HAMAR

A person with reddish-brown dreadlocks wearing traditional jewelry and necklaces, standing outdoors in a rural landscape.

“Cattle is the source of life.”

The Hamar are well-known for their unique custom of "bull jumping," a rite of passage that marks a boy's transition into manhood. During this ceremony, female relatives dance and encourage men who have recently undergone initiation to whip them. This serves as a sign of their support for the initiate, and the scars they receive also give them a say in choosing their future spouses.

See Other Tribes