Starke Seelen. Tamelu Zegaye – Ein Einwohner Äthiopiens, der auf Händen laufen kann, besser als auf den Füßen. Ja, Tamelu wurde mit deformierten Füßen geboren und hat daher seit seiner Kindheit seine Hände besonders geförtigt.3 Fotos

Starkly Determined. Tameru Zegeye
A man from Ethiopia who can move with his hands better than he can with his feet. Born with deformed feet, Tameru devoted his childhood to honing his manual skills.

Tameru Zegeye was born in Ethiopia. When his mother saw his deformed limbs, she immediately believed the boy was cursed and abandoned him. Without a normal childhood, Tameru spent his early years crawling on the ground like a snake.

Later, he realized that his strength lay in his hands. By the age of 7, he had mastered walking on his hands so well that they almost replaced his legs. He also learned to walk with crutches.p>Even as a young boy, Tameru got up before 5 a.m. every day to begin his training. Among his classmates, he was popular for his unique abilities and often entertained them during breaks.p>He never lost this habit of rising early. Today, he can perform incredible feats on his hands—using sticks similar to crutches, he can cover long distances, climb mountains, and perform various stunts. He feels utterly comfortable using these tools.

Although his feet have improved since surgery at 15, he continues to use his hands for movement. His hands are what brought him through life’s challenges, and they are also what allow him to earn a living today.

When people see Tameru moving through Addis Ababa on his sticks, they stop to watch. He takes pride in his ability and enjoys the attention it draws.