Two faboulous weeks spent in the Omo Valey with Marius Coetzee. This has to be one of the hardest but most rewarding treks that I have have taken so far. It was hot and dirty but one of those experiences that will stay with you for the rest of your lifetime. If I close my eyes I can still hear, see and smell everything that was associated with a bull jumping ceremony that we attended.
The Hamar people have some bizarre rituals and one of these is the bull jumping ceremony. This ritual allows a young man to prove his worth to an intended bride’s family by jumping over a line of bulls. It also signifies his advent into adulthood. Prior to this the women dance, drink coffee and allow themselves to be whipped by the male members of their family as a symbol of their love. The scars on their backs are not for the feint hearted…..
