Photograph on paper

Signed certificate of authenticity.

The girl from the Hamar tribe was a show of striking beauty, with layered beads and her hair twisted with the signature concoction of rancid butter and red ochre clay . Her strong, brooding features matched her obvious prowess amongst the village teens. She had an incredible presence. Yet her stern sideway looks gave way to a shy cautiousness of any outsiders like me.

Foreign visitors are becoming an increasingly common site throughout the tribal lands of the Omo Valley, bringing both help and hindrance. Money for the markets and donated clothing articles are bolstering the communities. But a disdain for interfering tourists can bring about aggression and jealousy for the things they don’t have. Thankfully, as modernity creeps in, the Hamars are determinedly successful in preserving their wonderful culture and customs. (Omo Valley, Ethiopia)

* You can also find other sizes in my listed artworks.