Ritual - Leon Hoang: Bull Jumping Ceremony

 Leon Hoang

Mr. Roddy

IHSS

12 September 2020

The Bull Jumping Ceremony

I mentioned this specific ritual in class a few weeks before, but I thought it would be interesting to research it further. The tribe in question are called the “Hamar” or “Hamer”. They inhabit the Hamer woreda (Districts of Ethiopia), in a part of the Omo river valley. As well, they raise lots of cattle and are unique because they do not believe in personal land ownership, rather everything is shared. 

In preparation for the bull jumping ceremony, the boy is first covered in sand and his head is shaved. It is believed that sand will remove his sins. He is then smeared with animal feces and bark from trees is tied around him in a shape of a cross. I think it’s interesting to see the many meanings of the cross in different religions. 

At sunset the boy is stripped of all of his clothes and begins the ritual. The boy then jumps across the cattle several times showing his skill. If he succeeds, he is given the title “Maza” which means he is a real man. If he does not, he will be ridiculed and will have to wait another year before attempting it again. 

I found this ritual very interesting because it outlines the differences of coming of age ceremonies between us and other cultures.

https://absoluteethiopia.com/the-culture-behind-the-bull-jumping-ceremony



     

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