44 Tribes of Kenya

Waat

They are considered to be One of Kenya’s indigenous hunters and gatherers The Waata translates to people of the bow as it...

Turkana

They are known for their basket weaving and the Turkana women excelled in making beaded ornamentsand necklaces some of which are made from...

Kisii

They are known for soapstone carvings, basketry and pottery. The stone is mined and carved in Tabaka, South Mugirango, where several famili...

Ilchamus

They are the smallest ethnic group in Kenya settled near the Kokwa island in Lake Baringo Materials such as beadwork (necklaces,...

Waat

They are considered to be One of Kenya’s indigenous hunters and gatherers
The Waata translates to people of the bow as it was their most valuable tool in their hunting activities
The Waata now make a living frommaking charcoal, supplying building poles
They have been marginalized by the Oromo who they were a part of and therefore their culture is being pushed to extinction

They are known for their basket weaving and the Turkana women excelled in making beaded ornamentsand necklaces some of which are made from elephant's tail.
The Turkana people ae involved in One of Kenya's top tourist attractions is the three-day festival held in June and takes place at Loiyangalani, Marsabit County. This festival features all nomadic communities in Northern Kenya.
The traditional clothing of the Turkana is very simple and consists in a cloth knotted on the shoulder, to form a sort of tunic, for men; while for women the dress is made from two pieces of cloth or leather wrapped around their waist and chest.
The Turkana have also very elaborate hairstyles, in particular women shave the hair on the sides of the head while in the center intertwine them and enrich them with a coat of beads and feathers; while as a fixative for the hairstyle they use animal fat and wood ash mixed together.

They are known for soapstone carvings, basketry and pottery. The stone is mined and carved in Tabaka, South Mugirango, where several families specialize in this art. The craft attracts tourists and generates income for the community.
The kisii are known for their farming of bananas which are traced to their areas
The favorite instrument among the Kisii is the obokhano (lyre) in their traditional music

They are the smallest ethnic group in Kenya settled near the Kokwa island in Lake Baringo
Materials such as beadwork (necklaces, bracelets, headgears, and beaded cloths), woodcarving (clubs/rungu, bows and traditional stool) and blacksmith works (spears, swords and arrows) are popularly made among the illchamus
They share many practical cultural practices as the other Maa Speakers (Samburu, Maasai)

Tweets by MakeItKenya

Choose newsletter frequency

Weekly

Monthly

Yearly

Your Name

Email address