El-Molo: Hunters of the Jade Sea

Aptly called “The Jade Sea” because of the unique colour of its waters, Lake Turkana lies in the far north of Kenya in a desert landscape - the largest lake in the Great Rift Valley of Africa. It is home to what is arguably the smallest tribe in Kenya, the El-Molo. The tribe has lived close to an untouched life.

But with the rapid pace of development in the region over the last couple of decades, this traditional life is fast fading away.

These pictures capture the magical atmosphere of the Jade Sea and illustrate the customs and cultures of the El-Molo, whose uncompromising lifestyle has never before been celebrated in such detail.

The most favoured conjecture about the El-Molo’s origins is that they are remnants of the Rendille group who took to fishing on the Lake in order to survive.

The past of the El-Molo people is shrouded by folklore, legend and mystery. Their future as a resident group on the shores of Lake Turkana is uncertain.

All they possess are fragile structures they call homes. They believe that all the fish, hippo and crocodile which live in the Lake belong to them. The El-Molo refuse to listen to those who claim that the Lake’s life is not theirs.

After all, the “Hunters of the Jade Sea” have lived along its shores for generations, long before Count Teleki and Von Hohnel reached the shores and claimed its “discovery”.