One of the most inquisitive and artistic tribes I was privileged to encounter on a number of occasions,
were the KARO (or KARA) nestled in the remote village of DUSS in Southern Ethiopia’s Omo Valley,
In an effort to record the extraordinary body painting for which the KARO are famous, I would wander
amongst them watching the meticulous applications made from a mixture of either ochre and animal fat or chalk.
Facial designs can depict the spotted plumage of quinea fowl or animal skins while the monochromatic
body designs seem to depend on the imagination and dexterity of the artist.
When the body art preparations were completed, the celebrations began with lines of male dancers
leaping up and down and couples suggestively thrusting their pelvises towards each other
to the accompaniment of much joyous. rhythmic chanting and clapping from the bystanders.
Celebrations like these are quite frequent and are used to impress each other and cement individual’s
status within the tribe. Sadly the KARO number a mere one thousand or so making them the
smallest and most vulnerable tribe in the Valley.
Faie Davis - 18th of January 2022
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