The women of Naregeer village in Ethiopia's Upper Omo Valley are known for their lip plates and intricate scarification patterns on their skin. The women and children often adorn themselves with white clay patterns and flowers on their head.
Upper Omo Valley, Ethiopia —
The women of Naregeer village in Ethiopia's Upper Omo Valley are known for their lip plates and intricate scarification patterns on their skin. The women and children often adorn themselves with white clay patterns and flowers on their head.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Children hang out in a field of corn and sorghum. The tribe brews sorghum beer -- quite a potent brew.
Children of the Suri tribe —
Children hang out in a field of corn and sorghum. The tribe brews sorghum beer -- quite a potent brew.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
It took Seton three days of driving from Addis Ababa to photograph the Suri tribe, who reside in Naregeer village in the Upper Omo Valley -- a remote area of Ethiopia close to the border of South Sudan. In this first photograph of the day, shot at 6 a.m., a boy balances on a tree trunk in a sorghum field.
Suri boy —
It took Seton three days of driving from Addis Ababa to photograph the Suri tribe, who reside in Naregeer village in the Upper Omo Valley -- a remote area of Ethiopia close to the border of South Sudan. In this first photograph of the day, shot at 6 a.m., a boy balances on a tree trunk in a sorghum field.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Women in the Suri tribe are famous for inserting clay plates into their lower lips.
Lip plate —
Women in the Suri tribe are famous for inserting clay plates into their lower lips.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
The landscape in Upper Omo Valley, photographed close to the South Sudanese border, is lush and green.
Upper Omo —
The landscape in Upper Omo Valley, photographed close to the South Sudanese border, is lush and green.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Seton photographed these men in a village in Mursi territory, which overlaps with Margo National Park.
Mursi tribe —
Seton photographed these men in a village in Mursi territory, which overlaps with Margo National Park.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
"(It) was slightly intimidating negotiating to photograph this man," Seton says. "Historically, the tribes in this remote region of Ethiopia have engaged in inter-tribal feuds. They are known to kill each other over cattle, land-grazing and water hole disputes."
A negotiated portrait —
"(It) was slightly intimidating negotiating to photograph this man," Seton says. "Historically, the tribes in this remote region of Ethiopia have engaged in inter-tribal feuds. They are known to kill each other over cattle, land-grazing and water hole disputes."
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
In the eyes of the Mursi, a cattle's head signals wealth. They protect their assets from cattle raiders with AK-47 rifles.
Mursi woman with an AK-47 —
In the eyes of the Mursi, a cattle's head signals wealth. They protect their assets from cattle raiders with AK-47 rifles.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
The scarification on shoulder of the woman standing on the right is prominent. Denoting beauty, the process involves cutting the skin with a razor and applying ash from fires to infect the wound. The scar tissue then causes the skin to protrude.
Mursi women —
The scarification on shoulder of the woman standing on the right is prominent. Denoting beauty, the process involves cutting the skin with a razor and applying ash from fires to infect the wound. The scar tissue then causes the skin to protrude.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Huts in a typical Mursi village.
Mursi village —
Huts in a typical Mursi village.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Depending on their social status and other factors, Hamar men can have up to three wives. A Hamar woman's status can be immediately identified by her jewelry. The first wife, pictured here, wears a large metal necklace with a long thorn on its end. The second and third wives wear simpler, round metal necklaces.
Hamar tribe —
Depending on their social status and other factors, Hamar men can have up to three wives. A Hamar woman's status can be immediately identified by her jewelry. The first wife, pictured here, wears a large metal necklace with a long thorn on its end. The second and third wives wear simpler, round metal necklaces.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
The girls will take on the role of caretaker from a very young age. There is a great sense of community amongst the women and children in these villages.
Hamar children —
The girls will take on the role of caretaker from a very young age. There is a great sense of community amongst the women and children in these villages.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Of all the tribes in the Omo, the Hamar is the largest and most style-conscious. They are pastoralists and agriculturalists. Women work in the fields tending to crops of sorghum, beans and maize while looking after their children.
Hamar family —
Of all the tribes in the Omo, the Hamar is the largest and most style-conscious. They are pastoralists and agriculturalists. Women work in the fields tending to crops of sorghum, beans and maize while looking after their children.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
Seton has discussions with the Mursi tribe while taking photographs in their village.
Behind the scenes —
Seton has discussions with the Mursi tribe while taking photographs in their village.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
"The children are always the easiest to photograph as they love to touch, laugh and joke with me," Seton says. "These children were fascinated with my long blond hair and loved to touch it. The baby was afraid of my white skin and cried when she was handed to me to carry."
Portrait with Hamar children, Ethiopia —
"The children are always the easiest to photograph as they love to touch, laugh and joke with me," Seton says. "These children were fascinated with my long blond hair and loved to touch it. The baby was afraid of my white skin and cried when she was handed to me to carry."
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography
This Hamar girl is not yet married, as indicated by the necklace she's wearing. There is no metal round her neck.
Young Hamar girl, Ethiopia —
This Hamar girl is not yet married, as indicated by the necklace she's wearing. There is no metal round her neck.
Courtesy Louisa Seton Photography