Omo Child: The River and the Bush
Transcript for Translation
:03 (text) Little Pass Films
:19 (text) June 16,
2011 Southwest Ethiopia
:29 This way.
Hurry
:34 She’s over there.
1:00 He found her in
the bush.
1:04 Is she alive?
(Title on screen)
Omo Child: The River and the Bush
1:29 (text) Kara
Village Omo Valley, Ethiopia
1:34 A long time ago
the Kara people lived in the mountains with many cattle and goats. One day a bull broke away from the herd and
found a river.
2:09 When the bull
returned to the tribe they discovered mud on his feet. They began to track his path, far from their
village.
2:27 After a long
journey they found the Omo River.
2:37 The herders
returned to the tribe and told the elders to move down to the river where there
was good farming land. That’s where we have remained.
3:16 (text) Dore
Lokoya Kara Elder
3:21 Listen carefully.
3:25 We Kara elders
are different. We are a unique
people. Look at our left ear. We have marks that indicate our uniqueness.
3:47 I can’t say how
long our people have lived here but it has been many, many years.
3:59 Since before the
grandfather of the grandfather of my grandfather.
4:11 (text) Ari Lale
Kara Gate Keeper
4:14 We Kara people
believe that there is a God that created us and nature.
4:24 The Kara believe
in three things, rain, the harvest and livestock.
4:39 When the rain
comes, we believe that is God.
4:46 (text) Babur
Mayde Kara Elder
4:51 We Kara people
work hard to sustain our families, by
farming and raising cattle.
5:04 The family is
most important for our tribe. The children are needed to help with the animals.
They are important for our future.
5:33 (text) Bi Lale
5:37 As women we work
a lot. We are always gathering what we need. Everyday is the same.
5:54 It is our
responsibility for all the firewood.
6:02 We collect all
the water, sometimes ten trips a day.
6:36 These things are
challenging in our lives.
6:41 (text) Labuko
Lale Kara Elder
6:47 Let me tell you
about our past.
6:50 A long time ago,
the Kara people were many.
6:57 We were a strong,
powerful tribe, feared and respected.
7:07 Everything has changed.
7:19 The mingi
has cursed our land.
7:45 We have many
struggles now. The land is cursed and dry.
8:06 I don’t want to
talk about the mingi. I can’t talk about the mingi.
8:18 Only the elders
have the power to talk about that.
8:24 (text) Dore Akir
Kara King
8:30 Mingi goes
way back, it’s really ancient.
8:38 There are three
types of mingi and every mingi child must be killed.
8:52 My father was a
king, Iam a king. I’m doing my father’s
work. We do this for the protection of our people.
9:03 I asked my
father, “Why do we kill the mingi children?”
9:10 Was there some
harm or miser in the past that happened because of mingi kids?
9:18 He said , “A
cursed boy was buried in the village, his blood poisoned the land and his
family died.”
9:33 I don’t want to
think of these things.
9:37 All of these
things I want to forget.
9:44 Now you make me
think about all of these things.
9:55 I have seen many
children killed in my lifetime, many children killed before my eyes.
10:05 Usually the
women do the killing.
10:13 One way they
kill is by strangling with a rope, then they throw it in the bush.
10:26 Maybe wild
animals eat the body.
10:32 (text) Dore Lale
Haila Kara Elder
10:36 My second son
was mingi and they strangled him with a rope. They killed him and threw
him in the bush.
10:45 Sometimes I
dream of him. He comes and stands in front of me, physically, and then
disappears.
10:58 I think everyone
has had an experience.
11:13 My grandfathers
and grandmothers died from mingi sickness.
11:23 My daughter had
a mingi pregnancy. I was very angry with her.
11:33 We have no hope.
11:45 (text) Korcho
Village Omo Valley, Ethiopia
12:09 My name is Lale
Labuko, I’m from the Omo Valley.
12:19 I love my
people. The Kara people, they are very isolated from the world.
12:30 They have no
money, there’s no electricity.
12:36 They don’t know
about the world. They think, just them and the other tribes.
12:49 That’s their
world.
12:53 The Kara people
are not bad people, they are very good
people.
13:03 They have a
great hospitality.
13:09 Even if you
don’t have, you can go and eat with other family.
13:16 If somebody have
no family orphan can live with other family because we live together as a
group.
13:28 It’s like really
social life and completely different from the western world.
