Cultural Ceremonies

In this section we discover the facinating culture ceremonies of the tribes.

Bull Jumping Ceremoni

Bull Jumping Ceremony is usually held after harvest time, July to first half of September. But nowadays because of big climatic change and confused rain time, it became usual to see the bull jumping eyen up to March. The ceremony lasts the whole day, but the most spectacular part of it begins in the afternoon after four o’clock.

First the family of the boy to be initiated delivers invitations to their relatives, neighbors and friends in the form of rope made of dried grass knotted(tied) in several equal number of places. This is like a calendar for the days of the celebration of that particular Bull Jumping Ceremony. Each day the guest must unite one of the knots until the day of the ceremony arrives. The boy also carries with him a small phallic carved wood (Bokko), which he hands to girls he meets along the way; they must kiss it three times as a form of blessing and then return it to him. The ceremonies end with several days of feasting, including the typical jumping dances, accompanied by sorghum made beer and coffee which the Bull-jumper’s family provides to the guests.

Fatting (Kealle)

bodi tribes

Kealle (Get Fat)

Every year in june, takes place in the deep south of Ethiopia, in the remote area of Omo valley, the celebration of the Bodi tribe new year: the Kael. For 6 months the men from the tribe will feed themselves with only fresh milk and blood from the cows. They will not be allowed to have sex and to go out of their little hut. Everybody will take care of them, the girls bringing milk every morning in pots or bamboos. The winner is the bigger. He just wins fame, nothing special. This area does not welcome tourists and has kept his traditions.

The fat men drink milk and blood all day long. The first bowl of blood (1 to 2 liters) is drunk at sunriseThe man must drink it quickly before it coagulates. Some can not drink everything and vomit it.
The women take care of the fat men: they give them alcohol, remove the sweat, and sing for them to keep them awake.Becoming a fat man is the dream of every Bodi kid.
The ceremony ends with the sacrifice of a cow. They kill it with a huge sacred stone.The elders will read i the stomach and its blood if the futur will be bright or not. It will be they said.The Bodi girls are attracted by the fat men, and it is a good opportunity to show their charms to them. .

Stick fighting (Donga)

bana tribes

Donga (stick fighting)

One of the main Surma /Suri or Mursi customs is stick fighting. This ritual and sport is called Donga or Sogenai. Donga is both the name of the sport and the stick, whereas Sagenai is the name of the stick fighting session. Stick fighting is Central in Suri and Mursi culture. The fight is symbolic the adversary has to be defeated without being killed. The victories young men win special prestige and, above all, attention from young sigle woman. Simply participating in the fight, win or lose, is enough for the young man to receive recognition for his bravery and to proof for his prepared for marriage.
The fights are the way to publicly display one’s personal qualities and an attempt to confirm to the tenets expected Mursi age group behavior. As the time Mursi girl are divided in two group and they perform Kano Pola Holaye music and dance and they support to their family / Clan/ member who is fighting and give moral. After fighting if one defeat the other, all the participant of the ceremony will give their appreciation by performing Yalogo music. Mursi also promote a sense of community among Mursi people from different geographical location/ clan group

Evening Dance (Evangadi)

hammer tribes

(Evening dance)

Evangadi is danced early in the evning by the Young People. During this dance, the young boys show thier interest in one of the girl and gives the young girls oportunities to get in contact with the boy of their choise.

Other Categories

Tribal Tour

Wild Life & Birding

Trekking/camping

Ceremonies & Events

Itenerary

Other Ceremonies