Hamar Cow Jumping

Traditional Hamar territory in Ethiopia.

The Hamar are a pastoral tribe located in the Omo River Valley of Ethiopia. In Hamar culture, a man comes of age by successfully performing a cow jumping ceremony, known in the local language as bullah. This ceremony is not only a rite of passage into adulthood, but also proves that he is ready for marriage, for starting a family, and for raising his own herd of cows.

Several traditions must be completed before the ritual itself begins. The family of the man hands out strips of bark with knots in them as an invitation to the ceremony with each knot marking a day of feasting and dancing in preparation for the ritual (Parry, 2014). Aside from the feasting, women related to the boy volunteer to have their backs whipped. They meet with a group of men known as the maz, adults who have already completed the bull jumping rite of passage. They then proceed to yell and sing at, dance, and otherwise try to provoke them until they whip the women with smooth branches. To get ready for the ceremony, the young man who will be jumping over the cattle participates in several cosmetic rituals. He must have his head partially shaved, sand rubbed on his body, and cow dung smeared on him. Additionally, he must undress in preparation, only wearing a harness made out of tree bark on his chest, arranged in the shape of a cross, to the ceremony itself (Parry, 2014).

When the bull jumping is about to begin, members of the tribe gather around the cattle and chant, while men from the maz line the cattle up in a row. They arrange them side to side and hold onto the cattle to keep them in place. The backs of the cattle are then smeared with dung. After the cattle are lined up, the boy prepares to jump over them. He runs towards them and hops up onto the back of the first cow, leaping from one cow to the next until he reaches the other side and lands on the ground. He then proceeds to repeat this process three more times. After he has successfully leaped over the row of cattle four times, he leaves the area and has his head fully shaved by the maz, and the people of the tribe sing, chant, and dance.

Despite the focus being on boys becoming men, the whipping that the women participate in is a significant component of the ceremony. They willingly partake in this ritual as it secures their future under the care of the initiate of the rite, ensuring that they will be looked after in the future. Through whipping, they demonstrate their love for their male family member and show their devotion to him. It establishes a strong sense of debt between the boy and his female family members, the scars from the ceremony serving to remind him of how they suffered for his initiation, which he will have to fulfill in times of hardship (Galván, 2014, 86).

A Hamar man performing the cow jumping ceremony.

Most important to the ritual are the cows. Their cultural significance is great for the Hamar, as they are a main source of food and income. While they gather food from the surrounding land, staples in their diet are the milk and blood of their cows. These are also used in other ceremonies, such as the bonding of an engaged couple, who will drink milk and blood together (Galván, 2014, 87). Moreover, cows are seen as a sign of wealth and prestige within the community. The more cows a family has, the wealthier they are. Herding and taking care of the cattle takes up much of the time of men from the Hamar tribe. Within the context of the ceremony, the cattle represent the village and the family of the boy, particularly women and children. Leaping over them tests the agility and health of the man, not only assessing his ability to take care of his family, but also his capability to protect his future herd.

By completing the ceremony, a Hamar man establishes himself not only as a man, but as someone who is capable of fulfilling masculine roles that seem common across cultures. He gains the ability to marry and have children, as well as to acquire and take care of his own herd of cows, forming an identity based in being a provider and protector to those dependent on him. His masculinity is not only validated by his connection to women, however. Having had the support of the maz throughout the rite of passage, he can now join their ranks and help other boys in confirming their own masculinity, garnering the same level of respect.

The cow jumping practiced by the Hamar people is a unique coming of age, not seen in any other region. Despite the desire of some to hold onto traditional rituals, the modernization and commercialization of traditions are creating change in what it means to be a Hamar man, as well as how to become one. As the influence of urban cities and modern laws reach them, and as travelers begin to discover their distinct culture, this masculine rite of passage is becoming less and less common, often preserved as a way to draw in tourism.

References:

Galván, J. (2014). Cow Jumping Initiation. In They Do What?: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from Around the World (pp. 85-87). Santa Barbra, California: ABC-CILO.

Krutak, L. (2013, May 30). Ethiopia’s Last Frontier: The Bloody World of the Hamar Tribe. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from http://larskrutak.com/ethiopias-last-frontier-the-bloody-world-of-the-hamar-tribe/

Parry, B. (2014, October 29). Hamar. Retrieved November 16, 2018, from http:/www.bbc.co.uk/tribe/tribes/hamar/