After the overnight in Konso, we continued our drive towards Yirga Chefe. On the way, we stopped at the Boorana tribe (📷 50 ETB / person), a semi-nomadic, Cushitic-speaking ethnic group and a major Oromo subgroup, primarily residing in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya.
They are known for their pastoralist lifestyle, strong social and clan structures, and unique cultural practices, such as the Gadaa system. Their traditional religion involves the belief in a supreme being, Waaqa, and the spiritual importance of Ayana (spirits). Rituals and sacrifices, often involving their livestock, are essential for ensuring fertility, health, and well-being.
Boorana have a unique naming tradition in which children are not named for up to 3 years after birth. There is a specialised, age-based military group called the “Boorana Defence Forces,” composed of men aged 32–40.
