AUTHENTIC AFRICA of days gone by…

This past January, after many years of traveling through Africa, I was able to visit one of the most unique area’s on the continent, the omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia, a place I had longed to visit for many years. Dropping into the Omo Valley was like going back to an Authentic Africa of days gone by. As we came upon the ridge overlooking the valley my guide and friend asked if I need to make final contact with the outside world as this was the last place to get a cell signal. .  This area has just begun to be touched by the modern world and is still free from cell towers, the internet and facebook. It is one of the last most intact tribal area’s thought Africa and it was magical. As we ascended into the valley by dirt roads I began to see the beauty of  these tribes in their ancient clothing of skins and bright colors wandering through the landscape.

What makes this area so unique is that there are so many different tribes living in close proximity to one another along the banks of the mighty Omo River. They depend upon the floods to raise the river over it’s banks and when the waters recede the tribes plant their crops. This allows then to live a stationary life unlike most of the nomadic tribes throughout Africa, always on the move in search for green pastures to feed and water their livestock.

This is a place that has captured my soul and I will return again this September. The following images show the beautiful traditional clothing and style of the Hamer women.

8 Responses to “AUTHENTIC AFRICA of days gone by…”

  1. Rachel Cohen

    Piper these are truly amazing and beautiful images. You captured something that is quickly vanishing, and will some day only be known by photographs! Just stunning work!

  2. Piper

    Hi Rachel
    THis area is on the edge of change and is why I am spending a lot of time there. Very,very soon the modern world is going to ascend on this region and it will be forever changed.

  3. Pam

    Piper – these are amazing. I feel like I am there. The love and sweet smile on the women’s faces as they look over the baby is amazing. Nothing like a woman’s love for a child – no matter where you are.

  4. Ray

    Inspiring work as always Piper…completion of the Gibe III dam will potentially tip the balance for the future of these indigenous peoples permanently changing their way of life. One hopes the campaign to remove remaining funding for completing the project is successful..