The Importance Of Ear Piercings In Kenyan Communities

Style and identity

As communities adjust to new cultures and adopt new ways of thinking, traditions such as ear piercing go through many changes. Therefore, the objects on display here are rare examples of items that were used in a tradition that has quickly been overtaken by modernity.

Nearly all Kenyan communities pierced their ears

Piercing of ears was a common practice in almost every Kenyan community in the past. Communities differed in the reason for piercing, the size of the hole, and the gender of those whose ears were pierced.

Both men and women pierced their ears

Records show that in nearly every community, both men and women pierced their ears.

Piercing is part of a ritual

Piercing one's ear was done during transition rituals, especially during graduation from childhood to youth, and from youth to adulthood.

A sign of bravery

Others, especially young warriors, pierced their ears further to adorn themselves with ornaments that were a sign of their bravery.

A small hole

In most cases, the ears were pierced leaving a small hole suitable for an ordinary ornament such as an earring.

Ear stretching

The stretching of the earlobes to make longer and wider holes was common in communities living in the Rift Valley and the central and western parts of Kenya, who used heavy hardwood logs to stretch the earlobes.

Have no fear

The initiates were expected to go through this painful process without showing any fear. The ear stretching process was done gradually, beginning with a small tear.

What about today?

Today, the tradition of ear stretching isn't practiced that commonly in Kenya. It is only practiced by a few pastoralist people such as the Maasai.

Snuff containers as earrings

Communities such as the Maasai also wore their snuff containers in their pierced earlobes as ornaments.

Bajun earplugs

The women of the Bajun, from Lamu, wore intricately designed earplugs that were made from precious metals, such as silver and gold. These metals may have been traded with communities on other islands of the Indian Ocean. Both Bajuni men and women pierced their ears, although it was the women who predominantly wore the earplugs.

Ear piercing in Kenya today

In modern Kenya, women pierce their ears but the number of men doing so has reduced drastically. Nowadays, some people consider piercing of ears by men as a taboo - although there is historical documentations showing that majority of communities in Kenya pierced the ears of their members regardless of their gender.