Bodi Tribe Woman With Headband, Hana Mursi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Image details
Contributor:
ERIC LAFFORGUE / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
CXTEJKFile size:
70.4 MB (3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
4960 x 4960 px | 42 x 42 cm | 16.5 x 16.5 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
2012Location:
Ethiopia Hana Mursi villageMore information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
For few years, Ethiopian government is carrying out a major plan of modernization and industrial development in the Omo Valley; roads, Gibe dams, on the Omo River. Plantations are built and made possible by the land grabbing leaded by the Ethiopian Authority like in Hana Mursi or Koka villages; to achieve its goals, Ethiopian government planned to displace local population towards settlements areas in new villages; ; the government allocates those lands to foreign companies (Malaysian, Saudis, Indians…) who all rent land at the paltry cost of one euro per hectare a year; this governmental practice is seen by the opponents as the result of a corruption system; the lifestyle of the local tribes are endangered, they depend on the crops and their cattle; without land to graze for their cows, in the settlement area, they will face the inherent problems of urban life (aids, disease, alcohol, loss of social reference); the situation is worrying as the increase in acts of intimidation (arbitrary imprisonment, threats) and murders in the area. The Bodi (or Meen) ethnic group, live close to the Omo River in southern Ethiopia and have the Mursi tribe as south neighbor. They are pastoralists and agriculturalists, thus livestock plays a large role in the tribe. Along the banks of the river, they cultivate sorghum, maize and coffee. For their new year in June, called Kael, Bodi men are overweight because they consume large amounts of honey, milk and blood. This is a tradition that measures the body fat of a contestant. Each family or clan is allowed to enter an unmarried contestant. The winner of this contest is awarded great fame by the tribe. Men also wear a headband with feathers attached to it during rituals. The women in the tribe wear goatskin skirts and have a plug inserted into their chin. Most of them are now christians.