ETHIOPIA - OMO VALLEY - SURI 2021

Ethiopia is a country of overwhelming cultural depth. As one of the world's oldest cultural nations, this state on the Horn of Africa is not a homogenous entity, but a living mosaic: over 80 different ethnic groups live here together, shaped by an extraordinary linguistic diversity. Around 90 to 100 distinct languages and dialects reflect a millennia-old history and the coexistence of widely differing ways of life. The Omo Valley in the far southwest of Ethiopia is considered one of the most fascinating cultural landscapes on our planet and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shaped geographically by the Great African Rift Valley and the Omo River, this region has for centuries been home to an extraordinary variety of unique tribes and communities. The Suri (Surma), who live in the rugged, isolated mountains west of the Omo River, embody like few other people the extreme contrast between sublime beauty and archaic brutality. They are famous for their fascinating body art: the women proudly wear elaborate lip plates and intricate scarification patterns, while the men's bodies are often scarred by the traces of the Donga—those legendary, bloody fights with long wooden poles where courage and manhood are proven. It is a world of proud, wild aesthetics where traditions are fiercely defended. Yet, this world has an unpredictable flip side: the region is highly militarized. I had to experience firsthand that this violence is not a performance staged for travelers, when I narrowly escaped death during an armed ambush while photographing on-site. With this project, I want to open the viewer's eyes to the dignity, pride, and individuality of each individual. In a world that is relentlessly homogenizing, these portraits bear witness to the invaluable diversity of human existence.