A young herder in Ethiopia balances on three-meter-high stilts as he moves across the landscape – carrying on a centuries-old tradition that helps him watch over his animals and stay safe from snakes. Urmi is a member of the Banna people, for whom stilt-walking and elaborate body painting remain a part of everyday life.
But change is coming: The stilt walkers have drawn the attention of tourists. That's providing a little extra income for the community, along with new influences. Mobile phones and modern goods are finding their way into remote villages. Urmi is charting a new course between tradition and modernity – hoping to hold on to both.