All over the world, different ethnic groups have different methods of initiating boys into manhood. For many generations, the Hamar or Hamer tribe, living in a fertile part of the Omo River Valley in the far south west of Ethiopia, has led a traditional life. They are mostly herders and the cattle hold a significant place in their culture. From days unknown they are known for performing the strange custom of ‘bull jumping,’ which initiates a boy into manhood. This is, in fact, a coming of age ceremony that puts the young boys’ bravery and courage to the test.
Being able to conquer fear and complete the task ahead is the lesson they have to learn to become a man and to establish his adulthood, he must successfully go through the rites to be called a man and get married. Locals claim the ancient ritual has been maintained for more than three centuries. The ceremony, which usually takes place in October or November, involves running on the back of seven or ten bulls four times without falling.
Before the actual celebration, the father or an uncle in his absence gives the boy a short stick, locally known as ‘Boko’, as a symbol of his permission to allow the boy to go through the rituals. After that, the boy visits their relatives with the Boko, to inform them about the matter and invite them to be present on the day of celebration. On the big day, a local homemade alcohol beverage is served to the invitees, who gather to witness the important event. The celebration begins, when the women of the tribe, dressed in traditional clothes and adorned with bells around their legs, start dancing together and play their loud horns.
The ritual takes a turn when the dancing young women insist the young man taking part in the ritual of bull jumping ceremony, to whip their backs with birch sticks. Strangely, despite repeated whipping, the women competing with each other refuse to back down.
They taunt the young adult and provoke him to strike their bodies more, as they believe that the greater the pain they endure, the higher the level of loyalty they will be showing to the young boy and the scars left on their body are a symbol of the loyalty they are entitled to receive from him. The procedure is enjoyed and encouraged by the attendees watching from the sidelines, as enduring the pain by the girls, amid dancing and cheering, is seen as a sign of love and loyalty toward their male relatives.
With the approach of sunset, the young teenager prepares himself for one of the most important tests of his life. Meanwhile, castrated bulls are gathered and smeared with dung to make them slippery. Before making the attempt of leaping from the cattle, it is customary for the young man to be naked and have his hair partially shaved. After that, his body is rubbed with sand to wash away his sins and get rid of bad luck and smeared with dung to give him strength.
Finally, the young boy starts the procedure amid the blaring sound of bells and horns. Before making a final jump back to the ground, he is supposed to step on the back of each bull. If he successfully manages to run on the back of the bulls, four times without falling, he is recognized as a man and eligible to marry as many as four girls. Among the cheers, he is bequeathed the title Maza and the tribe applauds the young boy for being an adult man by placing an animal skin on his neck.
The celebration often continues until the early hours of the next day, along with blowing horns, jumping and cheering. It is interesting to note that, though the Hamer men are allowed to marry as many as four girls, the first wife is always chosen by their father following this ceremony and it is customary for the boy’s father to give 30 cows to the bride’s family as dowry.
Unfortunately, if a young man falls more than four times, he will have to wait for another year to try once again.