15:08 My name is
Synde. I can’t talk about the mingi here because I fear the curse.
15:14 Maybe the curse
will come to me.
15:20 I follow all the
decisions the elders make. They are like our fathers. As young people, we obey
them.
15:29 That is the way
it is.
15:33 Every cursed
child needs to be removed. I accept it
as a part of our culture.
15:40 That is the way
it has been for a long time.
15:48 I’m not going to
keep a mingi child. I would rather kill it to protect my people.
15:59 Why would I
bring disaster to my land?
16:05 During all my
pregnancy I knew, that one day my child was going to be killed.
16:14 No one wants a mingi
child.
16:19 My mother was
very angry with me.
16:24 When I gave
birth my mother was not there. I just
left the baby on the ground.
16:37 If we keep mingi
children then all of the elders will die.
16:43 I was raised to
keep my people and traditions safe.
17:09 (text) Labuko
Zino Gunza Lale’s Father Hami
Gnalawu Wuka Lale’s Mother
17:14 When I decided
to send Lale to school everyone was angry with me. My friends insulted me.
17:21 The elders were
unhappy with my decision. The elders told me it was not permitted in our
culture. Our children are needed to
help farm and to help protect the tribe.
17:35 I told them,
“This was my son and this was my decision.”
17:44 Most Kara boys
herd goats and work in the village.
17:49 When he was
home, instead of watching the farm, he was reading his school book, or writing
on the ground with a stick.
17:59 I saw how smart
my son was but the elders were against him going to school. I went against the
elders. I sent my son away to get an education.
18:27 So when I was
nine years old I left my village. I went to school.
18:33 We have to walk
70 miles from my village without any shoes and we walk in the afternoon when
it’s cool and in the night and the morning.
18:53 You know,
there’s no water. It’s the desert.
19:09 Most of my
friends, they gave up.
19:15 I walked for
twelve years barefoot, to get my education.
19:33 I’m one of the
first that went to school out of Kara.
19:44 I was so nervous
with everything.
19:52 It was different
for me, I see a different world. They indroduce me the pen and the paper. I’ve
never seen in my village.
20:06 Education is
precondition for the peace. It’s the answer for poverty.
20:16 I learned that
everyone, all human being is equal.
20:24 Education is
more essential than anything.
20:30 The first time I
heard about mingi I was fifteen years old.
20:37 When I come back
to the village for vacation. I saw the elders come and grab two year old baby.
20:46 They grab from
the mother, the mother was crying, and the child was crying.
20:53 Some elders told
the family not to cry, they say “Quiet. This is mingi.”
20:59 They take the
baby to the river. And they killed the two year old baby.
21:18 Quickly I just
go back to my home, and I ask my mother, “What’s going on there?” “They call
mingi and they took the baby,” and my mother start explaining for the first
time.
21:29 She say “Mingi
is a curse. Mingi means some children, they born with bad luck.”
21:37 My mother
explained there’s three types of mingi, woman mingi, girl mingi, and teeth
mingi.”
21:49 Girl mingi
is, when the girl pregnant before the marriage.
21:57 Women mingi
is, when child born without elders blessing.
22:07 Teeth mingi,
means when teeth come on top before the bottom teeth they consider us mingi.”
22:19 At the end she
said, “Lale this two year old baby, was declared as teeth mingi. So that’s why
the elders took because they don’t want that chld kept in the village, because
it’s a curse.”
22:35 It bring
disease, sickness, drought, no rain, nothing. People will suffer more.
22:41 “By the way.” My
mother said, :You had two older sisters they was mingi, and they killed them.”
22:56 I was so sad and
it’s very tough time for me to learn something like very cruel and barbaric
it’s just hard, you know, and I said, “Someone has to stop these things.”
23:15 I felt if I
would be strong that time I could have saved that two year old baby. I knew I
was too young, I have to go back to school to prepare myself to come back and
help my people.
23:42 (text) Mingi
Gate
23:51 When someone has
killed a mingi child they bring the woman to the mingi gate for a blessing.
24:05 The woman must be
cleansed from her sin.
24:13 My father was
the guardian of the mingi gate. Now it is my responsibility.
24:31 The most common
tupe of mingi is girl mingi. That’s because a man can have many wives and many
girlfriends.
24:42 someone could
have as many as three to four children killed per year.
24:54 I’ve had many of
my own children killed. If you keep a mingi child, it will be a curse for the
land and also for the people. Only that child will remain.
