ETHIOPIA - OMO VALLEY - CEREMONY OF THE JUMP OF BULLS.


  • Photographer
    FRANCESCO MERELLA
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Date of Photograph
    30.12.2012
  • Technical Info
    1000x611PX-72ppi-RGB

The ceremonies of initiation, which undergo young Hamer, culminating with the "Jumping of the Bulls". Young men become so warriors are given the chance to choose their own partner of the village women who during ceremonies have demonstrated their courage and strength by being whipped in the blood of the young godfathers' started. 1 - RITUAL PREPARATION - Womens in the River - 31.12.2012 -860KB-1000x611-72ppi-RGB 2 - SOUNDS AND DANCES - Women Dancing - 30.12.2012 -800KB-839x983-72ppi-RGB 3 - HONOR WHIPPING -The Hamer men Whipping a Yang Women - 01.01.2013 -1.21MB-796x1000PX-72ppi-RGB 4 - WOMAN OF COURAGE - Woman after Whipping - 31.12.2012 -676KB-666x1000PX-72ppi-RGB 5 - JUMP BULLS -Hamer Man Jumping the bulls - 31.12.2012 -700KB-831x648PX-72ppi-RGB

Story

ETHIOPIA - OMO VALLEY - CEREMONY OF THE JUMP OF BULLS.
I visited many parts of Africa, but a place like the 'Omo Valley in Ethiopia is unmatched and is certainly unique.
They returned several times between these peoples to better assimilate and bring their culture and their customs remained unchanged over time.
With the photos presented, which are part of a broader project working, I wanted to offer some of the most beautiful and interesting stages of the ceremonies which I feel proud to have participated as special guest of some villages Hamer.
Ceremonies full of participation and full of meaning in which I fell to absorb the anxiety, fatigue and pain mixed with joy singing and dancing of the participants in a blaze of color on them being always bright red blood source of life, of hope but also of death.
I propose that some of the photos taken during initiation ceremonies for young Hamer passed down from generation to generation, repeating always unchanged today as then.
The ceremonies of initiation, which undergo young Hamer, culminating with the "Jumping of the Bulls".
Young men become so warriors are given the chance to choose their own partner of the village women who during ceremonies have demonstrated their courage and strength by being whipped in the blood of the young godfathers' started.
This is one of the last frontiers Ethiopian who are gradually disappearing overwhelmed by 'relentless urge of Western cultures and modern technologies.
In particular 'Omo Valley, following the construction of the Gibe dam is expected to be partially submerged and the remainder will be disrupted by intensive cultivation Ethiope that the government intends to carry out in those lands.
So it is happening so that the people who have always lived in those territories are forced to forcibly move then with losing their roots also their cultural identity.
The photos are the highlights of the ceremony of initiation of young Hamer for the transition to 'adulthood.
1 - RITUAL PREPARATION.
2 - SOUNDS AND DANCES.
3 - HONOR WHIPPING.
4 - WOMAN OF COURAGE.
5 - JUMP BULLS.

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