Suri Herder

The Suri are an agro-pastoral ethic group found in the Northern Omo Valley of Ethiopia. Cows are very important to the Suri and at times they risk death to protect their herd. Suri men are also judged by how many cattle they own. Men are not able to marry until they have a sufficient number to start paying the bride-wealth to the bride's family. For the Suri people the cattle camp is part of the lifestyle and is mainly cared for by men. Therefore the boys of the tribe start to learn pastoral farming skill from a young age. Suri don't really eat cattle but milk is a main food source. One of its unique custom is to drink cow blood. They extract the blood without killing the cow by making a small incision in the animal's vein and sealing the wound afterward to let the cow heal. The practice is deeply ingrained in their cultural rituals, often associated with strength, masculinity and survival. This tradition highlights the Suri men's strong connection with their cattle. All these traditions are taught to the young Suri herder while growing up. Men normally don't wear anything in cattle camp. They rub their body with ash, soil, and even cattle dung before sunrise. These three boys have been in charge of guarding the herd of the tribe.