25:12 I know an older
woman in my village that killed twelve children due to mingi.
25:47 (text) Muko
25:50 I killed twelve,
twelve mingi children. I don’t feel remorse about killing them.
26:01 If you drink
water with a mingi family, the water is poison and you will die that day.
26:09 I’m old, I’m not
afraid of dying. It’s something the young people need to worry about.
26:18 When I was young
I was beautiful. In my time we never put western clothes on our bodies.
26:33 We only dressed
in goatskin and at night we used cow skin. But today all the young people they
all want to dress in western fashion.
26:52 Lale comes here
and thinks he’s educated. He cannot stop the mingi curse.
27:05 Ending mingi is
against our culture.
27:19 After I
graduated my high school, I went to the teacher training institute and I become
a teacher.
27:29 So after you
graduate you have to choose, to stay in the town or go the village to help
young people, educating them.
27:51 Always it’s in
my mind, in the back of my mind, one day I’m going to challenge the elders. I’m
going to save these children’s life.
28:02 If we end mingi
practice, that means we save the whole generation. I discussed with many young
people. One of them was Lale Biwa.
28:13 Lale Biwa is very strong guy, very
influential and have a good impact in the village.
28:22 (text) Lale Biwa
28:25 As a family we
have been discussing these issues. When and how this is going to stop?
28:33 The future of
the Kara is difficult. The number of
the Kara population every year goes down.
28:44 You see the mingi, people have been killing
when we were, when I was a small child. So I heard it from my family and they
have been many children have been killed that time. Very serious.
29:01 You see, the
power, the future of the Kara is on the hands of the elders. So, many times I’m
sharing my ideas with them.
29:12 You see ok, you
see some are ok supporting my ideas. Some are between. Some are completely
out. This is original, our culture but
we can’t continue like that.
29:27 You see I…before
I married my wife, you see she was my girlfriend.
29:39 You see from her
is one child was killed. So the girl group, took the baby after she gave birth.
They took the baby, take to the forest and on the mouth of the baby they put
soil completely and no breathing nothing.
It died.
30:12 It’s a boy, it’s
a boy.
30:22 When my
girlfriend was pregnant my brother’s, the first wife was pregnant, and they
gave the birth, two days difference.
30:44 And today, my
brother’s son, is a big boy. So I miss my son.
31:17 How many
children has been killed in Kara and Hamer?
It’s unbelievable.
31:34 But we say, “One
day change will come.” We can’t continue like this, but one day will come
change.
32:04 I first met Lale at the Jinka Museum.
32:14 (text) Gido
Labuko Lale’s Wife
32:17 It was love at first sight.
32:23 When Gido is my
girlfriend the parents had decided to give for another person they already
engaged. They said, “The Kara is not
marrying Arbore because, Arbore marry to in Arbore, not to Kara.” That’s
unusual there. I stand there for her, I say “No.” We have to stop this.
32:47 It only took me 5 months to decide to marry
him.
32:59 After we have a
baby, we love Regina very much, very much. I remember we were discussing about
mingi children, and I explained to Gido
the people are killing the children. If
Regina’s teeth come on the top they kill Regina.
33:23 He shared with me the horrors he had seen
and told me the story that changed him.
33:45 In 2007 I was in the village, sleeping in
the night. I heard the children are crying.
In the moring I asked people, I said, “I heard many children crying,
what happened?” Now it’s quiet. They said, “This is your uncle children. They killed them.” That’s the time I was very angry and I have to stop that.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
34:32 I was touched
and saddened by his story I told him we need to fight for these children. I said, “Lale we could bring the mingi kids
into our home if that would keep them safe.
If we don’t have enough food or money, God would see us through. So let’s start.”
34:59 (text) Labuk
Village 2008
35:16 We sitting here
now and we’re drinking coffee and ask the family to give us for pregnant
women. This the one we discuss here.
35:34 I am here to
rescue your daughter’s baby. Please look to the future. When I was young and
the missionaries came to Kara, no one knew about education. Now that is
changing. I want to see the same with
mingi. I am asking your permission. Let
me be a river. Let me be a bush. Please give me the baby after the birth.
36:22 It’s a good
idea, but I’m scared. I’m worried for the future. The elders would be angry.
Maybe next time, the next child, but for now it’s not possible.
