This visit resulted into one of the weirdest days while traveling in Africa. We paid an overall entrance fee to visit to the Mursi tribe in Ethiopia, but to take a picture of the tribe members we had to pay 20 cents for every picture. All the tribe members donned their traditional dress. Mursi woman are famous for using lip plates to stretch their lips. Of course, they were competing against each other and begging to get their pictures taken. It was EXTREMELY awkward and a bit sad. After the ordeal, many people in the group suggested it would have been better if we paid a larger entrance fee and been able to take unlimited pictures, but I’m guessing the authenticity of the outfits would deteriorate due to the lack of monetary incentive. The payment per picture provides the individuals’ the incentive to dress to impress.
This entire experience can be classified as slum tourism. The poorer they are, or in this case, the most outrageously, yet albeit authentically, dressed they are the more money they will earn. Something just isn’t right about that. It’s a little bit too circus or zoo like.
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