South Omo zone in the Lower Omo Valley of Ethiopia

The Banna people are an indigenous ethnic group of southwestern Ethiopia, primarily living in the South Omo Zone. Their population is relatively small and spread across rural villages, where they practice cattle herding and farming. The Banna are especially famous for their stilt walking, in which performers walk and dance on tall wooden stilts during festivals and ceremonies. They speak a language belonging to the South Omotic branch of the Afroasiatic language family. Today, increasing tourism and modernization threaten the continuation of traditional practices, including the stilt walking ceremonies that are essential to Banna cultural expression.

The Banna are especially famous for their stilt walking. Historically, the Banna used stilts while hunting and gathering to navigate difficult terrain and avoid predators, but today stilts are mainly used in ceremonial dances during festivals, harvest celebrations, and initiation rites. The stilts are made from strong local wood and are usually several feet tall. They require remarkable balance and skill, and represent courage, social status, and a connection to the spirits. Performers often dance, race, or mimic birds, and the stilts may be decorated with carvings or paint that reflect personal or family identity. Children begin learning at a young age, and eventually perform in front of their tribe as a rite of passage.

The Banna people live in small, round huts made primarily from locally sourced materials such as mud, wood, and grass thatch. The walls are a mixture of mud and sticks, while the roofs are conical and thatched, designed to provide insulation from heat and rain. Inside, the huts are very simple, containing areas for sleeping, cooking, and storing food.

The Banna people have recently gained attention on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where videos often showcase their stilt walking, body painting, and ceremonial dances. Travelers and content creators visiting the region can observe these traditions firsthand by attending festivals and learning about daily life in Banna villages. These visits allow the Banna to share their culture more authentically and preserve their traditions, but the growing influence of social media also brings the risk of their cultural practices being diluted.

Ultimately, the Banna people are a resilient community in southwestern Ethiopia who have maintained their unique traditions for generations. Even as modern influences like tourism, and social media reach their villages, they continue to uphold their cultural practices, especially stilt walking, ceremonies, and communal rituals, as central to their culture. Through these traditions, the Banna preserve their ancestral practices, social structures, and connection to their land.