TITLE: The Suri Tribe of the Omo Valley.

Surma is a collective term of 3 ethnic groups - Chai, Timaga & Suri Baale & the Ethiopian Government use the term Suri as their collective name. They mostly live in South Western Ethiopia on the border with South Sudan, near the Omo Valley.
The Suri are agro-pastoralists, keeping cattle & goats as the main source of wealth. They also grow crops like sorghum & maize. There is no running water & women walk many kilometres each day to local wells or the river to collect water & bring it back to their village.
The Suri are a self conscious & culturally proud people, with a liking for stick fighting [donga]. This ceremonial duelling also serves as a rite of passage for young males & brings great prestige when seeking a bride. They are very competitive at the risk of serious injury & even death.
At a young age, to beatify themselves for marriage, most women have several bottom teeth removed, the bottom lip is pierced & gradually stretched over time to allow the insertion of a large clay lip plate. The earlobes are also pierced.
They take great pride in having a beautiful physique & are also renowned for their decorative body painting & elaborate body scarification - the more scars the better. Flowers, plants & recycled material also make amazing headdresses.
They were a delightful & fun tribe to engage with & it was a great privilege to have a glimpse into their fascinating traditions & culture.

AUTHOR: Polly Fenton (Australia)

I am an Australian, born in 1952. I retired 3 years ago after being a nursing professional for 45 yrs..
In these past 3 yrs, I have really concentrated on pursuing my passion in photography with lots of travel, study through on line courses and the guidance of mentors.
My photography has changed my view of the world, especially after travelling to many Third World countries and documenting their various traditions.
I try to capture people in their natural environs and hope that my photos reflect the people as they really are, plus invoke a feeling of engagement and wonder, that I hope others see as well.