 |
| Turkana man with children in traditional Turkana clothing. |
| Total population |
|---|
| 340,000 |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Northwestern Kenya |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Turkana are a Nilotic people of Kenya, numbering about 340,000. They inhabit the Turkana District in northwest Kenya, a dry and hot region bordering Lake Turkana in the east. South of them live the Pokot (Pökoot), Rendille, and Samburu. The language of the Turkana, an Eastern Nilotic language, is also called Turkana; their own name for it is Ng'aturk(w)ana.
The Turkana are noted for raising camels and weaving baskets. In their oral traditions they designate themselves the people of the grey bull, after the Zebu, the domestication of which played an important role in their history. In recent years, development aid programs have aimed at introducing fishing among the Turkana (a taboo in Turkana society) with varying success.
Contents |
Clothing
Traditionally, men and women both wear wraps made of rectangular woven material, but each sex adorns themselves with different objects. Often men wear their wraps similar to tunics often with one end connected with the other end over the right shoulder, and carry wrist knives made of steel and goat hide. Men also carry stools (known as ekicholongs) and will use these for simple chairs rather than sitting on the hot midday sand. These stools also double as headrests, keeping one's head elevated from the sand, and protecting any ceremonial head decorations from being damaged. It is also not uncommon for men to carry several staves; one is used for walking and balance when carrying loads, the other, usually slimmer and longer, is used to prod livestock during herding activities. Women will customarily wear necklaces, and will shave their hair completely which often has beads attached to the loose ends of hair. Men wear their hair shaved. Women wear 2 pieces of cloth. One being wrapped around the waist while the other covers the top.
Livestock
The Turkana rely on several rivers, such as the Turkwel River and Kerio River. When these rivers flood, new sediment and water extend onto the river plain that is cultivated after heavy rainstorms, which occur infrequently. When the rivers dry up, open-pit wells are dug in the riverbed which are used for watering livestock and human consumption. There are few, if any, developed wells for community and livestock drinking water, and often families must travel several hours searching for water for their livestock and themselves.
Livestock is an important aspect of Turkana culture. Goats, camels, donkeys and zebu are the primary herd stock utilized by the Turkana people. In this society, livestock functions not only as a milk and meat producer, but as form of currency used for bride-price negotiations and dowries. Often, a young man will be given a single goat with which to start a herd, and he will accumulate more via animal husbandry. In turn, once he has accumulated sufficient livestock, these animals will be used to negotiate for wives. It is not uncommon for Turkana men to lead polygynous lifestyles, since livestock wealth will determine the number of wives each can negotiate for and support.
Food
Turkana rely on their animals for milk, meat and blood. The Turkana often trade with the Maasai for maize and vegetables. The Turkana buy tea from the towns and make milk tea .In the morning people eat maize porridge with milk, while for lunch and dinner they eat plain maize porridge with a stew. Zebu are only eaten during festivals while goat is consume widely. Camel meat and fish is taboo. Men often go hunting to catch dik dik, wildebeast, wild pig, antelope, marsh deer, hare and many more. After the hunt men go out again to gather honey which is the only sweet thing the turkana have.
Houses
Houses are constructed over a wooden framework of domed saplings on which grass is thatched and lashed on.The house is large enough to house a family of six.Usually during the wet season they are elongated and covered with cowdung. Animals are kept in a brush wood pen.
Gallery
 Traditional Turkana dance being presented by local schoolchildren. |
 Ostrich feather caps are worn as the ceremonial headress. |
 Woman in everyday turkana clothing. |
 Child standing in household garden. |
 Turkana women pound palm nuts to remove husks. Inner nut is consumed as food. |
 Turkana men roasting a goat as part of a communal dinner. |
 Wooden stool used by Turkana men. Carved from solid wood and conditioned with tobacco juice. |
 Tightly woven basket produced by the Turkana for everyday use. |
 Wristknife worn by Turkana men. Can be used on and off wrist for fighting and utility purposes. |
 Demonstration of wristknife use. |
See also
External links
- Various photographs and further explanation of the Turkana can be found at Ejoka.com. Various missionaries have collaborated on the creation of this supplement.
Bibliography
- Pavitt, Nigel (1997) Turkana. London: Harvill Press. ISBN 1-86046-176-X
- Lamphear, John (1988) 'The people of the grey bull: the origin and expansion of the Turkana', in Journal of African History, 29, 1, 27–39.
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