ETHIOPIA by INSIDERS NEWS

ETHIOPIA

DON LANG

for Karen

INTRODUCTION AFFAR TRIBE OMO DELTA HAMAR TRIBE KARO TRIBE BUMI TRIBE MURSI TRIBE 8 12 30 39 51 55 74 CONTENTS

LALIBELLA GUMBELLA NATIONAL PARK TRIGAI ETHIOPIA / SUDAN BORDER DANAKIL DEPRESSION VILLAGE PEOPLE OUR ETHIOPIA FELLOW ADVENTURES 91 99 109 132 139 150 160

INTRODUCTION

A photographic journey that invites you to delve into the rich tapestry of culture, spirituality, and natural beauty that defines this enigmatic land. Ethiopia, often called the “Roof of Northeast Africa or “The Water Tower of East Africa” because of its height, large land mass and water resources. It’s a country of mesmerizing contrasts, where ancient traditions coexist with the modern world, and where landscapes range from rugged mountains to verdant valleys. This book, embarks on a visual expedition that takes us deep into the heart of Ethiopia’s remote regions, where time seems to stand still and where ancient ways of life persist

against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. The focus lies on two distinctive aspects of Ethiopian heritage: the isolated indigenous tribes and the awe-inspiring mountain churches that dot the landscape.

Ethiopia is renowned for its diverse ethnic groups, each with its own unique customs, languages, and beliefs.

My photos are portraits of the remarkable people who call these remote corners of Ethiopia home, some of whom had only met tourists such as ourself, for the first time. From the Omo Valley in the south to the Simien Mountains in the north, the photos try to capture the beauty of tribes such as the

Mursi, Hamar, and Karo, whose way of life remains the same for centuries and is intimately connected to the land and its rhythms.

In addition to the vibrant tapestry of its people, Ethiopia boasts a rich religious heritage that spans millennia.

Nestled amid the rugged peaks of the Ethiopian highlands are ancient churches carved into sheer cliffs or hidden within remote valleys. These mountain churches, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, serve as sanctuaries of faith and havens of spiritual contemplation. Through the lens, I have tried to capture the timeless allure of places like Lalibela,

with its subterranean rock-hewn churches, and Tigray, where monolithic structures cling precariously to sheer cliff faces. We were a group of four photographers and 4 friends embarking on this 14 day journey, as we traverse by helicopter the rugged landscapes, explore the hidden treasures of Ethiopia’s isolated tribes and mountain churches of this ancient culture. It was trip of a life time and discovery, of a nation that continues to captivate and inspire all who venture into its embrace.

AFAR

The Afar tribe principally reside in the Danakil Desert in the Afar Region of Ethiopia, as well as in Eritrea and Djibouti. They number 2,276,867 people in Ethiopia (2.73% of the total population), and speak the Afar language as a mother tongue. The origins of tartan kilts is unknown, but have been record in use since 1879.

OMO DELTA

The Omo Delta is the home of the Dassenechs, an Omotic tribe with their own unique language. . Known for their very colourful dowry ceremony, the Dassanech men wear ceremonial cheetah and leopard skins with Ostrich plume headdress

HAMAR

The Hamar are a large agro-pastoralist tribe with a population of around 30,000. They dwell in the south of the province of Gemu Gofa, between Lake Stephanie and Turkana: a region of broad savannah and low mountains.

The Karo tribe of around 2,000 people living long the borders of the Lower Omo River incorporates rich, cultural symbolism into their rituals by using ornate body art, intricate headdresses. The Hamar, which is of the same lineage and speak nearly identical.. KARO

BUMI

The Bumi are known to be great warriors and, quite frequently, active warmongers: they are often at war with the neighbouring tribes including the Hamer, the Karo, Mursiand the Surma. All Bumi men are heavily armed with semi automatic weapons and generally have a belt of bullets around their waist.

MURSI

The Mursi of Nilotic/ Omotic origin number around 8,000 live in one of the least accessible areas of Ethiopia. When a British anthropologist visited them for the first time in the early 1970s, they had never heard of the country of Ethiopia, where they lived.

LALIBELA

At the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th centuries King Lalibela of the Zaghwe dynasty built a series of rock hewn churches - the New Jerusalem as he called it - now rightly acknowledged to be one of the wonders of the world.

There are 11 churches in the town named after him, with others in the surrounding countryside. All are still in use today.

GUMBELLA NATIONAL PARK

As one of Ethiopia’s most renowned national parks, Gambella offers visitors a glimpse into the wonders of Africa’s untamed wilderness. Here, the Gelada, also known as the bleeding-heart monkey, reigns supreme. With its distinctive red chest patch and impressive social structures, this endemic primate captivates the imagination of all who encounter it.

The park also serves as a sanctuary for a diverse array of Afro-Alpine flora, meadows and grasslands punctuated by Giant Lobelia and flowering Red Hot Pokers that are ruly breathtaking.

Nestled within the breathtaking landscapes of Ethiopia lies the Sanetti Plateau, a highaltitude haven where nature’s wonders unfold in unparalleled splendor. Amidst its rugged terrain and sweeping vistas, the star of the show emerges—the elegant Ethiopian Wolf.

Sharing the park’s rugged terrain is the mountain elk, with its imposing antlers and solitary demeanor, this elusive ungulate adds to the park’s allure.

TIGRAI

The Gheralta Mountains in the Tigrai region of Ethiopia are home to several ancient and historically significant churches, each boasting unique architectural and cultural characteristics. These churches are often carved into the mountainsides or built within caves, decorated with religious frescoes made from natural dyes, adding to their mystique and allure.

LOST COMMUNITIES DURING WAR

ETHIOPIA / SUDAN BORDER

Nestled between the borders of Ethiopia and Sudan lies a natural gem, a wetland of unparalleled beauty and ecological significance, when not besieged by high waters.

DANAKIL DEPRESSION

The Danakil Depression or the Afar Triangle is a geological depression, part of the Great Rift Valley and includes the Danakil Desert, the lowest point in Africa and one of the hottest places year-round anywhere on Earth. Also home to vast salt flats, where traditional salt mining has been practiced for centuries.

The Afar people, who inhabit the region, extract salt from the flats using traditional methods, often in harsh conditions.

VILLAGE PEOPLE

The Village People surrounding Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa often characterized by a mix of rural and urban lifestyles, are home to diverse groups of people representing different ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.