African Tribal Traditions

Images of individuals from various East African tribes dressed in traditional attire, engaging in cultural dances and ceremonies.

Kenya, A Samburu warrior of Northern Kenya in all his finery. The ostrich pompom on top of his spear was formerly a sign of peace.

Painted Mursi woman, Omo Valley, Ethiopia.

A day in a Maasai Village as guests to view thier way of living.

Samburu girls are given strings of beads by their fathers when they are still young. As soon as they are old enough to have lovers from the warrior age set, they regularly receive gifts from them. Over a period of years, their necklaces can smother them up to their necks.

A Nyangatom woman and child stand by her temporary shelter. The adult women wear many layers of bead necklaces and elegant skirts with a short beaded fringe at the font and long calfskin tail reaching the ground at the back. The Nyangatom or Bume are a Nilotic tribe of semi nomadic pastoralists who live along the banks of the Omo River in south western Ethiopia.

South Africa, Kwazulu Natal , Hlabisa, Zulu Sangomas Or Female Diviners Kneeling In Their Consulting Room.

The Pokot have a small ceremony called Koyogho when a man pays his in-laws the balance of the agreed dowry for his wife. This may take place many years after he marries her. At the conclusion of the ritual, his wife is blessed by her father.

Kenya: Ambolseli National Park, Saruni's village, group of Maasai dancers, May.

Africa, Namibia, Kaokland, Himba tribe

A Samburu youth sitting on an ox hide just after he has been circumcised outside his mothers house. His two sponsors attend him, one holding his shoulders, the other preparing to help carry him into the house.

Ovahimba or Himba, a married woman presenting her headdress, Kunene district, Namibia, Africa

Arusha wedding dancers. Tanganyika. 1936, Tanzania

Dassanech women dress in Dimi regalia, pleated leather skirts and a colobus monkey skin on their backs, Ethiopia

Kenya,Laikipia. Laikipiak Maasai girls dressed in decorative headdresses and necklaces to attend a wedding.

Kenya, Laikipia, Ol Malo. Young Samburu girls dressed in her traditional beaded necklaces and headress at a dance.

Ethiopia, Lower Omo Valley, Mago National Park, Karo Tribe Body Decoration And Jewellery.

Kenya, Amboseli, Masai Dancers

When a Pokot initiate spears an animal during his Sapana ceremony, the elders will carefully inspect the entrails of the slaughtered animal for bad omens.

Ethiopia, Lower Omo Valley, Tumi, 'Hama Jumping Of The Bulls Initiation Ceremony, The Naked Initiate Runs Over The Backs Of Bulls (Sometimes Cows Are Used) - If He Does So Without Slipping He Is Officially An Adult'

South Ethiopia, Omo region, among the Hamar tribe, Hamer, Hamma, Hammer, Amar or Amer, woman adorn themselves with face painting and headdresses for the initiation ritual, the bull jump, Ethiopia, Africa

During Samburu wedding celebrations, married women congregate apart from the warriors and young girls to sing in praise of the couple and to dance.

Wodaabe men looking in the mirror at his kohl lips during the Gerewol Festival, north of Abalak, Niger

Laikipiak Maasai

Maasai participants in the International Carnival Seychelles, Victoria, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles, Indian Ocean. McPMDF McP_MDF_SEY0004 *** Maasai Participants in The International Carnival Seychelles, Victoria, Mahe, Republic of Seychelles, Indian Ocean McPMDF McP MDF SEY0004 McPMDF

Africa, Malawi, The Chewa people, Malawi's largest ethnic group, live on the west side of Lake Malawi. Despite years of missionary influence, they still cling to old beliefs and rituals.

Benin, Alibori County, Kuru, Sabi Ramatou Of Fula Ethnic Group

December Festival procession, Bali, near Bamenda, Cameroon, West Africa, Africa

Ethiopia, Lower Omo Valley, Turmi, 'Hama Jumping Of The Bulls Initiation Ceremony, Face Painting With A Mixture Of Clay, Oils And Plant Pigment'

Namibia, Africa. Himba Village. Opuwo, Kaokoland, Africa

Three dancers perform traditional music.

Kenya, Kajiado, Maasai Moran Cover Their Recently Shaved Heads With Red Ochre Which Signifies Their Coming Into Manhood During An Initiation Ceremony Of Their Age Sets

The Watoto Children's Choir performing in Seattle, Washington. Watoto provides opportunity and hope to AIDS orphaned Uganadan children.

