All smiles after a young Hamar man, surrounded by his friends and relatives, has successfully completed his 'Jumping of the Bull' ceremony. The semi-nomadic Hamar of Southwest Ethiopia embrace an age-grade system that includes several rites of passage for young men. The most elaborate of them and the most important isthe 'Jumping of the Bull' ceremony. The climax to the ceremony in when the initiate leaps onto a line of ten or more of his family's bulls and runs along their backs; he must complete the feat twice in each direction. After the ceremony, the initiate attains full manhood and is permitted to marry.