The Pokot Community of Kenya

Religion and beliefs

The Pokot community traditionally believed the world had two realms, the below and the above. The realm below was the abode of vegetation, people and other creatures. The realm above was the abode of the deities: Tororot, lat (rain) and Asis (sun).

Young Pokot man

A young Pokot man about to undergo circumcision. The headdress is in the first phase of building up a chignon.

Headdress for circumcised men

This is a thin headdress made from beads and fiber from the sokotwo tree. Circumcised boys would have worn it on their heads, with strings in front, one month after circumcision.

Young Pokot warrior

A young Pokot warrior shortly after achieving adult status. He is wearing a headdress made of ostrich feather and black fur to denote his status.

Married Pokot woman

A Pokot married woman dressed with several strands of beaded necklaces and metallic earrings. Her earrings are attached by a beaded string to hair-clips, and ornamented with bells, which denote her status and number of children.

Wedding cape

Leopard skin cape used by the groom during a wedding, for jumping dances.

Bow

This is a bleeding bow (liona) made by men from sitet wood. The bow string is made from cow sinews. It was used by men to shoot stopped arrows when drawing blood from cows and goats.

Arrow

Stopped arrow (terema) used for bleeding animals to draw blood. It was made by a livestock owner. A tourniquet would be put round the animals neck and the arrow shot into the jugular vein from a distance.

Axe for cutting wood

This axe (oywa) was made by a blacksmith from a metallic head fitted with a wooden handle.

To make the axe head, the blacksmith would get an iron piece, cut the metal to the desired size and hit it to make the right shape. The handle would be made last. He would make the metal red hot and place it on the heavier part of the handle, making a hole to fix the axe head.

It was used for cutting wood, to carve wooden objects such as stools and mortars.

Making beehives

This hive (mogtten), was made from a hollowed log by men, and the thatching was usually added to keep out rain. It would be hung on a tree to attract bees.

Honey was used for making beer, eaten as food, used as medicine, or traded.

Craftsmen

The Pokot people are skilled craftsmen. Women traditionally weave baskets, work leather, make milk gourds and pots for cooking and water storage. Men traditionally specialize in woodworking, making beehives, headrests, and the handles for spears, knives, and hoes.

Sapana ceremony

At around 20 years of age, Pokot men would traditionally undergo the Sapana ceremony. It was a vital rite as the men would get recognized as adults, and hence they were allowed to attend elders meetings (kokwo) and participate in offering sacrifices (kirket).

Headband

A headband worn by women of all ages for beauty. It is made of threads, beads, shells and aluminium coils.

Comb

A small pronged wire comb covered with beautifully woven wire. The ends are covered with strands of coiled wire, which holds the ostrich feather.

It was used for hair dressing and worn on the head as an ornament by young men who would wear a mud-pack hair-do.

Ceremonial headdress

Headdress worn by men during ceremonies.

A booming sound

This simple hollow tube is a musical instrument that makes a booming sound, rather like a "digiridoo".

It was made and played by skilled men on ceremonial occasions as an accompaniment to dancing. The player would blow his cheeks out and produce the same note at regular intervals. He would hold it vertically and blow it down, usually frog jumping round the dancers, honing every time he jumps down.

Lyre

This lyre is made of wood and the resonator is covered with goat skin. It was made and played by young men in the 'sikuronjo' (young men's hut) to accompany singing.

Ceremonial pot

This ceremonial pot (tere-ma) was used during traditional wedding ceremonies. The pot would be put in the middle of the bridegroom's compound, and the elders would sit around it according to their age-sets.

Experience the Pokot culture

This is an annual Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival that takes place at Loiyangalani in Turkana County. This three-day event features traditional dances, performances, a trade fair, and a market. The experience is a unique blend of culture, entertainment and party nights.

In 2008, the National Museums of Kenya established the Desert Museum in Loiyangalani, to preserve and promote the unique cultures of the eight communities living around Lake Turkana region, namely: El Molo, Turkana, Pokot, Rendile, Samburu, Gabbra, Watta and Dassanach.