Our next stop was the Nyangatom tribe, also known as the Bumé or Donyiro. This tribe is a Nilotic agro-pastoralist group that lives in the border regions of southwestern Ethiopia, southeastern South Sudan, and the Ilemi Triangle (🎟️500 ETB, 📷500 ETB, guide 1000 ETB), recent figures suggest a population of around 25,000-30,000 people.. Their livelihood centres on cattle herding, supplemented by farming on the banks of the Omo River and fishing.
The Nyangatom have a complex social structure with age sets and clans playing essential roles. They are polygamous, and a large number of children and livestock are highly valued. They are known for their skill as warriors. Young men undergo initiation ceremonies, and male status is often marked by a scar on the chest or shoulder after their first kill. They are also famous for their beadwork, body painting, and the use of lower-lip plugs made of ivory (men) and copper filigree (women). While many practice traditional beliefs, some have converted to Protestant Christianity.
