Bodi or Me’en Tribe

The Bodi or Me’en people live close to the Omo River in southern Ethiopia.  South of the Bodi are the Mursi tribe.  They are pastoralists (livestock farmers) and agriculturalists.  Along the banks of the river, they will grow sorghum, mais and coffee.  They live with their cattle herds and livestock plays a large role in the tribe.

Men of the Bodi are typically overweight because they consume large amounts of honey.  The men wear a strip of cotton around their waist or walk around naked.  In June, the Bodi celebrate Ka’el.  This is a tradition that measures the body fat of a contestant.  Each family or clan is allowed to enter an unmarried contestant.  The winner of this contest is awarded great fame by the tribe.  Men also wear a headband with a feather attached to it during rituals.  The women in the tribe wear goatskin skirts and have a plug inserted into their chin.