Hammer

The nationality is mainly found in Hammer District. In Hamari language the word "Hammer" means " united People surrounded by mountain and rock". This indicates that The Hammer were living in rocky caves during earlier times. The current Hammer nationality is the result of interaction among "Kara", "Ari", "Borena" and "Mursi" social groups. This is justified by the nationalitys elderly.
Their main livelihood depends on cattle rearing. Hand in hand with this they also do beekeeping. Though at minimum level, they also produce maize and sorghum for daily consumption.

Traditional Administration System

Hammar nationality has its own traditional administration. It is led by a king called "Bitta". It is only from the "Binas" tribe that the king is nominated. Handing over power of the king is based on genealogy and it is implemented only when the king dies. When a "Bitta" dies the heir is assigned from the son/sons of the first wife of the deceased. According to the folk tradition of the nationality "Bitta" doesnt make a house by cutting wood. He does not gaze at cattle or damsels. He doesnt go to a town. He is forbidden not to do this as per the traditional local laws of the nationality. There are four administrative levels. They are "Donza", "Gudri", "Jilo" and "Parco"

"Donza" is an assembly of the elderly. Their main duties are administrative, judicial and to compile public queries to the leadership. Spiritual leader of the nationality is called " Gudri". His main duties are to protect evil spirits around residence and to avoid them.
The spiritual leader with the title "Jillo" protects cattle not to be eaten by wild animals and protects them from diseases. He also protects them from thieves. The other spiritual leader is believed to make bees give honey and fills hives with honey. Every member of the community believes the honey is the gift which is received after the prayers of this leader.
Every conflict resolution in Hammer and the neighbouring areas has its own cultural procedures. According to the culture every conflict is resolved by reconciliation. This reconciliation order is led by elderly known as "Donanzas".

Marriage Ceremony
There are five marriage types of the nationality.
1. By agreement of the families
2.Kindal qayis= by agreement of the couple
3.Yedot= by kiddenapping
4. Eshime=marriage of inheritance
5.Merma= marriage of substitute

A young person who is eligible to marriage is expected to rear cattle for marriage gift by his own. He as well is expected to produce honey by preparing beehive and make his own house. It is a must that he is circumcised and jumps over rows of cattle. These are unavoidable customs. A person who is ready for these and who is ready for cattle jumping is called "Ukuli". He holds a short staff at about his back and doesnt wear above waist.
An ukuli has a responsibility to call his relatives from nearer and farther places. This responsibility is counted as a means of measuring of the "Ukulis" spiritual and physical strength. Based on this call his relatives go to the place in which the cattle jumping has to be taken place. It is usual that whipping takes place before the jumping ceremony. Those who are whipped are married female relatives of the one who is going to be married and those who whip are his "Ukuli" friends or escorting men. They do this to express their joy they felt because their brother is fit for the jumping and to show their kinship and sympathy. If they dont do this it is counted as if the jumper has no relatives. He also doesnt accept a woman who is not whipped for him as a relative.
After the whipping ceremony is over jumping of cattle continues. When that also is over they dance the traditional dance called "Ukuli Gaadi" in Hammeri language. It is danced in honour of the cattle jumper. The dancing takes place at night where there is the light of the moon. The parents of the cattle jumper make afeast so as to announce their son is fit for marriage by completing all cultural obligations
After the Ukuli" jumps over cattle he is given the cultural title known as "Maath". From the next day of "Ukuli Gaadi" ceremony on the culture prohibits the "Maath" not to eat anything until he has a fiancee except meat, honey and milk. He may stay for three months in this condition. He eats grain only when he gets a fiancee. Until his father selects and announces the best wife which fits for him, the "Maath" ties his waist with an Inshu leather which is otherwise called "Birenya" so as to ignore his hunger. He ties this leather on the neck of his wife when he gets married. After the father announces his choice he sends elderly to the parents of his sons future wife for their consent. If the parents allow the marriage the "Maath" and his fiancee sit on a dining table so as to exchange mouthfuls. But before he offers her a mouthful he puts his "Biregnya" on the neck of the girl so as to make her his fiancee. After this is done as he honours her no gentle man sees her headlong. After the "Maath" makes a fiancee he gets another title called "Zwanza". It is common in the Hammeri to have more than one wife. This is determined by number of cattle and wealth.

Traditional Dancing

The Hammer are known by their traditional dancing called Evangadi. "Evan" is to refer to night and "Gadi" means dancing. "Evangadi" is a traditional dancing which is performed during the harvest time for refreshment. It is performed by young boys and girls in which they are introduced to social life, new traditional songs and dancing styles. The dancing takes place every three days in Hammer
neighbourhoods while the moon shines.