Dorze Tribe Market Day
Ethiopia, 2013: Somewhere near Arba Minch
The Dorze seem rather modern compared to the tribes further south. You can see their homes in the background of this photo. Although traditionally they lived in large dome-shaped huts, they seem to prefer a more modern house now. The traditional huts housed the family and the animals in one large room separated by walls about three feet high. Light entered the hut from the doorway, it was dark inside, but cozy.
Dorze are farmers and weavers. They cultivate the ‘false banana’ tree (ensete) and use its root, after much processing, as bread, porridge and a rice-like starch. The day we visited was market day with what looked like Chinese made clothing for sale as well as fermented butter, sheep, spices, and tobacco.
“Tastes Good”
Dorze women seemed to be rather independent. Some were celebrating a birthday by drinking homemade beer from a gourd, some smoked the Ethiopian version of a water pipe. Admittedly these were older women who work hard, who take on most of the responsibility for the family. They deserve a break!
Taking Turns
To visit the Dorze and other fascinating, colorful tribes of Ethiopia, email www.soratours.com Osman will be happy to plan your trip with you.