Ngurunit, Northern Kenya.
The Rendille are an ethnic group inhabiting in the northern areas of Kenya.
We met this small Rendille tribe in Ngurunit village, in a wonderful mountainous landscape, between Nairobi and Turkana lake.
Rendille means 'Holders of the Stick of God'.
They practice a traditional, animistic religion which includes prayer to the moon (which is considered a God), animal sacrifices and worship of ancestral spirits. A main Rendille event is called, in local language, Sorio (sacrifice to God), which includes goat slaughtering by the first-born son, putting the blood on their doorposts (sharing the blood).
They dress in bright color and wear beads, specially women.
I really love their smiles and their joy!
As I already said in older post, these wide necklaces and ornaments symbolize their social status (marriage, children, age).
Children were joyful to meet us!
Life is poor, but they help each other like a big family, and I felt I special feeling of union with universe. They depends on and they respect nature.
Here some young boys, very proud to belong to the community:
Here some portraits of elder women. Watch the splendor of their elegance!
Here the chief of the village, his name is Mollu Namnai. He is a very good person and chief, and his kindness and smile has moved me:
He is 90 years old, and he sat on a wheelchair because of he is sick: he feel pain to legs, and his ankles are swollen:
Here the older man in the tribe. His name is Marro Lolkuasi:
In his personal hut:
They are nomadic pastoralists, so they migrate from one place to another to search for pastures and water, tending camles, sheeps, goats and cattle.
There are wonderful mountains all around, and some people come here from every part of the world to climb. Some climbing route are challenging:
Huts are patiently build with sticks and laces by women:
At last, but not less important, it's the role of warriors: they have the role of protecting the village, a sort of police. Warriors (men and women) are the ones who give water and take care of animals. They also looks for pastures and they must stay single for fifteen years. After this period, they can get married and the elders of the family choose for men the girls, and the wedding ceremony starts by dancing day and night for two days.
Another important work warriors do is the camel milking (I will do another post about that), and taking water for camels (and also for the village) from so called Singing wells: they sing a rhythmic song taking the water!
Many thanks to our local guide and dear friend Shaddy, who works here to help this tribe to live better, and works hard to make this reality known and loved in the world!
Shaddy loves photography and I have personally sent to him a camera (a gift from my cousin) to make videos and pictures:
Tribes are making also original necklaces and rings to sell, here some examples of their art!
This is me during the visit, wearing their headgear and necklace!
I want to say thanks to @mauro-debettio photographer, and also his association Malaika foundation for this wonderful experience!
Mailaka is a small foundation who works mainly in Nairobi to take care of young homeless boys and girls. I have seen with my eyes how it works and it deserves to grow fast to help even more people in difficulty.
Pictures taken with Sony Alpha 7iii and Nikon D800 cameras.
August 2023.