News — Bodi Tribe

Men from this minority ethnic group, which is predominantly found in southern Ethiopia, compete to become the fattest at an annual ceremony called Ka’el. Before the ceremony, which is usually held on New Year’s Day, the male contestants spend six months drinking a mixture of fresh blood and milk in a bid to fatten up in the shortest time possible. Before the ceremony, which is usually held on New Year’s Day, the male contestants spend six months drinking a mixture of fresh blood and milk in a bid to fatten up in the shortest time possible.

Although the winner does not get any prize he is considered a hero for the rest of his life. As bizarre as it may appear, this practice remains one of the tribe’s most popular and treasured traditions. Because of the “fat man” contest, many young men from the Bodi tribe now view being fat as beautiful and a source of honor. Women and girls in this tribe also consider a man with a large waistline attractive and strong, which pushes a lot of unmarried men to want to pile up some pounds. Although they are slowly adopting farming as an alternative source of livelihood by growing sorghum and maize, the Bodis are one of the few tribes in Ethiopia that have refused to drop their traditional practices for the modern way of life.