El Molo Fisherman by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya
Meet the El Molo
The El Molo community have been settled in the Turkana Basin for thousands of years, and today live around Lake Turkana at El Molo Bay. Living around the lake, fishing was the core of the El Molos' livelihood.
By Fritz GoroLIFE Photo Collection
Fishing for food
The El Molo fisherman used rafts made of doum palm logs to sail into the lake and catch fish with spears, nets and harpoons.
Fishing BasketNational Museums of Kenya
Tools of the trade
This fishing basket (ochom) was made by men, using flexible sticks for its frame and woven with reeds. Fishermen lowered the trap directly onto a shoal or individual fish to catch them.
Net NeedleNational Museums of Kenya
These wooden needles were used to make the fishing nets and baskets with fibres of the Mlala (doum palm) leaves.
Fish KillersNational Museums of Kenya
This oryx horn (Mowo) with rope attached was used for killing fish once caught in the net.
Turtle Shell PlateNational Museums of Kenya
Marine crafts
As well as fishing, the El Molo also hunted hippopotamus, crocodiles and turtles in order to use their skin for bags, bones for objects, and meat to eat. Pictured here is a plate made from a turtle shell.
SpoonsNational Museums of Kenya
These five spoons were made of the scapula of a fish called IJI.
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