Niger, Zinder, Gerewol ritual dance of nomads Wodaabe or Bororo, portrait

Pedi warrior in traditional dress, Mpumalanga

Bonda tribal lady holding ten rupees in hand, Orissa, India Copyright: xHarixMahidhar/DinodiaxPhotox

Mali, Dogon Country. Dogon Dances

Kenya, Marsabit County, Kalacha. Gabbra men and women sing and dance at the Kalacha Festival. The women's leather skirts are sewn from goatskins.

Maasai warriors perform a welcome dance in the Masai Mara Kenya East Africa The Chief wears a traditional lions-mane headress

Traditionally dressed Xhosa people, during the Sangoma or Witchdoctor Festival, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Africa

An Ethiopian man wears a headdress made from the skin of a gelada, a unique baboon like primate that lives at high altitudes in northern Ethiopia, and a cloak embroidered with Ethiopia's imperial lion.

Ethiopia, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region, South Omo, Southern Mursiland, Group of Mursi tribal women during festival; Dirikoro

After 2-3 months seclusion, Pokot initiates leave their camp in single file to celebrate Ngetunogh. They must wear goatskins, conceal their faces with masks made from wild sisal (sansevieria) and carry bows with blunt arrows until this ceremony is over.

Ethiopia, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region, South Omo, Mursiland, Mursi tribal man smoking beehive high up in tree at night to colle...

Maasai warrior wearing traditional dress, near Enkutoto, Masai Mara, Rift Valley Province, Kenya, Africa

Kenya, Marsabit County, Kalacha. Borana women sing and dance at the annual Kalacha Festival. Their 'bells' are fashioned from small gourds.

Amateur actors perform a Sao Tomense play called 'Auto de Floripes'. The play is traditionally performed each year in August in the middle of Santa Antionio, on the island of Princip_. Sao Tom_ and Principe is Africa's second smallest country with a population of 193 000. It consists of two mountainous islands in the Gulf of New Guinea, straddling the equator, west of Gabon. Princip_ is the smaller of the two islands.

Africa, Tanzania, beads and gourd

Samburu tribesman attending the circumcision of the young men of the tribe. Mount Nyiru, Kenya, Africa

Traditional masked man, Tshikapa, Kasai, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa

Kenya, Laikipia, Ol Malo. Samburu warriors sing, clap and dance in their traditional dress at a manyatta

Turkana Festival, Kenya, Africa. Close-up portrait of Samburu woman waiting to perform traditional songs at the Festival. (Editorial Use Only)

Africa, Ghana, Accra. La Palm Beach Hotel. Traditional West African folkloric show. Ceremonial dancer with knife.

Hamar elder, traditional headdress, Hamar elder, Kenya, Africa

Namibia, Africa. Himba Village. Opuwo, Kaokoland, Africa

A Maasai warrior in full regalia. He has stuck a porcupine quill in his beaded headband to add to his other decorations.

Africa. Rwanda. Traditional Intore dancers near Volcanoes National Park, site of the largest remaining group of mountain gorillas in the world.

a maasai laibon, or senior elder, holds the traditional gourd in which milk, fresh blood and a small amount of ash are mixed - the maasai's staple diet. the maasai remain one of africa's most traditional tribes. kenya. march 2008. no model release available.

Africa, Kenya. Two Maasai males demonstate fire starting

Traditional Dogon dances being performed in a Dogon village at the Bandiagara Escarpment in the Dogon country in Mali, West Africa.

Benin, Ouidah, Atlantique Department. An Egungun masked dancer in brilliant sequined costume dances at a lively voodoo celebration. The dancers represent Yoruba ancestral spirits which give guidance to the living.

Traditional Indian woman looking away Traditional Indian woman in sari costume looking away, India ,model released, Symbolfoto Copyright: xZoonar.com/szefeix 4464760 ,model released, Symbolfoto ,property released

Africa, Ethiopia, Southern Omo, Karo Tribe. Details of the colorful, heavy beads worn by a Karo woman.

Kenya, Marsabit County, Kalacha. Somali women sing and clap their hands to the rhythm of their song at the Kalacha Festival.

Africa, Tanzania. Maasai natives (Editorial Usage Only)

Mali, Mopti. A Fulani Woman wearing large 14-carat gold earrings. Kwottenai Kanye earrings are either a gift from her husband or inherited on the death of her mother. The top of each earring is bound with red wool or silk to protect the ear. The blades of the earrings are beautifully patterned.