36:51 This is very
hard for my family. I think my daughter
will be cursed. It’s just too new of an
idea. I can’t take the risk.
37:17 We were ready to
save the child. The mother had agreed
but the father was scared. I was very sad because I know what happens to the
child in his culture.
38:04 I think after
that I said, I’m strong enough. I have to challenge these things. Some of my
ideas say don’t start, if you start it’s risky you going to die. But some of my insides said take the risk,
you know, you are one life but you can save many.
38:27 If you lack
allies here, they will kill you. One time, I clearly heard the elders were
plotting against Lale. They were
planning to kill him.
38:57 The biggest
challenge is elders. Before you do something you have to ask elders. It’s a risky thing, it’s like this culture
exist for many many years and today you’re changing something that exist with
you’re ancestors? It’s a big risk.
39:24 Everything has
changed. New things have come. Education has come. The government and like
Lale are telling us tht mingi is wrong.
Who are they? They cannot protect us.
39:42 In my culture,
one piece of firewood cannot boil the water and directly I start speaking with
my father. I said, “I want to stop these things.”
39:55 I thought Lale
was crazy, I thought maybe it would bring a curse on our family. And I asked him: “Why are you bringing this
idea? Is that good for you? Is that good for our family? Why don’t you go work
for the government?”
40:13 He was really
not sure he suspect that the elders would be angry, the community will be
angry.
40:20 But Lale kept
pushing me, saying “Let’s try. Maybe the elders will accept it.” And he told me
that “There is no curse, and that everything will be fine.” But I was
fearful. My heart was not right. I
didn’t think things could change.
40:37 I told him,
“Dad, you have to understand one thing, the first time you sent me to school
because, the other elders didn’t decide that.
You were different from them. So
now it’s my time, I have to be different. I want to take the risk and I want to
save these kids.”
40:57 Lale told me he
would be the river, he would be the bush.
He would take the children out of the village and build a home for
them. So he convinced me. He asked me what to do. I suggested he try asking some families
whose children were sentenced to death.
41:32 (text) Hylo
Ari Kara Elder
41:36 I am one of the
victims of mingi. Last year my daughter was declared teeth mingi. Her teeth
showed from the top first, instead of the bottom.
41:47 (text) DARA KEKE
ARI – HYLO’S WIFE
41:51 Bale was a
beautiful girl. She hardly ever cried. One day we were at the river to find mud
for clay posts. I stopped to feed her.
While feeding, she smiled and I noticed, she had two teeth coming from the top.
I told my husband that our baby had two teeth coming in from the top.
42:14 I told my wife,
“Let’s not rush into anything.” By accident a neighbor woman noticed. Nobody
else saw.
42:24 She said, “There
is nothing you can do, she is mingi.”
42:33 The neighbor
asked us what we were going to do. In my mind it was unthinkable to drown my
child in the river. That conversation was supposed t be a secret, but she told
the whole village. Everyone found out.
43:02 As a parent it’s
heartbreaking to see them kill the child you raised for two years. Bale was two
years old and we loved her so much. I
swore to God, no one is going to kill my flesh and blood. I will be the first
Kara man to stand up to the elders.
43:41 The elders came
to me and insisted that I kill my daughter.
I refused. I put my rifle beside
me, and told them, “I will kill whoever takes my child.”
44:08 They decided to
be away from the people because most of time they take the children when the
family was not around or sometimes in the night, sometimes daytime. So they
decided to protect their child in the other side of the river.
44:29 People isolated
me because I had a mingi child.
44:37 Most of time the families give up and they
let their children to be killed because you can’t live alone you always have to
share with other people.
44:55 The elders said,
“The harvest would be poisoned because we were mingi.” There was a big meeting
and they decided they were going to come and take Bale and kill her.
45:14 Immediately I
send Gude to discuss with Hylo to rescue Bale.
45:21 (text) GUDE ARI
45:24 I knew Hylo
because he is family to me. I assured Hylo that no one would hurt him or his
family if he gives us his child.
45:42 Gude told me that Lale was going to come
with a car and rescue Bale. After a few
days, the rescue group came with a car and I was ready with my wife and child.
46:00 That’s how my daughter was sent away.
46:07 When I gave her
to Lale I was crying. My tears were falling. My wife was crying. We had a lot of emotions.
46:24 We had a
relationship with Bale. She was already
walking and talking. I know she is
getting good care.
