African Ceremony Collection

Dressed in his black goatskin cloak, a Samburu boy puts his bundle of sticks, staves and gum on the roof of his mothers house

In the weeks leading up to their circumcision, Samburu boys gather frequently to sing the lebarta, a circumcision song with a slow, haunting melody whose words are ad-libbed to suit the occasion

A proud Samburu mother of two recently circumcised boys wears briefly their bird skin headdresses round her neck after they discard them during the lmuget loolbaa ceremony (the ceremony of the arrows)

A Samburu mother shaves her sons head outside her home the day before he is circumcised. Round her neck hangs his nchipi - the distinctive decoration of every boy who participates in the circumcision

Mothers rub animal fat into their sons cloaks to make them supple. This task is performed shortly before the boys set out on an arduous journey to collect sticks, staves and gum to make bows

A Hamar woman blows a tin trumpet at a Jumping of the Bull ceremony. The Hamar are semi-nomadic pastoralists of Southwest Ethiopia whose women wear striking traditional dress

Hamar women dance, sing and blow small tin trumpets during a Jumping of the Bull ceremony. The semi-nomadic Hamar of Southwest Ethiopia embrace an age-grade system that includes several rites of

A Hamar woman is left with bloody wheals, which were inflicted during a Hamar Jumping of the Bull ceremony when female friends

During a Jumping of the Bull ceremony.; The semi-nomadic Hamar of Southwest Ethiopia embrace an age-grade system that includes several rites of passage for young men

A Dassanech man in full tribal regalia participates in a dance during a month-long ceremony. He wears a cheetah skin draped on his backs and a black ostrich-feather headdress

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"Dressed in his black goatskin cloak, a Samburu warrior stands tall at an African ceremony. In the weeks leading up to their circumcision, young boys gather with anticipation and nerves running high. Meanwhile, amidst vibrant festivities, Maasai girls come together to celebrate a joyous wedding. A proud Samburu mother of two recently circumcised sons beams with pride as she watches them embrace their newfound manhood. Outside her humble dwelling, another Samburu mother carefully shaves her son's head, symbolizing his transition into adulthood. Mothers lovingly rub animal fat into their sons' cloaks, infusing them with protection and strength for the challenges that lie ahead. The air fills with excitement as a Hamar woman blows a tin trumpet during the exhilarating Jumping of the Bull ceremony. Hamar women gracefully dance to rhythmic beats while captivating onlookers. Amongst them is a young Hamar girl who observes every detail of this sacred event, eager to one day partake herself. However, not all ceremonies are without pain; a Hamar woman bears bloody wheals as proof of her endurance during rituals that test her resilience and fortitude. In the midst of it all, a Dassanech man adorned in full tribal regalia proudly participates in various customs and traditions passed down through generations. Each step he takes echoes ancient wisdom and cultural heritage. "