4 Spectacular Fish Paintings and the Importance of Protecting Our Marine Life

Kenya's Natural Heritage through the eyes of Joy Adamson

Kenya is blessed with unique marine fish. With her vivid choice of colours, Joy Adamson has immortalized some of the iconic marine wildlife along the Kenyan coast. However, not much is known about the motivation behind her marine paintings besides a profound interest in art and conservation.

Her marine paintings form part of over 700 paintings of cultural significance done by Joy Adamson and held by the National Museums of Kenya. This exhibit features only a small fraction of original paintings from the Joy Adamson Collection, which is preserved at the National Museums of Kenya’s Archives for posterity.

1: Devil firefish

The Devil firefish (Pterois volitans) is known among the coastal communities in Kenya as 'Tshafi'. It is found on rocky reefs, underhangs and in caves, coral or sandy bottoms from shore to about 50m. This fish has a venomous fin spine which is capable of inflicting painful wounds when stepped on. The wound should be immediately immersed in hot water as a first aid measure.

The Devil firefish is a good aquarium fish, but should be handled with great care to avoid fatalities. It feeds avidly on any small prey and soon outgrows a small aquarium. The flesh of this fish is edible.

2: Trumpet fish

The Trumpet fish (Aulostomus chinensis) is a common reef predator distributed in the West Indian Ocean. It is locally known as 'Tumbu'. It grows to a maximum length of about 80cm, and has an elongated body shape with long snout resembling a trumpet. This fish is found among branches of seagrass, often with its head lurking down, ready to ambush small fish.

3: Lagoon triggerfish

Part of the Joy Adamson collection, this painting depicts a Rhinecanthus aculeatus fish – more commonly known as a lagoon triggerfish.

4: Moorish idol

Part of the Joy Adamson collection, this painting depicts a Zanclus cornutus fish – more commonly known as a Moorish idol.

Harvesting marine life cultural artifacts

Kenya's material culture includes artifacts incorporating significant material from marine molluscs. These artifacts often serve some symbolic purpose beside the usual applications such as ornamentation.

Cowrie shells

Cowrie shells have been traded as some form of currency in the past. However, as a result of the extensive harvesting of molluscs for such purposes, authorities are raising legitimate questions on the overall sustainability of exploiting marine life for human consumption, in as much as there exists a need for preserving the country's indigenous cultural heritage.

Preserving Kenya's cultural and natural heritage

This is a belt commonly worn by Tigania women. What is the overall effect to the cowrie population if every other Tigania woman requires this belt?

Experts from the National Museums of Kenya are concerned about the sustainability of ornamental trade using marine invertebrates and are proposing the commercial breeding of cowries to meet the demand for shells without depleting them in the wild. This would protect both the cowries and indigenous traditions from extinction.