The Karrayyu are a pastoralist tribe from Ethiopia living in the Awash Valley, around the volcano of Mount Fentale and the Metehara Plain. They belong to the larger ethnic group of the Oromos, who represent the majority (32%) of the ethiopian population. It is said the Karrayyu arrived in the area 200 hundreds years ago, during the so called « great expansion », of the Oromo, during which Oromo settled in different parts of Ethiopia,. This led to cultural diversification. In spite of local differences between those subgroups, they share the same Cushistic language (Afaan Oromo) religion (Waaqeffata) and governance system (Gada). The Karrayyu are one of the last Oromo ethnic subgroups to follow these rules and to preserve the original Oromo lifestyle and culture, and its pastoralist way of life.
There are only 10 000 to 55 000 Karrayyus (because of their nomadic lifestyle it is difficult to have precise figures) whereas they used to be 200 000 at the beginning of the 20th century. Karrayyu are on the verge of instinction. Such a drop was due to the persecutions the Oromos, including the Karrayyu people had to face during Menelik’s II reign (1889-1913). This emperor, from the Amhara ethnic group led the unification of Ethiopia, and imposed the Amhara rule to the Oromos. Later, during the 20th century, the Karrayyu were deprived of most of their lands because of the establishment of national parks and modern farms. In the last four decades, Karrayyu’s were dispossed from 70 per cent of their land, including their shrines, by the government to make sugar and cotton plantations.
Struggle for grazing lands and water resources is a constant and daily challenge for the Karrayyus. This results in conflicts with neighbouring tribes such as the Afar or the Argoba, but also with some other Oromos ethnic subgroups such as the Arsi Oromo. Clashes between herders from these tribes are pretty common, and sometimes people even get shot. Incidents occur about the possession or when some herders raid the cattle from another tribe. Last years these conflicts have intensified as the number of available grazing lands has cut down. Indeed, overgrazing (involved by the recent of growth of the area’s population) leads to soil erosion. The degradation of the rangelands intensifies the pratice of cattle raiding which is already deeply rooted in the culture of the tribes in this area. Some grazing lands have even been abandoned by the Karrayyus in fear of violent conflicts.
Unfortunately the Karrayyu are also famous for the female genital cutting the women have to face and suffer from. According to the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, more than 74 per cent of women between the age of 15 and 49 have undergone some form of genital mutilation and cutting.. Parents believe this practice guarantees their young daughter’s virginity, which is a prerequisite for an honourable marriage.
More Karrayyu pics:
www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/sets/72157629081583883/
© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com
Tags: 5685 karayu scar woman cute tribe tribal trubu ethiopia ethiopie lafforgue tribo tribu tribes ethnic ethnology ethnie culture tradition tiópia Αιθιοπία эфиопия 埃塞俄比亚 埃塞俄比亞 이디오피아 エチオピア Äthiopien Etiopía 種族 Ethiopië Etiopia Etiópia 에티오피아 Etiopien Etiopija Етиопија Etiyopya אתיופיה 衣索匹亚 衣索匹亞 oromia oromo bodylanguage Karrayyu tattoos scarification scarifications tattoo kereyu اتیوپی
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Monk in a lalibela church carved in the rock, 10 meters below the ground.Ethiopia
Moine sortant d'une des nombreuses et sublimes eglises de Lalibela taillées dans le roc sous terre.Nous eumes la chance de visiter le site seuls, sans essains de touristes, mais avec la compagnie des mouches, que seules des branches de poivriers fraichement coupées arrivent à faire fuire...
© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com
Tags: Lalibela monk ethiopia Lafforgue ethiopie carved rock church chistian orthodox priest white unesco eric lafforgue lafforgue@mac.com © Eric Lafforgue 埃塞俄比亞 埃塞俄比亚 Äthiopien Etiopia Etiopía Etiopien Αβυσσινία abyssinie Абиссиния Habeşistan Abissinia Abyssinia אַביסיניע Abisinia Abessinien Etiopija Етиопия Etiyopya אתיופיה Ethiopië エチオピア Эфиопия Αιθιοπία mytripsmypics lalibella toulouse Godslight Etiópia tribo 이디오피아 種族 에티오피아 Етиопија 衣索匹亚 衣索匹亞 East Africa اتیوپی
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Harar (or Harrar or Harer) is an eastern city in Ethiopia. The city is located on a hilltop at 1885 meters.
For centuries, Harar has been a major commercial centre, linked by the trade routes with the rest of Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Harar Jugol has been listed in the World Heritage by UNESCO. It is "considered 'the fourth holy city' of Islam" with nearly 100 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century.
Harar is also famous for its coffees and the french poet Arthur Rimabud whol ived there.
The city is protected by a huge wall, and only few gates allowed people to enter. Nowadays, no more doors, just the Wall!
© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com
Tags: Adults only Africa African Architecture Building exterior Built structure Casual clothing City Color image Day East africa Ethiopia Females Gey Green Harar Harar jugol Harari Harer Harergey Harrar Headscarf Horizontal Horn of africa Looking at camera Mg 3142 Narrow Old Old town One person One woman only Outdoors People Photography Real people Rural scene etiópia tribo Αιθιοπία эфиопия 埃塞俄比亚 埃塞俄比亞 이디오피아 エチオピア Äthiopien Etiopía 種族 Ethiopië Etiopia 에티오피아 Etiopien Etiopija Етиопија Etiyopya אתיופיה 衣索匹亚 衣索匹亞 ethiopie
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In Dorze village, this old man saw me taking pictures, he came and said "i was a soldier of Haile Selassie army farenji!".
He was very proud to take the pause.
Later i asked other people if he was a really a former soldier of the Emperor, they told me it was true, but that he had became crazy.
© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com
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Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, at the market
© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com
Tags: _MG_4255 lafforgue sheep window red orange ethiopia mouton fenetre dire dawa africa afrique エチオピア Äthiopien Etiopia Etiopía Etiópia tribo Αιθιοπία эфиопия 埃塞俄比亚 埃塞俄比亞 이디오피아 種族 Ethiopië 에티오피아 Etiopien Etiopija Етиопија Etiyopya אתיופיה 衣索匹亚 衣索匹亞 ethiopie East Africa اتیوپی Color image Day Horn of africa House No people Nobody Photography Travel destination Vertical Vibrant color
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