In the cradle of mankind, a celebration of life

Annual event in Kenya reunites disparate communities

Women adorned with multicolored beaded necklaces, two pieces of leather wrapped around their waist and chest with their back left bare and men adorned with vests and woven textiles wrapped around their waist, head caps adorned with ostrich feathers and jewelry across their chests.

The striking attire and tribal culture were presented at the just concluded Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival at the Ekalees Cultural Centre in Lodwar to promote this dry county in northern Kenya as the origin of humankind and a destination for international tourists.

Tobong'u lore, meaning welcome home, represents the rich archaeological heritage of the Turkana Basin, considered the cradle of mankind. It gained this title following the discovery of a nearly complete fossilized skeleton dating back about 1.5 million years. Kamoya Kimeu made the discovery on a bank of the Nariokotome River near Lake Turkana in 1984. Tobong'u Lore celebrates not only Turkana's cultural traditions but also its historical significance to human evolution.