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The creative landscape of the Omo
This chapter by Jon Abbink appeared in The Rift. Scar of Africa. Africa's Rift erupted 25 million years ago along the eastern part of Africa created a beautiful 6 400 km scar that has shaped, and, in turn, been shaped by those who live and traverse its contours. It is a land of full of natural splendours. Volcanic forces gave rise to immense geological textures and ecological diversity that birthed an explosion of humanity.
Stunning photos by Shem Compion form the core of this book. He invites us all to look anew and with wonder at something that is simultaneously a geological phenomenon, a cultural concept, a birthplace of humanity and a natural laboratory. This landmark book, with its imagery and essays, celebrates the Rift as a metaphor of a complex and dynamic reality, stretching from a distant past to an as yet undefined future, intertwining humanity and nature in an epic discourse.
'With stunning photos and compelling text, this important book not only captures the complexities of this vital ecosystem, but emphasises the urgent need for conservation efforts that combine science and compassion.'
- Dr. Jane Goodall (3 April 1934-1 October 2025), Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace)
This chapter appeared in The Rift. Scar of Africa, Shem Compion, ed., pp. 165-169. Johannesburg: HPH Publishing (hardcover).
About the author(s) / editor(s)
Jon Abbink is an anthropologist-historian and carries out research on the history and cultures of the Horn of Africa (Northeast Africa), particularly Ethiopia. He is Professor Emeritus of Politics and Governance in Africa at Leiden University.
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Posted on 17 November 2025, last modified on 17 November 2025