Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Hamer (Hamar) people walking back from bull jumping ceremony,Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Face painting with a mixture of clay, oils and plant pigments in preparation for the Hamer (Hamar) jumping of the bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Ritual dancing round cows and bulls before the initiate jumps, Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony of the Hamer (Hamar) people, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Ritual dancing round cows and bulls before the initiate jumps, Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony of the Hamer (Hamar) people, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Ritual dancing round cows and bulls before the initiate jumps, Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony of the Hamer (Hamar) people, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Women sing and dance before the bull jumping, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Face painting with a mixture of clay, oils and plant pigments, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Women sing and dance before the bull jumping, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Hamer man, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony,Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, naked initiate running over backs of bulls or cows, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Two men from the Hamer tribe preparing for the Jumping of the Bull ceremony, Omo Valley, Southern Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Africa

Young Hamer boy running above bulls to become a full adult, Jumping of the Bull ceremony, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Friendly young Hamer woman, Jumping of the Bull ceremony, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Bleeding Hamer woman after being whipped, Jumping of the Bull ceremony, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Young warriors of the Hamer tribe waiting for the Jumping of the Bull ceremony, Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Face painting with a mixture of clay, oils and plant pigments, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Hamer boy attending at bull jumping ceremony near Turmi, Omo region, Ethiopia, Africa

Jumping of the Bulls Ceremony, Hamar Tribe, Turmi, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

The Bull Jumping Ceremony is conducted by several tribes in the Lower Omo Valley and is the most important ceremony in a tribal man's life.The ceremony is about hierarchy and membership in the tribe and typically involves a young man who undergoes a number of rituals before he leaps onto and runs rapidly over a series of cattle held by other men who have recently bull-jumped. Once the jumping is completed, the bull-jumper is a man in the eyes of the tribe. An important part of the ceremony is a ritualistic whipping, which women actively seek out from certain men known as Mazha. Dimeka, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, 2010

Hamer woman carrying a baby at a bull jumping ceremony, which initiates a boy into manhood, in the village of Asile, Omo Valley, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia

Hamer man wearing a colourful hat at a bull jumping ceremony, which initiates a boy into manhood, in the village of Asile, Omo Valley, Ethiopia