Tribes of the Lower Omo Valley, portraits

Tribes of the Lower Omo Valley

The Omo River. Its source lies at 2,400 metres in altitude and it runs for over 700 kilometres, flowing into lake Turkana, in Kenya, at 100 metres above sea level. It’s a vital source of sustenance for the tribes © Marco Cheli

Tribes of the Lower Omo Valley

Omo River © Marco Cheli

Tribes of the Lower Omo Valley

Omo River © Marco Cheli

Tribes of the Lower Omo Valley

The Kara tribe is one of the smallest in Africa, with a population of 1,500. One of its two villages is positioned in a particularly scenic spot over the Omo River and attracts many tourists © Marco Cheli

Tribes of the Lower Omo Valley

Boy belonging to the Konso ethnic group, whose territory is adjacent to that of the Omo tribes. The terms ethnic group and tribe are often used as synonyms, though the meaning of both is contested © Marco Cheli