To Save a Child: An impure child, a mingi, in pictures? The Omo Valley in Ethiopia
Posted on: December 7, 2012
To Save a Child: An impure child? The Omo Valley in Ethiopia
Mingi is the ritualistic killing of infants and children who are mingi because they are considered impure or cursed.
A child can be mingi for many reasons, but once they are mingi they are left alone in the desert without food and water or drowned in a river.
The Omo River Valley is located in Southwest Ethiopia, Africa. It has been called “the last frontier” in Africa.
There are 9 main tribes that occupy the Omo River Valley, with a population of approximately 225,000 tribal peoples.
The majority of the people living in the Omo River Valley live without clean drinking water and without medical care.
Photographer Steve McCurry joined John Rowe in Ethiopia to photograph the work he is doing with Lale Labuko and his wife Gido in their work to end the practice of mingi (abandoned impure children) and to house
and shelter the mingi children who have already been rescued.
Steve McCurry had posted on October 2, 2012 “OMO RIVER, OMO VALLEY, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA“.
I could just insert the link in anyone of my posts on Africa, or just simply copy/paste.
Since I love this post, I decided to work on it a little bit and make it mine…
I met John in Burma a few years ago. He is a photographer and
successful businessman who has founded companies which develop software
for digital media and the entertainment industry.
He has also devoted a tremendous amount of time, energy, and
financial assistance to the work of Omo Child.
John Rowe and friends
Lale was born into the Kara Tribe in the Omo River Valley.
He was one of the first of his tribe to receive a formal education.
That opportunity led him to realize the critical importance of ending the tribal ritual of Mingi.
Outlawing and stopping this devastating practice of Mingi is his life’s mission.
Lale Labuko, founder of OMO Child
Once safely in the care of the loving and nurturing care of nannies at the Omo Child shelter,
they are fed, clothed, sheltered and educated.
The hope is that the rescued children will be future leaders in their communities and
will help raise awareness to help advocate the ending of the tribal practice of mingi.
The Omo River Valley is located in Southwest Ethiopia, Africa. It has been called “the last frontier” in Africa.
Lale and his wife Gido Labuko
Steve McCurry in the Omo Valley
Help John and Lale rescue and care for these children.
http://www.omochild.org
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2 Responses to "To Save a Child: An impure child, a mingi, in pictures? The Omo Valley in Ethiopia"
July 19, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Mingi children are not disabled. According to the documentary whose focus is Lale, they are only deemed so by the tribal elders. Two reasons for the killing are: 1) the upper teeth of a child grow before the lower ones and 2) the child is born to an unwed mother. Lale succeeded in his task and Mingi is now outlawed in his tribe but for 50,000 others it is still a real threat.
Adonis Diaries 
September 24, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Have you not seen innocence on the eyes of Mingis so called? Have you not seen reflection of God in their eyes. Have not seen HOPE on their eyes. Oh my God bless these innocents and please forgive those who are destroying future contribution the present civilization of these innocents. Please God!!!