Topossa tribe woman in Kangate, Ethiopia impressive scarifications on the face... © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

PHOTOS. La scarification racontée dans le projet photographique de Joana Choumali

Surma or Suri (as they call themselves) are sedentary pastoral people living in south west of Ethiopia, on the western bank of the Omo river. These breeders tribal groups have a cattle-centred culture. They breed their cattle, mostly cows, on their traditional lands, located in the Omo Valley. The economy of the Suri is based on breeding and agriculture. They grow cabbage, beans, yams, tobacco and coffee. Cows are tremendously important in Suri culture. They do not see cattle simply as a material asset but as a life-sustaining and meaningful companion. Suri even sing songs for them and make fires to warm them. These cows are not bred for their meat and are usually not killed unless they are needed for ceremonial purposes. The Surmas very rarely eat the meat of their cows, they actually breed them for their milk and their blood, which they both drink. Cows also have a social and symbolic meaning in Suri’s society. Suri men are judged on how much cattle they own. In desperate times, Suri men can risk their lives to steal cattle from other tribes.The average male in the Suri tribe owns from 30 to 40 cows. Every young male is named after their cattle, which they have to look after since the age of 8. Men are not allowed to marry until they own 60 cows. Cows are given to the bride’s family after the wedding ceremony. This central role of the cow in their way of life accounts for the fierce independance they want to preserve and explains their warlike culture. Indeed, it’s quite common to see men and even women carrying weapons which are part of the daily life. Their remote homeland has always been a place of traditional rivalries with the neighbouring tribes such as the Bume (Nyangatom) or the Toposa. who regurlarly team up to raid the Suri’s cattle. These fights, and even sometimes battles, have become quite bloody since automatic firearms like AK-47 have become available from the parties in the Sudanese Civil War. This conflict has pushed neighboring tribes into Suri’s land and is a constant competition to keep and protect their territory and their cattle. Gun battles are more common during the dry season, because around that time the Suri move their cattle down south to find new ground. The 40 to 1,000 inhabitants villages of the Surmas, are led by a ritual chief known as the Komoru, dressed in colourful robes and wearing a crown of baboon fur. Village life is largely communal, sharing the produce of the cattle (milk and blood). Decisions of the village are taken by the men in an assembly. These debates are led by the Komoru, who are merely the most respected elder in a village even if they can be removed. Although their traditional remoteness and autarky is threathened, only few Surma are familiar with Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, and their literacy level is very low. © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

The History of Africa before Colonisation starting with the age of Africa in antiquity consisted of a number of African Kingdoms and Peoples which had inhabited the African Continent for at least 100 000 years. Below is a list of some of the most significant African Kingdoms and peoples

Flickr is nothing without you, our community. We want to make sure this community continues to thrive, grow, and inspire, so we've made some big changes.

fulani belle (for the brother who was asking about tattoos and facial scarification)

For Hââbré, The Last Generation, Abidjan, Burkina Faso-based photographer Joana Choumali captures some of the final faces marked by scarification, the ancient custom of superficially cutting the flesh to form permanent signatures along body. With the urbanization and westernization of cities like Abidjan, Hââbré has gone out of fashion and has even been prohibited in certain areas. Here, Choumali traces the legacy of the tradition as it exists within a modernized society, framing her subjects with an objective and compassionate eye that neither condemns nor affirms their personal histories.

The beatings take place during their brothers' initiation ceremonies which for them involve jumping over a line of 15 cattle.

Surma or suri is a sedentary pastoral tribe living in south west ethiopia, in omo valley on the western bank of the omo river, in kibish and tulgit areas; only few surma are familiar with amharic, ethiopiasn official language, and the literacy level is very low; lip plate and donga stick fights are the two typical distinctive features of these people, shared with the neighbouring mursi people © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

Explore  Jean-Yves JUGUET 's 27049 photos on Flickr!

The polygamous Wodaabe tribe stage the Gerewol festival where men dance for the women hoping to steal one as a wife. The women who choose the men can have a number of husbands

Afar tribe woman with scarifications on her face, Afar region, Assayta, Ethiopia , Camera: ILCE-7RM2 , f3.2 , 1/320 , 85.0 mm , ISO 640 , © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

Ethiopië - Asaita - marktplaats Ethiopia - Asaita - marketplace Asayita is een stad in Ethiopië en is de hoofdplaats van de regio Afar. De Afar vrouw heeft door huidinkervingen versieringen in het aangezicht i Typisch voor de stam waartoe ze behoort. Look at the scarifications in the face, typical for the tribe. Asaita is a town in northeastern Ethiopia, and before 2007 was the capital of the Afar Region of Ethiopia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asaita www.flickriver.com/photos/rietje/

The Bodis is a quiet tribe, cousin of the agressive Mursi in south Ethiopia, in Omo valley. Most of the women have impressive scarifications on the shoulders and on the belly. Many are becoming christians...and hide under I Love Jesus tshirts their traditions. Hana Mursi is a small village of 500, a new sugar cane factory has been built there, and 100 000 people are expected in the next 5 years... © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

This girl has the huge necklace called Vikeka. She needs to keep it from puberty until she marries a man. It may takes up to 5 years.