Photos: Among the Surma of Ethiopia

The body is the status symbol. Is expressed through the body masculine potency, beauty, defiance of the pain, treat to the traditions and artistic talent.

With the body in fighting Donga, performing it in front of their women, the body is painted, scarificated, stripped to improve it,and tortured, in the name of aesthetic rules incomprehensible to us, is nourished by the blood of cows making it shiny and sleek .

A journey through the Surma puts the viewer several questions on the meaning of the body as a mirror through which to reflect on the role and the messages that the body also carries in our culture, apparently so distant and alien.

Text and photographs by Robert Raphael. Translate Blue Line

Tagged africa culture, Culture, surma, surma of ethiopia