The Me'en consist of two subgroups: the smaller group is called Bodi (appr. 4000 people, who call themselves Mela or Chirim); the remainder are the Tishana. The Bodi lead a semi-nomadic life, the Tishana have settled as farmers near the Omo river. The Tashana own little livestock, except for bees. They have a good reputation as successful farmers, producing mainly sorghum, mais, tef, and coffee. The Tishana and the Bodi still share their language, but are rapidly growing apart. The social structures are very different. Bodi society is based on clans and a powerful central role for the komorut. These komorut are ritual mediators who know how to bless the farmland, how to ask for rain, and who are the acting judges. The Bodi live with their cattle, whose color patterns play a significant role in their artistic life. The Bodi live in constant conflict with most of their neighbors, all of whom they attack on a regular basis. One neighbor, the Dime, has been more or less enslaved. They have good relations with the Dizi, whose leading families are closely related to the Bodi's leading families.
All Me'en use scarification, especially on arms and back. The young men wear necklaces and bracelets, which distinguishes them very clearly from the Omotic peoples, who do not use these types of jewellery. One of the remarkable customs is that the man before they are going to married, eat themselves, during half a year, as fat as possible. To such extent that some get serious liver problems. After their marriage they get their old shape back (in most cases).