The Nyangatom live on the west bank of the lower Omo River. Their territory extends all the way to the Kenyan and Sudanese borders and also to Sudan itself. Like most tribes in the area they are – as they claim – surrounded only by enemies: to the south are the aggressive Turkana, to the north the Surma, and to the east across the river the Dassanech.

The Nyangatom were the first tribe in the Omo Valley to use automatic weapons (AK-47) which they obtained from Sudan just across the border. They use the machine guns to guard their precious cattle against thieves from neighbouring tribes and also to fight the tribal wars. Herds of cows are their most valuable property. Other tribes don't like the Nyangatom (mainly because they fear them) and call them pejoratively the Bume, which translates as ”stinking”. They themselves told us that Nyangatom means ”a yellow gun”, or also ”elephant eaters”, make your choice ... They are indeed fierce warriors which is supposedly demonstrated by their custom to scar their chest; one scar for each killed enemy.

Heavy necklaces and long skirts from goat skins, which are richly decorated, are characteristic for the women. Necklaces were traditionally made from dry seeds, but these days they have been largely replaced with colourful glass beads coming from Kenya. The women also decorate themselves with ornamental scarification on their faces, chests, and bellies. Traditionally, until recently, the men were completely naked – just as the better known Surma and Mursi. But lately they adopted a large piece of cloth, which they usually wear tied across the shoulder or wrapped around their hips, or even shorts and shirts. Also famous are the unique deep wells which the Nyangatom people must dig in dry riverbeds during dry season in the villages far from the Omo river.