The Producers

John Rowe is a photographer and filmmaker who first trained at the US Navy School of Photography when he was 18-years-old. He has spent many years travelling the world photographing some of its most intriguing people and cultures. His love for people and their cultures led him to Southwest Ethiopia and the tribes of the Omo Valley in 2004 and he has since been documenting the life and struggles of the tribal people in the Omo Valley. Together with Lale, the documentary's protagonist, he formed the Omo Child foundation to care for rescued Mingi children.

Making The Film

Filmed over a five-year period, Omo Child is filled with remarkable imagery that presents an intimate look at the lives of the tribal people of the Omo Valley. National Geographic calls this region “Africa’s last frontier,” their only contact with the outside world came less than a generation ago. This is the first time their voices and their story will be heard. John Rowe (director/ producer) is one of the world’s leading experts on this region. He first began developing deep personal relationships with this population over a decade ago during his photography trips in which he captured the beauty and humanity of this fascinating community. Omo Child culminates on Lale Labuko’s incredible journey to save the lives of forty-five children who would have been victims of ritualistic infanticide. This film ultimately celebrates these babies lives, unthreatened by curses and superstition. From Lale Labuko’s story, we glean a universal message; one inspiring and tenacious individual can make dramatic changes in a society.