46:42 When we brought
Bale to our house we washed Bale, take the bath. She’s introduced to the
western world and we put some clothes on her and put her in good bed and give
her some milk and food and she was really happy.
47:00 When I saw Bale,
I was so happy! I hadn’t really believed that we could rescue even one
child. When I saw her face, there are
no words for my emotions.
47:21 I remember my two older sisters when I see
Bale. So I feel, you know like I have to do more.
47:30 When I looked
into her eyes, I knew we could rescue more.
47:39 When I discussed
with many of my friends they said, “Lale this will be risk for you.
This will be very dangerous for your family.” I explained my vision. I said,
“Our future depends on us. As
young people, we have to work together to change these people to change the
Omo.”
48:01 Lale has been a
great advisor to me. He encouraged me
to go to school, and be a leader for my tribe.
48:10 When I was seventeen I had a girlfriend who
was pregnant and had a mingi baby. When my son was born, the women group took
my son from the hut. They tied a rope
around his neck, then they put dirt in his mouth to silence his cries.
48:40 I felt I killed
him because I did not stand up for him. No one ever talked about ending mingi.
Lale was the first one who talked about ending mingi. I wanted to help him
fight for the children that could not protect themselves.
49:03 I was targeting
educated young people because the educated young people are easier to explain
the idea.
49:13 We pledged, to
watch who’s pregnant, when they give birth they have to be around.
49:13 (text) SILBO
SHANKO, KARA FAYESSA BABUR, KARA
49:35 We are a new
generation, ready for change. That is
why I work with Lale. I want to end mingi. I don’t believe in curses.
49:52 These curses are
ancient beliefs. We are here to protect the children.
49:57 All the young
people agree we should stop mingi.
50:02 We heard a
mother gave birth in the bush and left the baby alone to die. So, we went to save the baby before it was
too late.
50:11 (text) June 16,
2011
50:17 Aryio! Let’s go!
There is not much time. Tell them we will be there in 8 to 9 hours.
50:48 We saw th4e
baby’s grandmother and she told us, “The baby is in the forest for the animals
to eat.” We had to hurry.
51:00 The elders found
out about the birth and were on their way to kill the baby.
51:13 It was almost dark when we found her, she
was alone, dirty and bloody.
51:46 This way. Hurry. She’s over there.
52:13 Is she alive?
Let us see the baby.
53:51 I couldn’t
believe she survived. I was so
surprised to hear she was alive. I’m
not looking for whether or not she can come back. I am happy she was rescued,
she has a future now. There’s talk about ending mingi but this is a very
dangerous idea. We will see what happens if a mingi child stays in the tribe.
54:25 (text) OMO CHILD
HOME Jinka, Ethiopia
54:49 After I rescued
four kids we decided to have a house. We have only one nanny, Zeritu.
55:00 (text) ZERITU
TSEDAL HEAD NANNY
55:02 I was amazed to hear about the rescues. I have known about the killing of
children. I was honored to be part of
this change to give these children a future.
55:18 Clearly there
was two things I’m facing. One is, I’m worried that if we keep taking the
children, we are very limited with money and more kids are coming. So every
month we have one more kid, one more kid.
55:43 (text) BABY
JESSICA
55:48 If we say no,
the child going to be killed.
55:54 I had a family,
I had a child at that time but when these children come there’s no option for
me I can’t retreat because I already started. I want these children to succeed
and everyone can see they are blessed.
56:14 That time is
very risky for myself, for my life. I come back t Dus and I have a big meeting
with elders.
56:22 (text) DUS
VILLAGE
56:32 They said, “Lale
you know in our culture, if you farmed the land monkeys, they sneak and they
steal the corn.”
56:48 The first time
when they do that you say, “Oh there’s a monkey there. So, second time if the monkey come you
kill.”
57:05 “Lale you saved
six children. So the first time you
steal these children from us but next time, if you try to save the children, we
will kill you.” I told them, “I’m your child, I’m not a monkey but I listened
to you. I respect your warning.”
57:33 So I have to go back to Jinka, and I stayed
there for two months. In two months
they killed eleven kids in Dus. Eleven.
I say, “What can I do?” How can I move the most majority to come to one
idea? So I decided to take four kids back to the village. I want to show for
the tribe that these children are healthy, they are not cursed.
58:01 They don’t even
still believe, that I have kids. They
never see the mingi kids. So I have to show them.
