Color, Culture, and Unity Shine at Turkana Festival

By Thuku Kariuki 

This year’s Turkana Cultural Festival was a vibrant celebration, rich in color and joy. Featuring traditional performances, local cuisine, cultural attire, and a focus on global issues uniquely illustrated in the Kenyan region, the event attracted thousands of visitors from around the world.

The festival, known as Tobong’u Lore, translates to “Come Back Home.” This phrase reflects Turkana’s significance as the cradle of humankind, where some of the earliest human remains were discovered. The festival, launched in 2008, celebrates the diversity of cultures in Turkana and showcases a wide variety of ethnic groups, including the Borana, Dassanech, El Molo, Gabbra, Rendille, Samburu, Watta, and, of course, the Turkana people themselves.

One of the highlights for visitors is the traditional Turkana dress. Using woven fabrics and animal skins, the Turkana people create striking, one-piece garments large enough to fully cover the wearer. Men carry stools for resting in the sun, along with wrist knives crafted from steel and hide, and multi-purpose staves used for herding animals and balancing heavy loads.

Namorutunga - people of stone in Turkana

Turkana women are known for their elaborate attire, adapting their outerwear to match local fashion trends. They wear intricate necklaces made from a variety of beads, and their undergarments are adorned with ostrich eggshell beads—a feature not meant for public display. Additional beadwork is often draped from their hair, adding a distinct and captivating touch to their appearance.

The enthusiasm of participants is palpable. Dr. Nanyait, proprietor of the Cradle Tented Camp and Lodge in Lodwar and the Akai Eco Lodge in Kakuma, has noted a significant increase in visitors this year.

Sun dried fish at the shores of Lake Turkan

Reflecting on this growth, she remarked, “My greatest achievement will be when I see tourists flocking to Turkana, to explore Lake Turkana and its beaches, to visit the central island with its three crater lakes. There’s so much of Turkana that the world hasn’t seen yet. We even offer desert safaris—something people don’t need to go to Dubai for; we have our own right here in Turkana.”

Support for the festival has grown, including from Kenya’s national government. This year, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano attended the festival. She emphasized its importance, noting an influx of visitors from neighboring countries like Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda.

The government, she explained, sees Turkana as a potential hotspot for international tourism. “Going forward,” she said, “we will be promoting Lake Turkana as one of the top destinations for those interested in marine tourism. It offers an alternative to Kenya’s coastal attractions. While the coast is well-known, we are unveiling newer, fresher destinations.”

Beyond celebrating culture, the festival aims to promote peace. The region has experienced conflicts in recent years, often between pastoralist communities vying for grazing and water resources. A peace treaty was recently signed in Lokiriyama between the Matheniko of Uganda and the Turkana, fostering hope for lasting harmony in the area.

The festival also highlights Turkana’s commitment to addressing shared challenges, such as climate change. Residents have taken on personal environmental responsibilities, with each person striving to plant at least two trees per year.

Local authorities and businesses are also involved, with Dr. Nanyait explaining, “We’ve been at the forefront in addressing climate change, working to make this region an oasis. All we need is water, because water is life. Once you plant a tree and provide it with water, it thrives.”

A central goal of the festival is to showcase the range of activities available to tourists in Turkana. The region offers something for every kind of traveler—from trekking and camping at Kapedo Falls to viewing wildlife like lions, zebras, and diverse bird species at the South Turkana National Reserve. Visitors can also enjoy fresh tilapia on the central islands, play volleyball, or drive all-terrain vehicles across the massive sand dunes. Turkana truly has something for everyone.

Sunset at the desert lake - Lake Turkna

Leah Audan Lokala, the county executive committee member in charge of tourism, culture, natural resources, and climate change, expressed satisfaction at the attention Turkana has received this year. She highlighted another unique attraction: Namortunga, which means “stones made to look like people.”

She explained, “These stones are arranged in a way that resembles a homestead. Some of them look like people—it’s a fascinating sight.”

There is so much to see and do in Turkana. With initiatives to combat climate change, secure water access, foster peace among ethnic groups, and further develop tourism, the region is poised to become a thriving destination all year round. The Turkana Cultural Festival has not only brought people “home” but has also paved the way for a brighter future for Turkana and its people.