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Culture & People |
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Mursi |
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The Mursi (or Murzu) are a African nomadic
cattle herder tribe group located in the Debub Omo Zone of
the Southern Ethiopia, close to the Sudanese border. The
estimated population of the Mursi is 6-10,000.Surrounded
by mountains between the Omo River and its tributary the
Nino, the home of the Mursi is one of the most isolated regions
of the country. Their neighbors include the Aari, the Banna,
the Bodi, the Kara, the Kwegu, the Nyangatom and the Surma. |
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The Mursi have their own language, also
called Mursi. Few are familiar with Amharic, the official
language of Ethiopia, and their literacy level is very low.
e religion of the Mursi people is classified
as Animism, although about 15% are Christians.The Mursi women
are famous for wearing plates in their lower lips. These
lip discs are made of clay. Girls are pierced at the age
of 15 or 16. |
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Hammer |
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The Hammer are a tribal people in the Southern Region
of Ethiopia. They live in Hamer Bena woreda (or district),
a fertile part of the Omo River valley. They are largely
pastoralists, so their culture places a high value on cattle.
They are known for their practice of body adornment and
wearing a multitude of colorful beads.
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Women adorn their necks with heavy polished iron jewelry.
Hamer society consists of a complex system of age groups. To
pass from one age group to another involves complicated ritualThe
most significant ceremony for young men is the "jumping of
the bull" - the final test before passing into adulthood. |
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Several days before the ceremony, initiates pass out invitations
in the form of dried knotted grass. The ceremony lasts three
days. Late in the afternoon on the final day, ten to thirty
bulls are lined up side by side. The naked initiate rushes
towards the animal, vaults onto the first bull's back and then
runs across the line of animals. At the end of the line he
turns back to repeat the performance in the opposite direction.
He must make this unstable journey without falling.
The Hamer men have a reputation of being less than adoring
husbands. According to JP Dutilleux "the women submit to
the ritual floggings proudly and love to show the deep scars
that are regarded as a proof of devotion to their husbands. |
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