Most women would be happy with a bunch of flowers and a candlelit supper but the ladies of the Surma tribe aren't your average females. For their men, the only way to leave a lasting impression is by engaging in brutal stick fights that injure some but leave others dead.

Although men aren't compensated if they're injured, the families of those who die receive reparations - usually 20 cows or a girl from his opponent's family.

Those who do win their fights, however, are considered to be heroes and get their pick of the most beautiful girls, as well as acclaim from other members of the tribe.

Ready for battle: A Surma warrior stands ready for battle during one of his tribe's traditional donga fights. The term 'donga' applies to both the fight and the stick.

Warriors: Men planning to do battle in the donga fights arrive at the scene in huge groups, dancing and singing, as well as shouting: 'I am the hero and who will fight me?'

Painful: The fights get more violent as the warriors get more drunk, with many ending the fights wounded, while some die from their injuries.

 

Painful: Many of the men end up covered in blood or bearing deep flesh wounds but in accordance with tribal custom, don't show that they feel pain.

The ritual, which is known as a donga, takes place after the harvest has been completed and is unique to the men of the Surma tribe who live in Ethiopia's southern Omo River valley.

But before the fights can begin, there's another ritual to complete - the 'blood meal' ritual that involves drinking two litres of fresh cow's blood, drained direct into a gourd from the animal's artery. 

'It consists of making a small incision in a cow’s carotid artery with a special sharp arrow in order to make it bleed,' explains photographer Eric Lafforgue, who captured these incredible images.

'The warrior has got to drink the lot in one go as the blood coagulates quickly,' he continues. 'Sometimes, warriors don't manage to drink all of the blood in one mouthful, and end up vomiting everywhere.'

After the blood ritual, the Surma men head to a river to wash themselves before covering themselves with body paint in a bid to highlight their beauty and virility and thus catch the women's attention.

Preparation: Before the fight, the warriors go through the 'blood meal' ritual which involves making a nick in a cow's vein and taking two litres of blood from the animal.

Gory: Once drained, the men are expected to drink the bowl of blood in one go and before it coagulates, as the Surma believe it to be full of useful vitamins.

 

 

Alive: The Surma only kill their cows on special occasions and all survive the blood meal ritual. Right: Not everyone can handle drinking so much blood in one go.

Decoration: After completing the blood meal ritual, the warriors go and wash themselves in the river before decorating themselves with mud to enhance their beauty.

Dancing: Once clean, the men go to the fighting space to begin the donga ritual. Some carry AK-47 guns and shooting can break out if things get too rowdy.

'Donga fights attract the most beautiful girls in the area, all of whom hope to be chosen by the champions,' explains Lafforgue. 'The point is not to get married but to flirt.

'Young women wear necklaces around their necks that they give to the winners,' he adds. 'They also have scarification marks which are considered an important sign of beauty in Surma culture.'

Fighters arrive on the donga field in huge groups, carrying the strongest man and dancing, all while chanting: "I am the Hero, who is gonna fight me?"'

Most of the warriors fight completely naked in order to show their bravery, and beyond colourful decorative arm cuffs, don't wear any sort of protection whatsoever.

'A fighter can challenge whoever he wants to a duel and hit any part of his opponent's body,' adds Lafforgue. 'There is only one rule which is that you're strictly forbidden to hit a man when he is down.'

Elaborate: Some Surma men choose to wear piles of necklaces and carefully crafted headdresses as well as their colourful ceremonial straw arm cuffs.

 

 

The prize: Donga fights attract the most beautiful girls in the area, all of whom hope to find themselves a champion. Champions can pick any girl they like.

Important: Stick fighting is a key part of Surma culture and takes place after the end of harvest. Men who win get the pick of the tribe's girls but can be badly hurt.

Watching: Between fights, men stop to drink millet beer and give themselves a shot of Dutch courage. As a result, fights become more violent as the day goes on.

Naked ambition: Warriors always fight naked in a bid to show how tough they are and prove that they have no need for armour. As a result, many get hurt.

As the donga fights continue, they become increasingly violent thanks, in a large part, to the tradition of stopping for regular libations in order to give the meeker men a bit of Dutch courage.

'If a fighter gets hurt, he will not be granted any compensation,' reveals Lafforgue. 'If he gets killed, which happens from time to time, his family gets compensation - usually 20 cows or a girl will do. No one will own up to feeling pain but you do see lots of blood and flesh wounds.'

Painful it might be but for the winners, the pain usually proves worth it - in romantic terms at least. 'The winners have a right to choose girls,' explains Lafforgue.

At the end of the fights, the champions will point their sticks in the direction of the girls they like the look of and if she puts her necklace around the stick, it means she is happy to be part of his life.

'Girls are allowed to refuse but being chosen is considered an honour,' adds Lafforgue. 'If they give the warrior a necklace, it means they will spend time with him. Before marriage, girls can have sexual relationships with anyone they want but once they are married, it is strictly forbidden.'

Battle: Real fights involve hundreds of warriors although the Surma, and other local tribes, have been known to stage donga in groups of 10 for paying tourists.

 

 

Waiting game: During bouts, the men show off their weapons to friends, drink lots of millet beer and in some cases, as with this man (right) patch up their wounds.

Triumph: A fight is won when the opponent concedes defeat because of the pain or falls to the floor. Fighters are not allowed to hit a downed man.

Winner: As well as being allowed the pick of the girls, men who triumph in donga fights are considered heroes by the rest of the village and the wider tribe.

Choice: Winning men can pick any girl they like by pointing their stick at her. Although women don't have to accept, it is considered a great honour to be chosen.

Mission complete: Men who win their fights get to choose whichever girl they most like - if she puts her necklace on his stick, it means she will spend time with him