Banna Tribe Lower Omo Velley, Ethiopia.

children of bena

Ethiopia is a cultural melting pot and a sweet tale is told about Banna tribe stilts. This is the reason behind the ‘air walking’ concept the tribesmen from this community are known for.

Young men from this tribe walked on stilts as a mechanism to avoid attack by wild animals while herding cattle. However, this is not the only reason why stilts are common in this part of southwestern Ethiopia.

Stilts-walking is a long-standing cultural tradition among community members. Unmarried young men are the carriers of this tradition popular during community festivals and rituals. A rule for banna tribe stilts walking during a ceremony is painting their bodies in white strips.

Essentially, banna tribe’s stilt-walking custom has numerous cultural and societal significance. For young males, it represents a transition from youth to maturity and is a rite of passage. Striking a balance on the poles and walking gracefully sends a strong message to the tribe that the boy is responsible, independent-minded, strong-willed and is confident to take on life with the temerity of a lion. Moreover, these shows help to preserve cultural history while fostering a sense of pride and identity among the tribe.