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Ethnography: Hamar culture

Maria Carrillo
Anthropologie 1010
December 10 2020
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Introduction
The Hamar live among the bush covered hills southern Ethiopia. Hamar make their living

as successful cattle herders and farmers. The women and girls grow crops, also responsible for

collecting water, doing the cooking and looking after the children. while adult men herd the

cattle, plough with oxen and raise beehives. The Hamar only marry members of their own tribe,

but they have nothing against borrowing songs, hairstyles, even names from other tribes in the

valley.

Before watching the films, I went into them with an open mind. I love learning about

different cultures and watching films is an easy and engaging way to learn. Prior to this I had not

heard of the people of the Hamar. So, I had no expectations other than this was a new and

foreign culture. I am no stranger to culture shock, due to fact I come from a Hispanic background

I had a fair share of culture shock throughout my lifetime. Especially when visiting Mexico

something always shocks me in one way or another. So, in the duration of these films, I did have

a few culture shocks and learned a lot.

Marriage
The Hamar people have a numerous number of practices different from others. Their

culture understood by their own people but outsiders may not understand it. All cultures are

unique and special, including the Hamar’s. Marriage practices of the Hamar include many steps

and rules when it comes to marrying a couple. In my observation and what I heard. The Hamar

have very strict arranged marriages. Marriage in their culture is not only bringing two people

together but it includes brining two family's together. Statues and wealth play a part into
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deciding who they are married to. Due to the fact the groom's family must pay a price for a bride.

Woman in their culture are seen and treated as objects.

Besides having children and taking care of her in laws and husband she also has to do a

lot of field work and house work. In the Hamar culture back in the day girls would be married off

very young but that resulted in her not knowing how to do things on her own. Nowadays the

woman are married off later in their life when they have learned and know skills to be able to

take care of herself and her new family. Although it could take a great amount of time until a

couple is finally matched and married.

Until the initial wedding most of the time a couple would barley know, seen or talked to

each other unfortunately to the woman who faces with stress and fear of after marriage. Once a

bride is married, she is whisked away immediately by her in laws to her new home which a bride

is required to live with until her groom establishes a new home for them and thier own future

family. Divorce in the Hamar culture basically does not exist. Due to the fact they stay with their

spouse until death. The man however may choose to marry another woman. Men are able to have

multiple wife's. When it comes to a woman though if her husband dies, she is not allowed to

marry again and live the rest of her life as a widow. What I observed and heard the Hamar

woman wear some kind of collar like necklace to represent that they are married. It is large and

noticeable to assert that she is married and not available to other men.

Compared to my own culture group we are very different. Marriage in the western world

is different from the Hamar’s marriage. Differences include, we choose who we marry, we have

the chance to fall in love with someone and decide if we truly want to spend the rest of our life

with them. The idea of divorce is existent in my culture as well, we have the choice to part from

our spouse if it ends up not working. Also, the statues or value of the woman is different, most of
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the time nowadays woman have the independence and rights, not just an object to men. While we

do symbolize marriage with a ring its smaller and less aggressive form the Hamar’s version of a

ring. Every culture is unique and different, having their own beliefs and traditions that work for

them and their way of life.

Gender
In the Hamar culture gender roles are basically black and white. Men are in charge and

head of the family. While woman are the homemakers, in charge of the children and home. I also

noticed though that the woman of the Hamar is also in charge of crops, fields and sometimes

animals. Not only do they care for their children but they also take care of her in laws. The

woman always seems to be hard at work.

Gender in the Hamar culture is presented not only in their roles and jobs but in other

aspects as well. Although they do share a few things, like their hair style, although the woman's

hairstyles are short men also have short hair. Woman wear the hair somewhat short and braided

with beads to add that feminine touch. Woman also wear more Jewlery, especially on their arms.

Some men do have Jewlery but not as much as the woman. In my view woman carry themselves

confidently and elegantly. They look strong and know what they are doing.

Communication between the two genders is very different as well. Depending who they

are talking to of course. Men speak more gruffer or rougher than the woman. The woman is stern

and blunt to one another. When it comes to a husband-and-wife communicating it is different,

the man is rougher and mean. While the woman says very little and softly. Although the men are

in charge of the family, woman are often the ones to do a lot more work than the men. Woman

not only care for their own children but most of the time they take care of the in laws and
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husband. The woman also tends to their own fields of crops and even harvest their goods. Men

do seem too often care for the livestock and providing other goods from the market.

Gender and their roles to the Hamar people is very important to them. It defines their

roles, and statuses. Men are seen to be above the woman and leader of the family. While woman

is seen more as objects, to be a home maker but they also work hard to feed and take care their

family members. Comparing the Hamar culture to my own it is somewhat similar yet different.

In my culture men are the providers for their families, often depicting a macho manly character.

While the woman does work to provide for the family, they are often expected to take care of the

children, home and hardworking husband. In the end every culture has its own way of working,

including the Hamar.

The Arts
When it comes to the people of the Hamar at first glance you may not see any kind of

form of “art” within the culture. If you take a closer look though you will be surprised to see that

it is full of art. If you broaden your view or definition of art you can find art anywhere of all

kinds in all cultures and people. Including the people of the Hamar. As I observed them in the

film there was many art forms I recalled seeing, ranging from their appearance and verbal art.

In the beginning of the film, we mostly explored the Hamar people in the point of view of

the woman. I immediately noticed their short but clean hairstyles. Woven tightly and sleeky into

braids. It was practical way of wearing hair for those women since it was low maintained but

also nice and well kept. The clothing they were also may seemed a big rough around the edges

but in my point of view I saw their clothes also practical to work and move in. Also, they used

animal skins so it gave it a very natural look, like they were one with the land. The Hamar
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woman also wore jewelry. Not like our western jewelry though, they were decorated in metal

bracelets on their arms and legs, some more than others. Also, the married woman wore a

necklace type band around their neck to symbolize that they were married.

The Hamar use a mix of verbal and visual art. Especially when it comes to ceremonies or

celebrations. As observed during their end of harvest celebration men painted their body's in

white clay and drew designs on their skins. Then both the woman and men dance and sing

together in celebration. I did notice that most of the time they will sing and chant during most of

these celebrations and ceremonies. Also, when it came to weddings depending on the family's

traditions and expectations a wedding will look either more elaborate or simple. In the end

though they will always be singing and chanting.

I think the people of Hamar choose to express their art and creativeness this way due to

their own culture. In the end it connects to the culture although some individuals might have

different ways of creative expressions due to the changing times. In my Hispanic culture we do

heavily really on verbal creativeness. We often celebrate with music and cheering always loud

and proud. Although visual art is just as important like fireworks, paintings and handmade crafts.

The Hamar people is very different from my own culture yet alike. Using a collaboration of both

verbal and visual creativeness. I think every culture no matter how different also express

themselves verbally and visually.

Conclusion
In conclusion I had learned a lot about who are the people of Hamar. While using both

my American culture and Hispanic culture knowledge my experience of ethnocentrism was

positive. It gave me a better perspective of the Hamar people. Learning about who they were and
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how they worked. Although I did experience some culture shocks, I understood it was their way

of how things worked. I'm always eager and open minded when it comes to learning about

different cultures than I know. It's refreshing as well to learn about a culture not may know of,

other than the mainstream cultures that everyone talks about. I think it's important to stray away

from the mainstream and do a little digging. Although the people of the Hamar are very different

from my own people they have a strong sense of living and preserving who they are. They were

happy to let strangers into their lives and show them how they live. Every culture is different and

unique in their own way. It's important to learn and listen to others because we can learn a lot

about each other.