The Nyangatom live on the west bank of the lower Omo River. Their territory extends all the way to the Kenyan and Sudanese borders and also into Sudan itself. Like most tribes in the area they are – as they claim – surrounded only by enemies: to the south are the aggressive Turkana, to the north the Surma, and to the east across the river the Dassanech. The Nyangatom were the first tribe in the Omo Valley to use automatic weapons (AK-47) which they obtained from Sudan just across the border. They use the machine guns to guard their precious cattle from neighbouring tribes and also to fight their tribal wars. Herds of cows are their most valuable property. Omo valley, southern Ethiopia, 2013.

Young woman from the Arbore tribe. Omo Valley, Southern Ethiopia, 2013.