58:12 I drove to Dus,
to my father’s house. I put in the car one nanny and my friend, we just drove.
58:30 My fear was
they’re going to take the children from me and they kill. The elders are many. They can easily take
the children from me.
59:03 All the women
and girls they come to the house and look at the children. For them it’s
something new, because they never see a mingi kid.
59:18 When Lale
brought the mingi kids back it was amazing.
It was like a resurrection. It
was like the kids were back from the dead.
Some demanded that we take them back to Jinka because we brought the
curse with us.
59:39 Some saw how
beautiful they looked, how normal they looked.
59:48 Many people said,
“From today, I don’t want to kill my child.” So many people grabbed my hand and
said, “Lale, I will give my child, if it’s mingi.”
1:00:00 Immediately the elders sent a messenger and
they told me, “Lale if you don’t leave in 5 minutes, we will take these kids
and kill in front of you. We will throw
in the river.”
1:00:22 So that’s the warning, that’s it, and I say,
“Thank you.” And I took the children, I left in three minutes.
1:00:33 Some of the
families decided there is somewhere that they can secure their kids. Lale can take my child and live far away.
1:00:50 To end mingi in the Kara, Lale needs the
elders support. I told him I would see if there was any support in the tribe.
1:01:13 I talked to
two people about ending mingi, they went directly to the elders and told
them. The elder’s called me to the
ceremony house. They said, “You’re
Lale’s father, tell him to stop.” If you continue this thing, we will burn down
your house.”
1:01:35 I said, “You
have no power to do that. I’m just sharing an idea. You have no right to
threaten me.”
1:01:47 Having my
father in my back, it’s big. That time I’m worried for him, maybe they will
attack him or they take his wealth. It’s really hard time. Yeah, it was hard.
1:02:07 Lale asked if anyone was supporting him. I
said just two or three people.
1:02:23 Wherever I go, the other tribes say, ‘There
are the Kara, the child killers.” I am not a child killer. This is not what I want the Kara to be known
for.
1:02:41 My
responsibility here in this community is to reach others who have resources to
save my people. We observed that the
rescued mingi children are healthy. The
children demonstrate that change is possible.
Rescuing children is more beneficial to our community than killing
them. That’s why I support ending
mingi.
1:03:14 the real
killer is disease, not mingi. Dirty drinking water. No medicine.
1:03:29 For too long we were saying that mingi is
part of our ancestors’ culture. Lale
organized a meeting with the Kara and his organization. The government was also
invited to talk.
1:03:47 (text) DUS
VILLGE DEC 14, 2011
1:03:57 We had big meeting in that bush down
there. The government people were
there. The Omo child people were there.
All the Kara elders were there. It was very complicated.
1:04:20 (text)
ATOWLELE ALMA KELE CHIEF GOVERNMENT
ADMINISTRATOR
1:04:25 For the past 6 years, the government has
tried to end the mingi practice. It’s
been hard with limited resources and very difficult to get the tribes to listen
to our plans. We informed the tribes of the laws of Ethiopia. According to the
constitution of Ethiopia it is illegal to kill anyone.
1:04:58 We told them, “If they kill their child,
they will be arrested.” The child needs to stay in the tribe. You can’t force a child from her mother.
1:05:20 The government and organizations like
Lale’s told us that mingi is
wrong. Now they threaten to arrest us
for our beliefs.
1:05:34 Since the God
created these areas, they have been killing
thousands of thousands of children.
They think what they are doing is right.
1:05:49 The mingi
children must be killed, because if you don’t, the pure Kara will die. It’s a
curse for the land.
1:06:00 You can’t say
just keep the children or end mingi at that moment it was really hot. Some want to kill the children some want to
rescue the kids. In that moment it was really hard to talk about ending mingi.
So I said, “Please let me take the mingi child out of the tribe. Maybe the
curse will follow them.”
1:06:31 That’s why I said for the elders, I said,
“Let me be a bush. Let me be a river.” And some say, “No, even if we give away,
the curse will come back later.” So it was debate between, the curse will go
away or the curse will come back.
1:06:58 Forty, is accepted the idea. Sixty percent , no.
1:07:08 So with the
government and elders was arguing because the government is telling the Kara
the mingi children must stay at the village.
But the Kara refuse because they believe with their spirit, because if
they keep the children in the village it’s curse.
