SURI OF OMO VALLEY

Surma or Suri tribe, is an indigenous community located in Omo Valley of Southwest Ethiopia. Among the Suri people, body painting is woven into their daily life, an art form that begins in childhood. 

Suri children roam the riverbanks and open fields gathering white clay, red ochre, crushed leaves, and brightly colored flowers. With these natural pigments, they paint their faces and bodies in swirling lines, dots, and patterns inspired by the land around them.

For the children, this practice is both playful and deeply cultural. They paint one another with patience and creativity, turning their small bodies into moving artworks that celebrate beauty, imagination, and identity. These designs mirror the rhythms of Suri life, echoing the shapes of leaves, the flow of water, the patterns of animals, and the stories passed down from elders.

Body painting also connects them to their ancestors, who have used these natural pigments for centuries in ceremonies, social gatherings, and expressions of belonging. Even in a rapidly changing world, Suri children carry this tradition forward with pride, their laughter and artistry reflecting the resilience and joy of their community. In their hands, body painting becomes more than just a decoration, it becomes a living language of heritage, creativity, and the enduring bond between the Suri people and the land that sustains them.