The Ari Tribe

The Ari is considered to be the highest populated tribe in Omo Valley numbering an estimated 200,000 people and occupying the central highlands of Omo Valley. They are agriculturalists and live They are privileged to have the largest territory of all the tribes in the area. They have fertile lands allowing them to have several types of plantations. Ari’s crop can consist of grains, coffee, fruits, and honey. It’s also common for them to have large herds of livestock. Their women are known for selling pottery and wearing skirts made from banana trees called enset. The Aari is one of the tribes whose culture and language remain less explored in Ethiopia in a permanent village and produce the majority of agricultural products for the entire Omo Valley.

Each woman has her own personal style of painting and it is not just about different patterns and motifs, but also different materials and colors. The motifs and patterns will be explained with each individual painting. For painting, the women use their fingers, some feathers, or sticks of yams plants. The colors found on houses are made out of ground charcoal, battery acid, ash light soil, red soil, cow dung, and water. The Ari is clearly living from their art and the work of their land.