Inside the Karo Tribe of Ethiopia: Body Paint, Rituals & Life by the Omo River

Inside the Karo Tribe of Ethiopia: Body Paint, Rituals & Life by the Omo River | Karo tribe Ethiopia

Join me on a journey to the remote Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia as we visit the Karo (aka Kara) tribe. In this video, you'll see:

Their iconic body and face painting using natural minerals and pigments
Traditional scarification practices and what they mean for beauty and status
Ceremonies like the bull‐jumping ritual (Pilla) marking manhood
Their agricultural life: farming sorghum, corn, beans, and the challenges caused by changes to the Omo River floods

Karo tribe Ethiopia

How the tribe has officially abolished the mingi practice of infanticide and the cultural context behind it

Why this matters:
The Karo people are one of the smallest and most visually striking tribes in Ethiopia. Their culture is increasingly threatened by environmental changes, dam projects, and modernization.

Karo tribe Ethiopia

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Support & Learn More:

Donate or support Omo Child and local initiatives working with Karo youth

Share this video to spread awareness of endangered cultures

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📌 Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction & journey to Karo villages
2:30 – Daily life & farming
6:15 – Body painting & scarification
10:00 – Bull-jumping ritual explained
12:45 – Mingi practice history & abolition
15:30 – Challenges & hopes for the future
17:00 – Closing thoughts & credits

• “Asking Tough Life Questions To The Karo Tribe, Omo Valley, Ethiopia”
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Credits & Acknowledgements
Thanks to Karo community members, local guides, translators, and cultural liaisons for access and trust.

Karo tribe Ethiopia
Karo body painting traditions in Omo Valley

Kara tribe Omo Valley
Karo people Ethiopia
Karo body painting
Karo scarification
Karo rituals
Karo culture
Ethiopia tribes
Omo Valley tribes
Karo bull jumping ritual
Karo farming life
Mingi practice Karo
Karo traditional art
Indigenous tribes Ethiopia
endangered tribes of Africa

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