The Bull Jumping is the traditional ceremony of coming of age of the Hamer tribe, living in the Omo Valley. The jump has been practiced by the Hamers’ for many thousands of years, and is the culmination of a three days long rite of passage.
If the jumper manages to run across the backs of a line of cattle, he becomes as a Maza, ‘accomplished one’. If he fails, he must return to this village and wait another year to try again.
The young man passes from the boyhood in to adulthood. He is now entitled to take the first of several brides.