Traditional masked man, Yaka tribe, Mbandane, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

Maasai make fire with their hands Amboseli National Park Kenya

Mali, Niger Inland Delta. An old man makes his way to Kotaka Mosque carrying a plastic teapot containing water for washing his feet before praying.

Kenya, Laikipia, Ol Malo. Samburu warriors sing, clap and dance in their traditional dress at a manyatta

A Swahili woman in Lamu makes makuti, a coconut palm thatch used extensively as a roofing material on houses all along the East African Coast. Situated 150 miles north northeast of Mombasa, Lamu town dates from the 15th century AD.

Melanesia, Papua New Guinea. Small island of Ali off the coast of mainland PNG. Local villagers in traditional attire performing welcome dance and sing-sing. Detail of beaded armband with seashells.

Kenya, Laikipia. A Samburu woman wears layers of beaded necklaces and an elaborate beaded headdress.

Traditional tribal dance, Rwanda

Samburu tribesman, Mount Nyiru, Kenya, Africa

Africa, Mali, Bandiagara, Dogon village, tribal harvest dance

Tribal dancer with elephant headdress, Bamenda, Cameroon, Africa

South Ethiopia, Omo region, among the tribe of the Hamar, Hamer, Hamma, Hammer, Amar or Amer, bulls for the initiation ritual, ceremony, the bull jump, Ethiopia, Africa

Argugun, Nigeria - 13 February 2026: View of a regal figure, adorned in vibrant robes and an elaborate turban, astride a decorated horse in the sun..

Niger, Agadez, Inebeizguine. Young Wodaabe men in traditional embroidered garments participate in the yakee dance known as the Dance of the Eyes.

Congo, Festivals, Dancers In Traditional Dress

Niger, Agadez, Inebeizguine. Young Wodaabe men in traditional embroidered garments participate in the yakee dance known as the Dance of the Eyes.

Colombia, North West Amazon, Tukano Indigenous People, Barasana Shaman Pacico Clutches Sacred Hardwood Prayer Stave During Chanting Session. He Wears Woven Monkey Fur Amulets Woven Cumare Fibre Garters On Legs And Sweet-Smelling Herbs On Arms Plus Macaw Toucan Feather Crown Tukano Sedentary Indian Tribe North Western Amazonia American Colombian Columbia Hispanic Indegent Latin America Latino Religion South America Tukano One Individual Solo Lone

The numerous decorated iron, brass, copper and leather bracelets worn by a Datoga woman. During song and dance, she will rub them together to keep rhythm.

Towards the end of a Sapana ceremony, the proud father of the initiate followed by his son leads a long line of women to the tribal elders.

Traditional medicine man (witch doctor and known as god thief) and dream intrepreter, Gamara Moida, practices in Gaho village, Konso tribe, Omo region, Ethiopia.

Africa, Namibia, Opuwo. Details of Himba woman's jewelry.

Namibia, Opuwo. Details of traditional Himba jewelry.

The heavy metal ankle ornaments of a Hamar woman of Southwest Ethiopia. The Hamar are semi nomadic pastoralists whose richly ochred women have striking styles of traditional dress.

Zulu warrior, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Village weaver, Ethiopia, Africa

Xingu, Brazil, South America

Mourning Himba women at a funeral, the widow in the middle, Omohanja, Kaokoland, Kunene, Namibia, Africa

Himba people, Kaokoveld, Namibia, Africa

Ethiopia, Lower Omo Valley, Turmi, 'Hamer Jumping Of The Bulls Initiation Ceremony, Women Sing And Dance Before The Bull Jumping Jane Sweeney '

Woman wearing traditional gold-disc hat, Seti, eastern Nepal

Gerewol Festival, Chad, Africa. Wide angle portrait of group of young Wodaabe men lined up to sing and dance. (Editorial Use Only)

Painted woman of the Mursi tribe wearing lip plate and basket on her head in the Mago National Park, Jinka, Debub Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Benin, Collines County, Vedji Dassa, During An Egoun Egoun Ceremony, Exit Of Akanemane Fetish, Spirit Of Dead

Chin Kaang hill-tribe woman with traditional facial tattoo and elaborate tribal earrings playing a flute with her nose, Mindat, Chin state, Myanmar, Asia

Portrait of Dogon teenager in traditional West African dress, Dogon County, Mali, West Africa (Editorial Usage Only)

Shot of hands in Nepal

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