French photographer Eric Lafforgua captures the unique culture of the Hamar people in the Omo River valley, Ethiopia, through images.
Instead of getting angry or fleeing when men with sticks hit their backs, the women of the Hamar tribe demand to be beaten again until they bleed so much that they leave large scars. on the body. (Photo: Amharicmovies.com).
There are about 20,000 Hamar people living in the Omo River valley in southwestern Ethiopia, near Kenya and South Sudan. (Photo: Aworship.com).
These women volunteer to be beaten and they show off their scars with pride. (Photo: Amharicmovies.com).
The costumes and jewelry of the women of this tribe are very colorful. (Photo: Amharicmovies.com).
Hamar men spend most of their time tending livestock to earn money to get married, according to village custom, the wedding suit corresponds to 30 goats and 20 cows. After marriage, the women of this tribe also have to do a lot of work such as taking care of children as well as growing rice to make a living. (Photo: Flickriver.com).
A Hamar male, when he reached adulthood, had to undergo a ritual to jump over 15 cows lubricated with dung. Also at this ceremony, all their other female relatives are beaten to create a blood debt, forcing them to remember to pay in the future. (Photo: Flickriver.com).
The “cow-jumping” festival, or Ukuli Bula, is the coming-of-age ceremony of the men in the Hamar tribe. This ritual requires young men in a nude state to jump over 15 bulls that have been lubricated with dung and line up without slipping.
The successful person will be recognized as Maza – a man who is mature and has the right to marry. On the contrary, if it fails, young men who participate in this ritual will not be able to get married and are beaten by women who witness the ceremony.
When the boy takes on his challenge, Hamar women who are family members or relatives will accompany him. They will dance and sing enthusiastically to praise and support the spirit of the person performing the ceremony. The timing of the ritual is decided by the young man’s family and is usually held after the harvest.
The thick, dull red and black scars on the backs of the women of the Hamar Ethiopian tribe are testimony to the bloody beatings. (Photo: Panoramio.com).
Hamar women often beautify with colorful rings or scarred skin. (Photo: Amharicmovies.com).
After completing the farm work, these two women share smiles. (Photo: Amharicmovies.com).
Ethnic Hamar women dance during the festival. (Photo: Flickriver.com).