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Hamer Tribe 2015, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

40 images Created 1 Oct 2015

The Hamer Tribe of Ethiopia are the largest inhabitants of the lower Omo Valley.

In 2014, I made my first photographic exploration there and camped in one small village in a very remote area of the Lower Omo Valley. I was privileged to be the first westener and photographer to do so.

This year I returned to the same region but to a different village. Again I was privileged to be the first westerner and first photographer to camp amongst the small Hamer community.

Whilst there, I went to the previous village I camped in 2014 to personally hand them printed copies of the photographs. It was emotional to go back and a real surprise to the villagers who welcomed me warmly.

These portraits are a study of an amazing people with an amazing culture. I have tried, wherever possible, to keep the style of the photographs true to the Hamer people and the environment within which they live.

The land is hot, dry and unforgiving. There is no electricity and water is only available from a few hand pumps scattered along a dry river bed. Yet the Hamer people remain beautiful and warm. They relax under tree's most of the day to cool from the searing sun and when they do, they bend and twist their bodies elegantly to rest comfortably on the tree trunks and branches that shade them.

Many of the portraits were taken beneath the tree's as that is where the Hamer spent most of their time during the day. All I did was patiently observe and simply photography what I saw...
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  • Koto was leaning against a tree in this position just relaxing from the afternoon sun so I just took out my camera and clicked...
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-23.jpg
  • Dula Mamero poses for a portrait under a desert rose tree at sunset, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-13.jpg
  • Landile Dikara.<br />
<br />
I was preparing to photograph other people when I noticed Landile standing in this position and watching me.<br />
<br />
Whilst it seems an unnatural pose to us, many Hamer are able to twist and contort their bodies in unusual ways. This comes from spending so much time leaning against tree's or branches to shade themselves from the searing sun.<br />
<br />
Over a period I observed many similar postures and noticed how supple the Hamer are and how men of all ages can stand in what we would consider feminine poses. But I came to realise that these positions are actually so comfortable and energy efficient in the hot and harsh environment in which Hamer live.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-11.jpg
  • Portrait of Dera Kore.<br />
<br />
I had set up a studio in a school hut. There were about 35 people in the small hot room all waiting to be photographed when I spotted Dera Kore so I asked her mothers' permission to photograph her.<br />
<br />
However, Dera was so nervous in all of the chaos that it took her mother some persuasion to get her to sit. Naturally Dera looked so uncomfortable in the first few shots so I asked another child to pose. Later I asked Dera's mother if she could sit again. There was something about Dera's look that I just had to photograph.<br />
<br />
The room was noisy and filled with excitement but Dera just sat there in the pose that I had arrange and did not move a muscle. I was transfixed by her stare so I did not dare to move her. I was also intensely focusing on the lighting and trying to get people to be quiet so I could shoot. After the first 8 clicks or so my guide gently tapped me on the shoulder and said "her eyes are filled with water and she is about to cry".<br />
<br />
With all the chaos going on I had not even noticed....for Dera did not move or make a sound. I immediately stopped shooting....whilst I had taken a few other shots, this image captured was of her first tear. It was the only image taken of her crying before I stopped.<br />
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To me this image is not about emotion or drama but simply represents all that is Hamer.<br />
The Hamer have such an incredible culture based on honour, duty and respect. The elders lead by example and others follow with duty and pride.<br />
<br />
Dera had been told to sit and pose by her mother so she did. Her own fears were of no importance to her. All she did was to follow her mothers instructions.<br />
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The Hamer people do not record their age or birth date as it is of no importance to them. However, Dera must be about 10 years old. How can a child so young act with such dignity and obedience in fear...
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-17.jpg
  • Koto.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-8.jpg
  • Daina Gele, Goba Gele, Moodu Bora and Dobo Eike in their village at sunset.<br />
<br />
Hamer live in villages dotted with small clusters of traditional wooden and mud huts. Family members always live within the same cluster.<br />
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The huts are always constructed the same way and the same size irrespective of the wealth of the family.<br />
<br />
When I asked why they made huts so small that were difficult to enter and where you could not stand upright...one Hamer replied "it's our tradition and culture".
