African jewelry of the Turkana tribe

Handmade African jewelry is known for its beauty and high quality. There are many types of necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings and other types of tribal jewelry handmade and worn by Africans. In addition to their form adorning the body, these African pieces also have considerable... cultural significance. Among the colorful African ornaments, the jewelry of the Turkana tribe is particularly noteworthy. However, let's start... from the beginning.

The origins of African jewelry

Africa is the birthplace of human civilization. It was there that people first made and wore jewelry. Perforated pea-sized snail shells, used as beads 75,000 years ago, were discovered in a cave called Blombos on the coast of South Africa. In Kenya, meanwhile, beads made from... perforated ostrich eggshells were discovered. Over time, African artisans improved their jewelry-making techniques, so that today they produce some of the most beautiful jewelry... in the whole world! Throughout history, Africans have used organic materials that were readily available in their region: ivory, carved stone, seashells, animal teeth, hair, eggshells, wood, amber, glass.

African beaded jewelry

When it comes to jewelry, Africa is best known for just this type of ornamentation. The beads produced in Africa are often referred to as "trade beads," because for many centuries they were used in exchange for valuable goods (used as currency). The earliest known discovered bead jewelry dates back to Libya, around 10,000 BC. Many tribes in Africa make magnificent beads, but the meaning is completely different in each:

• Zulu beaded jewelry - is created based on long-standing traditions, and its form conveys important information about the wearer (for example, a particular necklace may indicate where the jewelry owner is from or what family he or she belongs to).
• Masai be adedjewelry - is created based on strict tribal rules regarding colors and designs.
• Pokot be adjewelry - women of the Pokot tribe, who live in Kenya and Uganda, are known for wearing wide beads with collars, as well as necklaces.
• Turkana beaded jewelry - women of the Turkana tribe who live in the Turkana district of Rift Valley province in Kenya wear beads to indicate their social status. It is this latter tribe that we will focus our attention on!

African jewelry of the Turkana tribe

Turkana district is located in northern Kenya, about 700 km from the capital Nairobi. Its inhabitants, popularly known as the "Turkana Tribe," live in one of the most... inhospitable places on earth. Why? Well, the daily temperature here is about 45 degrees Celsius, and there are only black volcanic rocks around. The Turkana tribe consists mainly of nomadic herders, as well as artisans who place great importance on making bead ornaments.

Turkana women wear beads weighing up to 5 kg and never take them off - except in mourning or in cases of ill health. Women who do not wear beads are shunned by the men of the tribe. Men and women wear earrings made of aluminum, which are made exclusively by men. Beaded jewelry is highly prized and considered a symbol of wealth. So a typical Turkana will do everything to make sure the women in his family are well adorned... with an impressive array of beads.

What don't you know about the Turkana tribe?

Older Turkana women wear labrets, which, according to tradition, pierce the lower lips. Instead of wedding rings, meanwhile, women wear simple metal rings around their necks. To prevent such necklaces from chafing their necks, dog dung is used here as... a lubricant. In addition, Turkana women use animal fat to protect their bodies from the intense heat . Due to the arid nature of the area, water is a luxury and is only used for drinking. Therefore, the Turkana people clean their bodies by rubbing their skin with fat or butter. Women go further, decorating their bodies with fat paint made from animal fat and red ochre. All Turkana have their lower incisors removed already "when they were kids." Men here also wear elaborate hairstyles adorned with ostrich feathers to indicate their status - that of an elder or warrior.

Individual Turkana ornaments and their meaning

Turkana Tribal Beaded Necklace - this native necklace consists of more than 2,000 beads arranged in several layers, forming a loop around the neck of the wearer. The beads can be of different colors, but in most cases their colors are not mixed in the same design.

Turkana Clay Necklace - this type of ancient ornament is still popular among women in Kenya. The beads are made from locally sourced clay, shaped into cubic or rounded pieces and finished with a clear lacquer to enhance the natural colors of the clay. The clay beads are knotted on a string and worn as a necklace.

Turquoise beaded bracelets - usually consist of more than 500 different colored beads, in the shape of a spherical layer. They are only a decorative form.

Ostrich eggshell jewelry - ostrich eggshell beads are the oldest known man-made beads. They are still a popular form of ornamentation among the Turkana tribe. Women make them by crushing the hard eggshell with stones or... teeth! An interesting and difficult activity at the same time - especially when one does not have... lower incisors.