Joey L.



In Labaltoy, this government-built school certainly stands out in the somewhat traditional village. The modern looking structure with it’s tin roof and concrete floor contrasts against a row of huts made completely from wood and mud. The school’s students also provide a stark contrast- the traditional clothing of the Hamar girls themselves in this contemporary setting. Their primary lessons involve learning Amharic, Ethiopia’s national language. English is another focus.

Portrait of Guti Kuli and Notebook

Present and future students: Guti Kuli, Asi Kala, Wollyso Muga, Keli Kyma, Ente Algo and Kunki Dula. Hamar Tribe

The Hamar are a agro-pastoral tribal group living amongst the many diverse ethnic groups that occupy Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley. A complex belief system with deep animistic roots intertwines their daily lives with their livestock, a central part of Hamar culture. The women are well known for putting beautiful red river clay in their hair and skin.
 (Left to right): Buli Ure, Kydo Damo, Godi Mana, Kaja Kala, Bazo Damo, Wollyso Muga, Keli Kyma, Godi Kala, Wotu Shada, Kyla Mama and Bulla Ure.

A woman of the Bodi tribe has fallen ill and died. The elder women of the village shout to the spirits and chant of her death to bring her soul to peace. The men perform a ceremonial procession and will guard the body of the deceased for 3 months
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The men fear the qamtut, a rumored grave robber hidden among the tribe who feasts on the flesh of the newly dead in the cover of night.
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Oral traditions are shared with children from a young age. The tribe’s creation story tells of their ancestors crawling from a hole in the ground near the Omo River
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Villages consist of a small number of grouped together huts made of stick walls and grass roofs
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

“I have my own personal God.I walk over to my favorite tree, look upon the skies and pray."
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

“Our goats are very valuable to us and a respected member of the tribe. They give us both food and clothing.”
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The Bodi believe in a sky God they call Tuma, who brings the rains and is the life force of all living creatures.
Bodi Me’en Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

After the introduction of missionaries into the Omo Valley the Arbore now share a mixture of monotheistic and traditional animist beliefs
Arbore Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Lago places strong importance on her identity as a member of the Arbore. Each tribe of the Omo valley has a specific way of dressing and decorating themselves as a way to visually associate themselves with their unique customs and values.
Arbore Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Arbore women are well know for their long headdresses. The girls shave their heads to indicate virginity, and only start growing hair after marriage
Arbore Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

After an armed conflict, the elders of the Arbore will bury the spear heads and weaponry used in battle in order to curse the notion of war.
Arbore Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Mursi headdresses are made out of animal bone and leather cow hide. It is both a decoration and an object intimidation for neighboring enemies.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Feathers are only allowed to be worn on the head by respected elders or celebrated warriors.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The Mursi are considered some of the most feared warriors in the Omo Valley.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Automatic weapons have made their way into the South of Ethiopia through the recent conflict in Sudan. In the Omo Valley, the modern weapons are now an every day part of life and used in conflicts with neighboring tribes.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Olochia shot an invading Hyena near their home with their family’s Kalashnikov rifle.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Due to the influence of the outside world, many young Mursi girl’s are choosing not to stretch their lips with the traditional lip disk.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Some anthropologists believe that the Mursi started using lip disks as a way to deter slave raiders from stealing women. The Mursi today disagree, and see it as a sign of beauty and status.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

"I will not loose my culture. I will never leave my culture. Even if I am given clothes, I will still be a Mursi."
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Although scarification on a Mursi man represents taking a life, for a woman it means she has created a new one. Engalo’s scar patterns across her stomach are a sign of motherhood.
Mursi Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The Daasanach are a semi-nomadic tribe numbering approximately 50,000. Their clans stretch across Sudan, Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. Politically, the Daasanach do not feel they belong to either country and prefer to self- govern by their own customs and interpretation of land borders.
Daasanach Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Like most of the residents in the Omo Valley, Balo does not directly count her age in years, but knows she was born during a harvest. When she reaches womanhood and is around 17 years old, she will be married to a man slightly older than her. Her dowry will be paid in cattle.
Daasanach Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

In the past, the tribe was able to roam place to place more freely as pastorialists, but in recent times there is also a dependence on agriculture. Like many tribes of the Omo Valley, the Daasanach depend on the annual flood cycle of the Omo River to nurture their crops.
Daasanach Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Daodo's headpiece resembles that of a Daasanach hut- created from collected scraps and objects traded with other tribes and villages, then turned into a work of art.
Daasanach Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

As a high elder chief of the Daasanach, Balo Eryama is responsible for guiding his people both politically and spiritually. Although the Daasanach are known to be warm to outsiders and even welcome other tribal groups into their clans, he refuses Christian missionaries openly.
Daasanach Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The Karo are considered one of the Omo Valley's most endangered ethnic group with an estimated population of only 1500 remaining.
Karo Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

As an elder of the Karo tribe, Biwa is respected and well adorned as a warrior, carrying rows of scarification representing the enemies he killed in battle. Biwa fought the Mursi and expelled them from the land his tribe now occupies.
Karo Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Akeri patrols the Western side of the Omo River. The Nyangatom live on the other side, a tribe that has raided Karo land many times in the past.
Karo Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

“We are progressing and soon we will move out of this place.”
Karo Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Bona is the highly respected chief of his village, Labaltoy. In Hamer culture, the name Bona is given to an aggressive dog or animal. It is not a common name for a human. When he was young, Bona showed strong signs of aggression and strength, causing his mother to choose this name.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The iron rings around the neck represent that Igie is the second wife of her husband. A first wife will only wear one ring.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Hamer bull jumping ceremonies are a rite of passage for a boy that marks the transition into manhood. He will make three runs across the backs of cattle lined up in a row. The bull jumper waits nervously for the ceremony to begin.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

This initiate is young and must further prove himself to his village by surviving on his own in the wilderness after the jump. This period can last for months. Upon his return, he will be respected as an adult and be able to take a wife.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Hamer women related to the jumper beg to be whipped at the ceremonies. The scars are viewed as a sign of womanhood and beauty, and a symbol of painful reverence endured for the young man.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The Hamer have a belief in spirits are which are assigned to physical objects on Earth. They observe the interconnectedness of both living things and inanimate objects. When asked about their religion, most will reply they don't have one. They don't have a name for their belief system, it is viewed simply as a way of life. 

Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Outa Vri is a warrior of high status, having assisted in a raid upon the Daasanach for killing a friend's family member. He shows his status with a clay headpiece with ostrich feather, and will eventually obtain scarification across his chest. The number of earrings worn in one ear indicate his number of wives. 

Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

At puberty, women of the Hamer tribe start applying a deep red clay to their skin and hair.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

The Hamer make their clothing out of reused goat skin, stretched and dried in the sun. In recent times, beaded decorations are also woven into the fabric.
Hamer Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia