Chemsik Collection

A Pokot man wearing typical beaded ornaments of his tribe. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language. Kenya

Two young Pokot girls wearing traditional ornaments that denote their unmarried status. Their broad belts are made with the metacarpus and metatarsal bones of dikdiks interspersed with beads. Kenya

A Pokot warrior wearing a cheetah skin jumps high in the air surrounded by young women to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

The Pokot have a small ceremony called Koyogho when a man pays his in-laws the balance of the agreed dowry for his wife. This may take place many years after he marries her

A young Pokot warrior with large round earrings. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A striking old Pokot woman wearing the traditional beaded ornaments of her tribe which denote her married status. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot child wrapped in a goatskin in his mothers arms. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot woman wearing the traditional beaded ornaments of her tribe which denote her married status. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

The ornaments of a Pokot warrior including a ring of goat skin which would have been slaughtered for a ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Pokot men, women and girls dancing to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot woman in traditional attire with patterned cicatrices on her back attends an Atelo ceremony. Her broad belt is made with the metacarpus and metatarsal bones of dikdiks interspersed with beads

Pokot women and girls dancing to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot woman in traditional attire dances to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. Her broad belt is made with the metacarpus and metatarsal bones of dikdiks interspersed with beads

Pokot men and women dancing to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

An old Pokot woman dancing during an Atelo ceremony. The cow horn container usually contains animal fat

A Pokot warrior wearing a leopard skin cape celebrates an Atelo ceremony, spear in hand. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Pokot warriors celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Jovial Pokot women celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

Pokot women wearing traditional beaded ornaments and brass earrings denoting their married status. celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

A Pokot warrior wearing a leopard skin jumps high in the air surrounded by women to celebrate an Atelo ceremony. The Pokot are pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

The Pokot people, pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language, proudly display their rich cultural heritage through their traditional attire and customs. A Pokot man dons the typical beaded ornaments of his tribe, showcasing intricate craftsmanship passed down through generations. In another celebration called Atelo ceremony, a Pokot warrior leaps high in the air surrounded by young women, exuding strength and vitality. The vibrant energy is palpable as Pokot men, women, and girls come together to dance joyously during this festive occasion. The significance of status within the community is evident in the adornments worn by individuals. A young Pokot girl wears a broad necklace made of hollow reed grass that signifies her uninitiated status. Similarly, two unmarried Pokot girls proudly wear traditional ornaments denoting their singlehood. Marriage holds great importance among the Pokot people as seen in rituals like Koyogho ceremony. Here, a man pays his in-laws the remaining dowry for his wife years after marriage. Symbolizing commitment and unity, he leads his wife at the conclusion of this ritual. Age also brings distinction within the tribe; an old Pokot woman stands out with her striking beaded ornaments symbolizing her married status while displaying wisdom accumulated over time. Even children are embraced by tradition from birth as they are wrapped in goatskin held lovingly by their mothers – an embodiment of protection and care deeply rooted in ancestral practices. Cicatrices on a woman's back reveal not only beauty but also signify participation in an Atelo ceremony where she joins others dressed elegantly to honor age-old traditions. Through these glimpses into their lives and customs, we witness how deeply connected the Pokot people remain to their cultural heritage as they continue to preserve it for future generations.