Mursi, Hamar and Dassanech
In the Omo Valley, in southern Ethiopia, several colorful tribes still live in traditional fashion. It is particularly impressive to see how beautifully people decorate themselves. Each strain has different external characteristics. The most famous strain is probably the Mursi, known for their wives with dishes of clay in earlobes and lower lips. This tribe has a reputation for being rather 'belligerent', which is why you see many tribesmen with an AK-47. The weapons serve to gain control over 'as much' grassland as the Mursi deem necessary for their herds. In addition, they regularly come into conflict with other tribes. Every time the Mursi warriors have killed an opponent, they make a notch in their skin at the shoulder level. The bodies of the young men are often full of scars from the stick fights they organize. In doing so, they must walk on the backs of cattle without falling. The winner often receives a marriage proposal from the young women watching.
The Hamar is distinguished by the beautiful clay hairstyles of the men and women with goat skin skirts. On their bodies they wear jewelry that looks reddish-brown through the mix of butter and earth with which they smear themselves. The Hamar are both farmers and livestock farmers and live on a special diet of honey from wild bees. You can also see them at the market in Key Afer where also the Ari come in their wicker skirts and the Bana with their gourds. Also visit the Bodi,the Dassanech, Tsemai, Erbore and Dorze, authentic and impressive.