I always look back in my memory, with the best thoughts and feelings, to the moment I first walked on the hallowed soil of Africa, in the year 1977. It was a revelatory experience to meet the people and the rich culture of the Turkana tribe.
This tribe is a nomadic pastoralist tribe who inhabit the Lake Turkana region of Kenya’s Rift Valley Province, a narrow lake just on the border of Ethiopia and Sudan.
They speak the Turkana language, which belongs to the Nile family of languages and is similar to the Maasai language. The Turkana, like the Samburu and the Maasai, continue to maintain their traditional way of life.
Ethnographic data
History of the people
The Turkana tribe originally came from the Karamojong region of northeastern Uganda. Oral traditions claim that they arrived in Kenya while hunting an unruly bull. The land they occupied is hard and very dry. As such, they were less affected by British colonialism compared to other tribes because the British saw little value in their land.
Culture & lifestyle
As with all pastoralist tribes in Kenya, animals, especially cattle, are the core of their culture. The people live a nomadic life, constantly moving from one place to another.
Clothing
Their tribe maintains a multicolourfulness in their emblems and dress. Men dye their hair with special dirt, while women adorn themselves with traditional jewelry and beaded necklaces. The social class of each woman determines the amount and style of jewellery she wears. Thus, looking at a woman, one can see at first glance her position in society.
Art & Crafts
Some of the most beautiful creations are women’s bracelets and necklaces. The artisans of the tribe also produce many other artifacts, such as spears, clubs, knives, etc. They are also noted for their special skills in metalworking, woodcarving and stone carving.
Faith and religion
Unfortunately, the majority of Turkana remain loyal to their traditional African religion. They believe in a “god of the heavens”, whom they call “Akuj” or “Kuj”. They pray to him, either directly or through the spirits of their ancestors. They usually call upon their god in times of crisis or during disasters such as extreme droughts. During the 1970s, the first Orthodox missionary to visit, catechize and baptize some of them was the current Metropolitan of New Zealand, Mr. Amphilochios Chukos.
Life today
Cattle are still the main source of Turkana livelihood, especially in rural areas. The animals provide food and are often sold for money. Fishing on the lake is another important source of income for those living nearby. While illiteracy levels are still high, there are a small number of very well educated Turkana who have distinguished themselves in other sectors of Kenya’s economy.
Wedding
For women, marriage takes place in the first and main phase of their adulthood. Girls marry between the ages of 15 and 20. They usually have some say in choosing a suitable husband. The marriage ceremony can last for two days and is perhaps the most important event in Turkana social life with grand ceremonies, dancing and feasting.
An Orthodox Turkana recounts
One quiet afternoon I was walking to our church. Suddenly, I see a car going in the same direction as mine. I then realized that it was the Metropolitan of Kenya and his entourage. His Eminence’s first concern was to see if there was land ready for the Orthodox Church to begin its mission in our region. We showed him the land and he immediately responded positively, saying that a beautiful holy temple would one day be built here in the heart of the Turkana wilderness land. Still, he added, “ perhaps a school and a medical centre to help the local people. God will open more doors for Orthodoxy to be established in this region, I have a feeling. “.
Now we had to find a place for our guests to sleep and eat. We ended up in a very traditional local lodging, unpretentious, poor but rich, because there was at least one bed and clean water, necessary to be able to rest. His Eminence seemed satisfied because he was able to reach the most remote region of the country.
The next day, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in a makeshift place. At least two hundred descendants came to see and experience the greatness of our Orthodox worship. At the end he announced enthusiastically that he would take with him the first catechist, that is, me, to attend the Teachers’ College and then the Patriarchal School. He concluded his sermon by explaining how important that day was for the whole of Orthodoxy, since its message reached the ends of the earth.
Afterwards, food was distributed, as the area is plagued by drought and people are hungry. While the Metropolitan wished to perform the first baptisms, this was not possible because the rivers and lakes had no water due to the severe drought.
It is a great thrill for me that the true Church has finally arrived in our lands. Our bishop has seen with his own eyes how our tribe lives, how thirsty and even how it sleeps. He saw the drought, the hunger, the epidemics, the uneven roads, the illiteracy and so many other problems. We pray that God will help us to claim to see a new church born and grow in the end through your love, patience, perseverance and God’s miraculous intervention.
From the Holy Metropolis
