Stick fights, called Donga, are very common in the Suri (Surma) tribe areas of Ethiopia. About 2,000 people, men, women, and kids, gather to watch fights with long sticks between two naked men. The fights can often turn very violent and bloody. It is a very intense and chaotic event that lasts all day, with lots of adrenaline pumping as many fights are happening simultaneously while people are screaming and yelling in support of the fighters. It can also be very dangerous for the spectators as the fighters move around the field and very often their swinging sticks can get dangerously close to the crowd, as in the picture above. It certainly felt good to have a guard with a machine gun right next to me while taking photos there. Photo © Konstantino Hatzisarros
