Ethiopia: Southern Nations – Dorze People
The first tribe I visited in the Omo Valley (or its outskirts) was the Dorze people . Dorze live at an elevation over 8000 feet in the mountains west of two rift lakes – Chamo and Abaya. Dorze build massive houses that resemble elephants – some of these houses last for over 100 years (slowly getting lower as the foundation is eaten by termites) and each family has their own house, and newlyweds get presented their own new house for the wedding. Animals live with people inside the house – to provide heat. It’s quite cold and wet up here in the mountains, and the main food crop is false banana – a plant from banana family that doesn’t bear fruits. Instead, dorze grind leaves into paste and then make bread out of it (the entire preparation was showcased and then the bread served with pepper and honey). Everything else is made from false banana as well – housing, fences, textiles and clothing. Dorze are very friendly and welcoming and they are famous for being great weavers. There are about 29,000 Dorze people in Ethiopia.
