Samburu Butterfly People

Internationally known for their beautiful and colorful ornaments, attire and hairstyles, the Samburu community are sometimes referred to as 'The Butterfly People'.

The women adorn themselves in beautiful multi-colored beaded necklaces, and other traditional jewelry.

This women's necklace is made of elephant tail hair, each threaded with an old-style bead.

This Samburu man is wearing a beaded earring on his stretched earlobe.

Beaded leather earrings with beads in triangles. This is an unusual pattern of decoration, called Ldungot. These earrings are worn only by wives of the Merisho (the oldest living age-set).         

A ceremonial goatskin cloak painted with red ochre and decorated with white cowries. It would have been worn over the shoulder by boys prior to being circumcised.         

This red ochre cotton cloth was worn by morans as a skirt while dancing during ceremonies.