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-20.jpg
  • Bola Gooda sits casually under a tree on the banks of a dry river bed.<br />
<br />
I was photographing Bola and had placed him in a few poses but stopped to adjust my lighting. When I had finished, I looked up and saw Bola just sitting in this pose whilst he was patiently waiting for me...
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-2.jpg
  • Portrait of Dobe and Lendila.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-16.jpg
  • Portrait of Ama Layibila, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-4.jpg
  • A village elder poses for a portrait, Lower Omo Valley Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-32.jpg
  • Portrait of Ito Wardo, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-6.jpg
  • Kala, Daina, Kale and Oita pose for a portrait under the roots of a huge tree on a dry river bed at sunset in the Lower Omo Valley.<br />
<br />
The rains are late this year but even when the rains come, they no longer fill the river to the levels of the top root.
    Hamer-Tribe-Etiopia-44.jpg
  • Suma Dikara was leaning against a tree in this pose watching me photograph others for over 30 minutes...so I just turned my camera and took his portrait.<br />
<br />
Hamer will often find a comfortable place to stand or sit and maintain the same peaceful position for a very long time without moving a muscle.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-3.jpg
  • Geoti is beautiful. She has a captivating stare. She would arrive every day at dawn with a glowing smile on her face and the energy of the rising sun. She climbed acacia trees and cut branches with her machete to feed the goats.<br />
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After watching her every morning,  I had an urge to climb the tree with her and take her portrait.<br />
<br />
I soon found out this is not easy with a camera and lighting gear. Whilst the final photograph is not technically great, the image to me captures everything about this incredible woman.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia- 45.jpg
  • Portrait of Gai Dibo, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.<br />
<br />
Gai Dibo is the first wife of a Hamer.<br />
<br />
The patterned seen on her stomach is decorative. The skin is pinched and a swift nick is made with a sharp knife. The entire pattern is cut at the same time so that the when the body heals, the scarring is even.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-30.jpg
  • Dula and Wale Bonko, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.<br />
<br />
About 11 days after this photograph was taken, we moved camp to another village about 30kms away.<br />
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As soon as we arrived and started to set up camp, Wale came over and said hello.<br />
<br />
The next day, other Hamer men who were also from the previous village passed to great us.<br />
<br />
The men were attending a bull jumping ceremony close to our camp and had walked 30 kms just for the occasion.<br />
<br />
Hamer are incredibly fit and can walk many km's quickly in hot extreme weather conditions. Sometimes they will walk for days just carrying a rifle, a belt of bullets and a small wooden chair to sit on or rest their head when sleeping.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-9.jpg
  • Aito Daina and Lendile Dikara.<br />
<br />
Whilst these poses may appear staged, they are just as Aito and Lendile were standing before I observed them.<br />
<br />
Hamer spend a great deal of time shading under trees from the hot sun so they naturally shape their bodies into comfortable resting positions.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-34.jpg
  • Bala Elo is a village elder.<br />
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Each village has a number of elders who are openly elected by the rest of the village.<br />
<br />
The elders meet collectively to determine many factors of daily life including the resolution of marriage disputes or general disagreements etc. The elders also decide if punishment is needed and the decision of the elders is final.<br />
<br />
In Hamer culture if a punishment needs to be handed out to a member of Hamer community, it is usually the people closest to the offender that will administer the punishment.<br />
<br />
Once the sentence has been decided, then it will take place at any time and without notice. This means that an offender could be taken by those closest to him and be beaten in accordance to the decision of the village elders.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-21.jpg
  • Portrait of Shawki Ayke.<br />
<br />
Hamer woman wear dried goat hides. They also decorate themselves with jewellery that include bracelets made of copper or the more expensive metal from diff springs of cars. This metal is becoming so expensive that younger Hamer woman cannot afford to buy many. These bracelets are seen as as sign of wealth.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-15.jpg
  • Portrait of Aykay Ambolay.<br />
<br />
Aykay will perform a traditional Hamer bull jumping ceremony soon. To announce this, Hamer boys tie small knots in a piece of rope and hand it out as an invitation to the ceremony. Each knot represents the number of days remaining until the ceremony.<br />
