A young Surma man using plants found in the countryside as decoration. Southern Ethiopia, 2017

These are borza and Magi, two friends from the Karo tribe. The most striking thing about Karo people's symbolic and ornamental expressions is the painted body and face decorations. This is an elaborate process, which ranges from fine and elaborate details to rough, but striking paintings traced with the palms or fingers. The most beautiful expression is in the facial and chest paintings that combine white (chalk), black (charcoal), yellow, ochre, and red earth. They often imitate the spotted plumage of a guinea fowl. Omo valley, south Ethiopia, 2013.