Turkana

The Turkana people live in northwestern Kenya. They are the third largest tribe and the second largest nomadic pastoral group in Kenya. As the Kikuyu people belong to Bantu group, the Turkana belong to the Nilotes. They are closely related to the Karamojongs of Uganda; in fact they originated from Karamoja, a place in northeastern Uganda.  Most of the Turkana people still live according to their old traditional life style because they hardly had foreigners visit or explore their land due to the dryness of the area. 

Language: Their language is called Turkana and it is similar to other tribes which belong to the Nilotes. 

Clothing: 

Each woman's status is identified by the beads and jewelery she puts on. Men dye their heads with soil in addition to putting bird feathers on their heads. Tattoos are used as a sign of appreciation for those who fought in battles.  

Marriage:

The marriage ceremonies of  the Turkana people is concluded when the first child begins to walk. That is, the marriage ceremony can take over three years. Polygamy is practiced in this culture because adult people die at a very early age due to drought and diseases.  

Subsistence:

The Turkana have always been nomadic pastoralists, moving from one place to another looking for pasture and water for their animals. They rear livestock such as cattle, goats, camels, sheep, donkeys and others. The Turkana's main food is milk mixed with blood. Having many animals is so prestigious in this culture that the Turkana raid the neighboring tribes of their animals in addition to displacing them from their land. Starvation is preferred to eating one of their livestock. The livestock also plays a big role in paying off bride-price since the bride's family can request for a lot of cattle in addition to camels. The Turkana have also started fishing in Lake Turkana and growing crops. 

Religion:

Their main religion is African Traditional Belief. Their god is called Akuj and can be prayed to either through the ancestral spirits or directly. There are very few Christians among the Turkana.  

Education:

The number of literate Turkana is still very low.

Sources 

CESA

   People Groups, The Turkana. Electronic Document,  

   http://cesa.imb.org/peoplegroups/turkana.html accessed September, 2009.

enhols.com

   Kenya Safari guide, Turkana Tribe of Kenya. Electronic Document,

   http://www.enhols.com/kenya_safari/people/turkana/ accessed September, 2009.

Finke Jens

   Traditional Music and Cultyres of Kenya, Turkana- Society. Electronic Document,

   http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/turkana/society.htm accessed September, 2009.

Frantisek Staud

   PhotoStaud travel & Stock photos: world/Africa/Zambia. Electronic Document, 

   http://www.phototravels.net/kenya/turkana.html accessed September, 2009.

Kenya Information Guide

   The Kenya People, Kenya Tribe, The Turkana Tribe. Electronic Document,

    http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/turkana-tribe.html

    accessed September,  2009.                                                      

.

Viklund Andreas

   (254)- hakuna matata, The Turkana. Electronic Document,

   http://kenyanwhispers.wordpress.com/the-turkana/ accessed September, 2009.

written by

Esther Nalubwama