Kuni Ori (Collector's Edition)

Kuni Ori

Collector’s Edition
Photography: Henk Bothof
“Kuni Ori” – where do you come from


A rare photographic tribute to Suri culture

For more than twenty years, Dutch photographer Henk Bothof has been traveling to southern Ethiopia to document the Suri people. What started as wonder grew into a deep-rooted bond of trust. Bothof became an insider—one of the very few to gain access to all facets of Suri life, including rituals normally hidden from outsiders.

In Kuni Ori, he captures this exceptional culture: from lip plates, body painting, scarifications, and ceremonial stick fighting to drinking cow blood and rare, 'secret' ceremonies such as the naming ceremony and the gerari ritual. Each image testifies to proximity, respect, and mutual trust.

The approximately 80 powerful photographs in this monumental coffee table book are not anthropological observations, but a visual ode to beauty, identity, and tradition. The images are simultaneously raw and refined, understated and exuberant—timelessly captured at a moment when this way of life is slowly coming under pressure from modernization, government policies, and tourism.

Yet, above all, the photos show the resilience and pride of the Suri, who, despite everything, cling to their age-old customs. As Suri friend Barkede puts it:
“I am happy and proud that Henk shows the beauty of Suri culture in this book. It means a lot to us.”


Collector’s Edition – only 75 copies worldwide

The exclusive collector’s edition of Kuni Ori is published in a limited edition of only 75 copies and is a true art object for collectors, photography enthusiasts, and museum collections.

Each edition comes in a luxurious linen box and contains:

• the monumental hardcover book (Swiss binding, gilded edges)
  
• three exclusive photo prints, numbered and signed by Henk Bothof
  
• an original, handmade ceramic lip plate, as worn by Suri women

This edition is not just a book, but a tangible document of a disappearing culture.


About the author – Henk Bothof

Henk Bothof is a renowned Dutch photographer, known for his long-term, in-depth projects focusing on people, culture, and identity. His work is characterized by intimacy, respect, and an aesthetic eye for form, color, and composition. By building trust within communities over many years, Bothof creates images that are rare, honest, and exceptionally intimate. With Kuni Ori, he delivers an impressive and lasting document of Suri culture—seen through the eyes of someone who was accepted as a friend.


Prices & availability

• Pre-order price (first 25 copies): € 2,495,-
  
• Release price: € 2,995,-
  
• Expected release date: May 2026