African People Editorial Photo

African people of the Hamer ethnic group are around of the young man for the rituals before the jumping of the bull ceremony, Turmi, Ethiopia. The event is a rite of passage for men about to marry and is seen as a step from childhood to manhood. Before the bull jumping takes place, female relatives provoke the adult Hamer men to whip them on their bare backs. This causes life-long scaring on the women and is obviously very painful. The scars are a symbol of devotion to the men and are encouraged by the tribe.