Hamar Tribe – BUll jumping
The Hamar people constitute an ethnic community living in the Omo Valley in southwestern Ethiopia, with their main population residing in and around the villages of Turmi and Dimeka.
Though many Hamar today are moving away from their traditional semi-nomadic existence of cattle herding and migratory crop cultivation of maize and sorghum, they nevertheless gather regularly for the bull jumping ceremony. Hamar people have kept up with this fascinating tradition for generations.
The bull jumping ceremony is a rite of coming-of -age for males. To be considered an adult or “maza,” which means, “an accomplished one,” they must run naked across the spines of a line-up of castrated bulls (usually between 6 to 10). To make the task harder, the backs of the bulls are smeared with dung. Leaping onto the bulls and running over their backs takes courage and skill. Passing the test, qualifies the young male to own cattle, get married and raise children.
As an invitation, guests receive a strip of bark or coil of rope with a number of knots which indicate the days leading to the ceremony. The invitees cut a piece from the bark or rope every day to keep track of the days left before the festivity.
As sunset approaches, the initiate gets prepared for the ceremony. His head is partially shaved, his body rubbed with fresh cow dung to give him strength and sand to purify him from his sins. Often, his face is decorated with orange and white paint so that he resembles a leopard, one of the bulls’ most lethal predators. Before attempting to leap, he is stripped naked. With the blaring sounds of bells and horns in the air, the young man or boy leaps and runs usually four or five times across the bulls backs, demonstrating his agility, valor and strength.
By tradition, the eldest child of the family must go through the bull jumping ceremony rite of passage before his younger brothers can follow and it is the father who decides when his eldest son is ready.
If you ever go to Ethiopia do not miss this unique event!
