Hamar Initiate at Bull Jumping Ceremony, Ethiopia In preparation for the bull-jumping ceremony, each Hamar initiate receives a calabash of ritual coffee. His skin glistens with a mixture of butterfat and charcoal that has been applied by the ritual master, known as the Butter Father. A youth does not enter manhood until he takes part in the Jumping of the Bull Ceremony. Some 20 to 40 animals are forced to stand in a line and each initiate attempts to run across the backs of the bulls, taking as few steps as possible and not falling off, for that would bring him great shame.
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