Nitha

Synopsis: This is Leslie Woodhead’s fifth DISAPPEARING WORLD film made with the Mursi of south-west Ethiopia since 1985, made at the same time as THE LAND IS BAD.
The nitha is an ‘age set ceremony’ of the Mursi people of south-west Ethiopis. It confers adulthood to a whole new generation of men, affirming their individual identities as adults as well as their group identity as Mursi. This is the first time the ceremony has been performed in 30 years because of a series of disasters. The ceremony was held in almost the worst possible circumstances - still under threat from the neighbouring Bume, in the dry season when the population was dispersed, and at a time of hunger. That it was held all can be seen as a defiant act of faith in themselves and their culture. One speaker said, ‘If, after this, the land does not get better, then fate is against us.'
Series: Disappearing World, Series
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 52 min.
Year of production: 1991
Availability: Sale; 2005 sale: £50.00 (+VAT +p&p)
Notes: Broadcast on ITV 24/7/91.
Subjects: Anthropology
Keywords: Ethiopia; initiation rites; Mursi

Name: Royal Anthropological Institute
Contact: Susanne Hammacher (Film Officer)
Email: film@therai.org.uk
Web: https://www.therai.org.uk/film/film-sales External site opens in new window
Phone: 020 7387 0455
Fax: 020 7388 8817
Address: 50 Fitzroy Street
London
W1T 5BT
Notes: The Institute sells more than 250 anthropology and ethnology titles on video and DVD, including some produced by students and staff of the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology. There is also a large library of internationally produced film and video productions from which items may be borrowed within the UK.

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