1:07:40 Most Kara, were not convinced to change the
mingi culture. Even me. The government
said we must keep the cursed children.
That is dangerous, the curse would come and kill my people. We did agree
to let Lale take some cursed children out of the tribe.
1:08:16 (text) OMO
CHILD HOME May 14, 2012
1:08:32 I was so happy
because we are saving lives, but at the same time I created another problem. I
can see everything is getting difficult; financially I was worried because more
kids will come. How can I feed all these kids?
1:09:05 I was thinking
about how can I challenge the government? How can I challenge the elders? For
tribes, I’m worried that the government’s going to put the people in prison
because the government already put it clearly that if someone is going to kill
a child we’re going to put them in prison.
1:09:28 I received a
call from my wife Gido that would change everything. A baby was born in Korcho
village.
1:09:44 The elders
said, “We don’t want to kill, because if we kill it’s criminal but we can’t
feed her.” She was left in the hut to die.
1:09:58 We needed the
Kara to keep the baby in the village. Giving the baby away doesn’t solve the
mingi issue.
1:10:08 The government
told us not to rescue. The government and Kara were talking for two weeks.
1:10:18 The Kara elders had not changed the culture.
The child will curse the tribe.
1:10:27 We threatened with police, to take them to
jail. Nothing worked.
1:10:37 The elders were very angry. They said, “We
going to fight.” So everyone took their guns. It will be a big war.
1:10:51 I talked to Lale and told him, “This
situation is impossible, the elders are too stubborn.” We now needed Omo Child
to rescue the baby.
1:11:05 One of friend of mine, Bona Sharpo, rescued
her. But Tensai was fed for two weeks
only water. When they send me a picture
of the baby I start crying.
1:11:39 I knew that there’s more children would be
like this. We have to stop mingi now. Tomorrow we have to go to Dus.
1:12:01 I called a meeting. No outsiders. No
government. Only me and my age set and the Kara elders. We have one friend of
mine with a camera for our protection.
This would be the most important meeting we would ever have.
1:12:24 I’m speaking to you young people. It’s you
young men who are getting girls pregnant.
I’m telling you, I can’t take any more children. It’s too hard. Everyone knows that mingi is wrong. I’ve been teaching about this
for four years.
1:12:49 Now if you make a girl pregnant, it’s your
problem. It’s not my problem. Please, elders what can we do? Things will
only get more difficult. Now I will open the floor to debate.
1:13:08 When Lale speaks, sometimes only one person
really opposes him. But that one loud
person can make it seem like everyone is against Lale.
1:13:23 Do you think this generation of Kara is
good? You are bad Kara. We Kara people
used to be able to keep a secret. Now
you’re a bunch of loudmouths. Telling
everyone about everything. I can’t trust this generation.
1:13:47 We used to have meetings about farming and
our cattle. Now it’s always about penises and vaginas. You say you don’t have
space for these children. But in my culture I have to kill them. What can we
do?
1:14:14 Other tribes ended mingi in their own way.
So we must end it in a Kara way. I’m sick of it.
1:14:24 I was so worried and nervous that if they
didn’t accept that day nothing is going to happen.
1:14:33 The boys are sneaking like hyenas looking
for the girls. After he’s found her and had sex with her. He get’s her pregnant and leaves her. If you
have any solutions please bring them up.
1:15:01 You could start to see a different response
than any meeting we had before.
1:15:10 You elders are resisting the change. You want to continue the killing. I know you
are strong. I know you don’t want to change mingi. When you speak without thinking
you set yourself up for failure. You have to consider if mingi practice is
helping us or hurting us.
1:15:45 I am there, I am listening, but I can’t read
their hearts.
1:15:58 I’m tired of this! The issue of mingi is
taking over my life. Our people are facing serious hunger. As a Kara elder, I’m
responsible for all of these issues.
1:16:19 We needed to as an elder, we needed to make
a decision for the future of the Kara.
1:16:25 I like Lale’s ideas, but you elders must
speak the truth. What are we doing? Why are we killing lives? Is there anyone
here who wants to kill a child? I want ten people to admit to that.
1:16:47 As Kara elders we stated to realize that the
mingi practice was harming us. We had to make a decision. For the future of our
tribe.
1:17:06 you need to tell everyone. As loud as a
machine gun. You have to invite the women and girls and boys! You have to
invite the women and girls and boys! Tell everyone what you decide!
1:17:20 Let’s bless
our meeting! Can we agree together?
