Watch Omo Child

Omo Child is a powerful and heart-wrenching documentary that tells the story of a young Ethiopian man named Lale Labuko and his mission to end the ancient practice of mingi, which condemns children believed to be cursed to death. The film follows Lale's journey as he navigates the complexities of his own cultural traditions and the mounting pressure from outside organizations to put an end to this brutal practice. Through interviews with Lale, his family, members of his community, and the children who have been affected by mingi, the documentary provides a visceral and intimate portrait of the human cost of tradition and the power of one person to make a difference.

Lale's story is one of personal transformation and deep moral conviction. When he was a child, he witnessed the brutal murder of his sister, who was deemed to be cursed under the practice of mingi. But instead of accepting this tragedy as inevitable, Lale made it his life's work to understand and challenge the beliefs that led to his sister's death. He became a champion of the children who are most vulnerable under the practice of mingi, working tirelessly to create a safe haven for them in his own home and eventually founding a non-profit organization that seeks to abolish the practice altogether.

The film does an excellent job of tracing Lale's arc from a young man struggling to understand the violence of his own culture to a confident and passionate leader who is able to mobilize his community towards change. We see him collaborate with religious leaders, engage with government officials, and even travel to the United States to spread his message. Along the way, the documentary raises important questions about the intersection of culture, tradition, and human rights, and shines a light on the immense challenges faced by those who seek to change deeply ingrained cultural practices.

But perhaps the most moving parts of the film are the interviews with the children who have been affected by mingi. We hear stories of toddlers abandoned in the bush to die, unable to comprehend why they are being rejected by their families. We see young children who have been saved from certain death by Lale's organization, but who still carry the trauma of being labeled cursed. And we witness the bravery and resilience of these children, who refuse to be defined by a practice that seeks to erase them.

Throughout the film, director John Rowe expertly balances the personal narrative of Lale with broader contextual information about mingi and the cultural dynamics at play. We learn about the ways in which mingi has been used as a tool of social control, particularly against women, and we see how deeply ingrained these beliefs are in many communities. But we also see glimmers of hope, as more and more young people are beginning to question the legitimacy of the practice and push for change.

Overall, Omo Child is a deeply moving and thought-provoking documentary that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll. Its focus on the human toll of cultural practices like mingi is a powerful reminder of the importance of challenging harmful traditions, and the strength of individuals to effect change even in the face of immense obstacles.

Omo Child is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes.