omo Valley.
There is no public transport to Mago or Omo National Parks although some buses and pick-up trucks link the villages in the area.
Guided trips are offered by a few tour operators in Addis Ababa.
Find out more: www.tourethio.com |
