Diversity

Three ethnic groups constitute 88% of the population of Ethiopia (the Amhara and Oromo, 40% each and Tigreans another 8%). These three major groups and the other 63 that make up the other 12% of the population have their own languages, norms, culture and ways of living. The level of diversity found in Ethiopia is not matched anywhere else in the world (http://www.evgethiopia.com/tourist/culture/diversity-ethiopia.html). We were privileged to be exposed to aspects of this diversity during our travels from the Simien Mountains in the north to the tribal regions close to the Kenyan border, 1000 km to the south. These images show the peoples that engaged with us during our travels and are grouped around particular activities or locations. Other image sets in this series cover aspects of the cultural and tribal differences exemplified by ceremony and custom (The Mursi tribe, Omo town market and Bull jumping).

The wood collector, Addis Ababa.

Wood collector, Addis Ababa.

The wood collector, Addis Ababa.

Donkey driver, Tissisat Village on Blue Nile.

Farmer, Addis Zemen, east of Lake Tana.

The guard, Simien Mountains.

The Ura Kidane Mehret monastery on Lake Tana.

Near the Ura Kidane Mehret monastery on Lake Tana.

Entrepreneurs, Blue Nile Falls near Tissisat Village.

Blue Nile Falls near Tissisat Village.

Coffee seller, Blue Nile Falls near Tissisat Village.

The shepherd, Blue Nile Falls near Tissisat Village.

A helping hand, Bahir Dar town, Lake Tana.

Bahir Dar town, Lake Tana.

North of Hamusit on the east side of Lake Tana.

Ura Kidane Mehret Monastery on Lake Tana.

At Debre Birhan Selassie Church, Gondar.

At Debre Birhan Selassie Church, Gondar

The onion seller on the road north of Gondar.

Market activity in village north of Gondar.

Priest at Bete Medhane Alem Church, Lalibela.

Bete Medhane Alem Church, Lalibela.

Lalibela priests.

Lalibela priest.

Bete Maryam Church and Monastery, Lalibela.

Church security, Lalibella.

St Mary's Day service, Bete Maryam Church, Lalibela.

Man in black, St Mary's Day dawn church service, Lalibela.

Priest at Yemrehana Krestos Church, 13 km from Lalibela as the crow flies, 2 hours if you drive.

The marble game, Lalibella.

The coffee maker, Chamo Lake.

The banana carrier, Chamo Lake.

The cow herder, south of Chamo Lake.

On the road near Gidole, south of Chamo Lake.

On the road to Jinka.

The old soldier. He had papers showing that he fought against the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in the early 1940s. Near Gidole.

Market in Konso town. On the way to Jinka.

The tailor, Konso market.

On the road to Jinka.

Mursi tribal woman.

Mursi baby.

Mursi tribe.

Mursi tribal youngsters. Similarities to Australian aborigional body painting.

Impromptu roadside dance on the way to Omo town.

Omo town market. Hamar tribal area.

The ochre seller, Omo market.

The latest Hamar ochre and ghee hair styles.

The elder, Omo market.

Cool dude, Omo market.

The Hamar tribe bull jumping ceremony south of Turmi.

Old Hamar lady in village near Turmi

Dassanech tribe, across the Omo River from Omorate and close to the Kenyan border.

Gamole walled village, Konso.

Dorze triba in the mountains around Arba Minch on Lake Chomo and Abaya.

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