Known For: Elaborate body painting, scarification, and riverside lifestyle in the Lower Omo Valley
The Karo tribe—also spelled Kara—is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, with communities living in just three main villages: Korcho, Duss, and Labuk. Despite their small population, the Karo people are internationally renowned for their spectacular body painting and scarification, which serve both aesthetic and ceremonial purposes.
Traditionally pastoralist, the Karo have shifted toward subsistence agriculture after heavy livestock losses due to tsetse fly infestations. Today, they grow sorghum, maize, and other crops along the banks of the Omo River. They also raise goats as their main livestock and occasionally practice traditional fishing, using wooden spears to catch fish from the river—aptly fitting, as “Kara” means “fish” in their language.
Cultural Ties & Livelihood
The Karo people have cultural and linguistic similarities with the Hamar and also practice the bull-jumping initiation ceremony, a rite of passage for young men. They do not have their own markets and instead trade with the Hamar at the bustling market towns of Dimeka and Turmi.
Their staple diet includes dry porridge or sorghum bread, eaten with milk or boiled coffee husk (locally known as Shoforo). Young boys often eat fresh fish, while meat is reserved for ceremonial or special family occasions.
Karo Tribe Marriage Customs
Like the Hamar and Banna tribes, the Karo are a polygamous society, though younger siblings cannot marry before their elders. Marriage is usually arranged with consent from both partners and involves a well-defined, symbolic ritual process:
- Miliko – Arranged marriage
- Haramu – Consensual marriage
- Astergnar – Marriage by abduction
- Beski – Marriage by inheritance
Marriage negotiations are facilitated by a male and female elder (go-betweens), who visit the girl’s parents four times while smeared in red clay and butter. The male mediator carries a Y-shaped stick, and the female a milk container. The process concludes with a feast and the bride’s delivery to the groom by her friends.
Karo Scarification & Body Art
Scarification is central to Karo identity. Men scar themselves to symbolize bravery—such as killing a wild animal or enemy—while women often scar their chests or abdomens for beautification.
Men are best known for their dramatic body painting before ceremonies, using white chalk to create striking facial and full-body designs. They also:
- Plaster their hair into tight, ochre-dyed buns, formerly worn only by warriors
- Insert nails or wooden plugs into incisions below their bottom lips
- Pierce their ears in five places
- Wear elaborate beadwork and shells
Karo women traditionally crop their hair, tie it into bulbous knots, and dye it with ochre.
Rituals & Relationships
A unique ritual called Gorri is performed when a male child is born. The grandfather ties sheepskin strips around the child’s limbs and wraps the mother in bark-fiber rope, smeared with butter and clay. The ritual leader and participants paint their foreheads and chests with a red clay mixture as part of the blessing.
The Karo maintain generally peaceful relationships, but tensions exist with the Nyangatom, who view them as allies of the Hamar, with whom the Nyangatom have frequent disputes. Due to their small numbers, the Karo typically avoid direct conflict.
Visit the Karo Tribe with Omo Region Tours
Explore the world of intricate body art, symbolic rituals, and vibrant riverine life. We are the #1-rated Omo Valley tour operator on TripAdvisor offering authentic cultural encounters with the Kara people.