20/08/2022
The remote Omo Valley in south-western Ethiopia is effectively a country within a country. The people who live here are culturally and ethnically distinct from their fellow Ethiopians and largely maintain a traditional tribal lifestyle. Tribes such as the Hamar and Mursi have lived here for centuries, and little has changed in that time. They rely on the waters of the Omo River (which ultimately flows into Lake Turkana, the Jade Sea) to sustain their livelihoods. Although the Omo Valley can seem like an inhospitable landscape, the people who live here have learned to coexist in harmony with their surroundings. The routine of their lives is broken up by traditional ceremonies relating to life’s key milestones, including marriage and coming of age. These ceremonies often involve body art and ancient rituals like bull jumping. Visiting the Omo Valley is a wonderful opportunity to witness the lifestyles of these indigenous peoples.
