Hamer Woman with Her Children
Who are the Hamer?
The Hamer are one of the larger tribal groups of the Lower Omo Valley, numbering approximately 40,000. Their language, Hamer, belongs to the Southern Omotic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages. Like other tribes of the region, they are semi-nomadic pastoralists that closely tend their cattle, goats and sheep, but also do some farming, mostly of sorghum. They are reported to be mostly Sunni Muslim, but in all reality they are fully animist, although missionaries have converted a few to Christianity. The Hamer believe that natural objects such as rocks and trees have spirits and that certain spirits can inhabit human form and exercise supernatural influence over people. They believer in prophesy and predict future events by slaughtering a goat and "reading" its intestines. Oral poetry, such as marriage and battle songs, is an important cultural component of Hamer society.
The Hamer are easily recognized by their elaborate hair styles and dress (more on this later) and are perhaps best known for their cattle jumping ceremony. In order to marry, a young man must jump over a defined number of cattle. His sisters take part in the ceremony by asking to be beaten and adult Hamer women carry the resulting scars on their back with great pride. The scars show that they are able to bear pain and acts as a reminder to their brothers of the sacrifices they have made on their behalf.
On the road in the lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Hamer Woman with Her Children
Who are the Hamer?
The Hamer are one of the larger tribal groups of the Lower Omo Valley, numbering approximately 40,000. Their language, Hamer, belongs to the Southern Omotic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages. Like other tribes of the region, they are semi-nomadic pastoralists that closely tend their cattle, goats and sheep, but also do some farming, mostly of sorghum. They are reported to be mostly Sunni Muslim, but in all reality they are fully animist, although missionaries have converted a few to Christianity. The Hamer believe that natural objects such as rocks and trees have spirits and that certain spirits can inhabit human form and exercise supernatural influence over people. They believer in prophesy and predict future events by slaughtering a goat and "reading" its intestines. Oral poetry, such as marriage and battle songs, is an important cultural component of Hamer society.
The Hamer are easily recognized by their elaborate hair styles and dress (more on this later) and are perhaps best known for their cattle jumping ceremony. In order to marry, a young man must jump over a defined number of cattle. His sisters take part in the ceremony by asking to be beaten and adult Hamer women carry the resulting scars on their back with great pride. The scars show that they are able to bear pain and acts as a reminder to their brothers of the sacrifices they have made on their behalf.
On the road in the lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia