Ethiopia 2010 & 2016

Ethiopia is a country of many worlds.Well-known tribes include, Mursi, famous for women wearing large lip plates and body scarification, Hamar pastoralists known for the bull-jumping rite marking male adulthood and whipping of the woman. Karo noted for intricate body painting and scarification, Daasanach living near the Omo delta with distinctive lifestyles, Bodi , Nyangatom, Kwegu and others with varied traditions and subsistence patterns. Many of these groups still practice traditional agriculture, pastoralism, fishing, and hunting

While we drove through Ethiopia, we realize there is no single version of life here. In the countryside, where most Ethiopians live, days begin with the sun and revolve around the land. We pass farmers tending small plots, children walking miles to school, and women carrying water with astonishing strength and grace. Life here is simple, but never easy. What stays with us most isn’t the hardship — it’s the people. Everywhere we go, we are welcomed with smiles, greetings, and invitations to share coffee.