<br />
I was lucky enough to attend one such ceremony.<br />
<br />
The day is filled with singing, dancing and other Hamer  traditions, including the whipping of woman about to be married. During the actual bull jumping ceremony, a young male will jump naked over a number of bulls lined up several times. After he has jumped the bulls he will then shave his head. He is now considered a man and able to marry. <br />
<br />
In this portrait, Aykay wears a Boko (stick) tucked into his robe to show he will soon jump bulls and is looking for a wife. However, it may be a long time (a few years) between the actually bull jumping ceremony and the wedding as the Hamer male will need to pay a dowry (usually around 8-10 goats) for his wife and also build a house to live in.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-25.jpg
  • Dula mamero is a young Hamer warrior who poses proudly for a portrait.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-12.jpg
  • Dobo Wordo and Balo Daina wearing traditional Hamer daily dress.<br />
<br />
Both woman are married and are the first wives (Hamer men can have up to 3 wives).<br />
<br />
The first wife will wear 3 rings around her neck.  The lower 2 rings are plain bands but the top ring has a distinctive protruding shaped cylinder head.<br />
<br />
Here both Dobo and Balo wear a 3rd ring made of Dik Dik skin. This is a small antelope type animal that is common in the area. The skin of the Dik Dik is used as a temporary ring until the husband can afford the 3rd metal ring. This is much more expensive than the 2 plain rings as it is more difficult to make.<br />
<br />
The woman were from another village but would come daily to our location to visit.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-35.jpg
  • Taba Wadu in his village at sunset.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-19.jpg
  • Portrait of Suma Dikara.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-7.jpg
  • Arille Koya, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.<br />
<br />
Arille has just climbed an acacia tree to cut branches to feed the goats. The rains have failed so far and food on the ground is scarce. The branches are full of small razor sharp thorns.<br />
<br />
Like many daily tasks, this is woman's work in Hamer culture.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-28.jpg
  • Portrait of Uri Aibila.<br />
<br />
Hamer men wear patterned blankets to protect themselves from the dusty gusts that can blow fiercely during windy season. Hamer woman do not wear same patterns as men.<br />
<br />
Uri was resting on this tree branch on the dry river bank and watching me photograph other people. So I asked him not to move and took his portrait.<br />
<br />
I liked the way that he was leaning comfortably on the branch and how his body, wrapped in his blanket, extended the snaking lines of the brach to the ground.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-26.jpg
  • Hamer men split the trunk of a tree to make a trough for goats and cattle to drink from.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-24.jpg
  • Portrait of Ata Oeta.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-18.jpg
  • Nano Keskay, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-29.jpg
  • Tuti Daina, Ale Dikara, Toro Bonko and Gulo Daina (R).
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-38.jpg
  • Sheygo has a very distinctive look about him.<br />
<br />
He was not from this village but had travelled far just to sell cigarettes but decided to stay a while as he knew people there.<br />
<br />
Hamer live with an incredible freedom and often roam for many km's or even days at a time for one purpose or another.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-5.jpg
  • Portrait of Keri Boya.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia.jpg
  • Portrait of Goeti Mamaro.<br />
<br />
Geoti is beautiful. She has captivating eyes. She would arrive every day at dawn with a warm smile on her face and the energy of the rising sun to climb acacia trees and cut branches with her machete to feed the goats.<br />
<br />
Here she is holding a long shovel and preparing to dig a ditch but stands proudly to pose for a portrait. To me its incredible to see such beauty, grace and femininity in a woman when holding a shovel.<br />
<br />
Hamer woman are strong and do much of the daily work around the village than men refuse to do. This includes fetching water from the pump (often walking many miles with a 5 gallon jerry can) and feeding the cattle and goats.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-31.jpg
  • Portrait of Bola Gooda and Koto (R) under an Acacia tree.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-39.jpg
  • Boree sits for a portrait on an old tree branch on a dry river bed, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-37.jpg
  • Portrait of Ente.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-22.jpg
  • Portrait of Gai Dibao.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-33.jpg
  • Kore Jagala sits on a tree branch in a dry river bed, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-36.jpg
  • Ale Dikara with a young baby goat (Kid).
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-10.jpg
  • Portrait of Oeta Abi, a village elder.
    Hamer Tribe Ethiopia-14.jpg
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