Yes! Can we agree together? Yes! Can we make a decision? Yes! For our
people? Yes! For our future? Yes! Let us vote.
1:17:35 They say we accepted to end mingi and they
put the date July 14th that’s the day they declared. But I’m worried, I’m not sure that they’re
going to end the mingi practice.
1:18:12 DUS
VILLAGE July 14 2012
1:18:17 All the Kara elder’s went to the ceremony
house. To show their decisions.
1:18:31 We had a vote
at the ceremony house before we could do the culture change at the mingi gate.
1:18:48 We had finally made our decision after a
long debate.
1:18:55 They started coming from the ceremony house
where the mingi gate is.
1:19:05 The ceremony house and the mingi gate are
facing each other. Our ancestors must
have known this day was coming. That’s the reason they built them that way.
1:19:24 And they sit in front of that gate.
1:19:40 It was time to do the mingi culture change.
1:19:56 I slaughtered the lamb at the mingi gate
because the lamb is a symbol of cleanliness from sin. Kara people, today I
slaughtered my father’s lamb to end mingi practice forever. If any Kara kills a
mingi child they will have a curse put on them. I cleanse the gate.
1:20:23 Right away the started roasting the lamb and
two elders stand and they start proclaiming that mingi has ended.
1:20:36 Listen…Listen…People of Dus! We have been
discussing about mingi for a long time.
Is mingi bad or good? My ancestors were wrong. We were also wrong. Dus
we are known and recognized as beautiful, brave and colorful people. Today,
bless you and this land.
-Bless
1:21:07 Today, bless you and this land.
-Bless
1:21:08 Mingi go away.
-Go Away
1:21:08 Never again.
-Never
1:21:09 Never again.
-Never
1:21:11 Mingi practice die.
-Yes
1:21:12 God pour blessings.
-Yes
1:21:13 God pour blessings.
-Yes
1:21:19 I asked for a blessing from God to send
rain. Please rain, come. Please rain,
come.” The rain will bless our
decision.
1:21:31 Listen carefully girls and boys. We have
publicly declared to end mingi. Now I ask for blessing for our people.
1:21:42 We were
begging God to pour blessings from the sky. If it rains, God has blessed our
decision.
1:21:55 Can God bless them?
-Yes
1:21:56 Bless the
leaders for their work.
-Bless
1:21:57 Blessing in their lives.
-Bless
1:22:00 Bless our people.
-Yes
1:22:01 Bless our land
-Bless
1:22:03 Bless the young.
-Yes
1:22:04 From today, the name mingi will never be
heard!
1:22:13 Right after five minutes I see the rain
coming from the river side.
1:22:27 I see the wind
it’s big from mountain side.
1:22:52 Finally mingi has ended for my people.
1:22:58 All the people were surprised and astonished
at what happened that day. It was like
a miracle for all the people. That rain
was something we had never seen.
1:23:19 Today is really, spiritual day and if you
can seehow the rain is coming now after they stop everything. This is amazing. This is amazing.
1:24:05 Omo Child saved many doctors. (text at same time) TENSAI Women Mingi;
Future Doctor.
1:24:14 Many nurses. (text at same time) JESSICA
Girl Mingi; Future Nurse.
1:24:19 (text) ALEMA Teeth Mingi ; Future Pilot
Many pilots.
1:24:24 Our children are very special and loved very
much.
1:24:38 It is very important for these children to
succeed. They will be the next doctor,
engineer or pilot. All of them could
have been killed but are now the next leaders of their generation.
1:24:54 Omo Child has to do many things, to bring them up.
1:25:56 (text) First
mingi baby accepted by Kara
1:26:03 Now we see the mingi children are growing
healthy and no curse happens to their family.
We are hoping God will open more doors to the changes he seeks and keep
all the children healthy and happy.
1:26:20 We did it our way. We did the right thing.
We are all happy it has ended. It has
ended.
1:26:38 Now mingi ended, we can keep our
children. We will be strong.
1:26:48 As a result of many people’s efforts we
changed the mingi gate forever. We ended it, forever.
Final Text:
The lower Omo Valley
in southwest Ethiopia is home to eight tribes with an estimated population of
200,000.
50,000 continue the
practice mingi.
Omo Child provides
food, shelter and education for the rescued children of the Omo Valley.
Lale and Omo Child
continue their mission to end mingi forever.