Pokot 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

Pokot tribe girl-I - Kenya
Joxe Inazio Kuesta Garmendia

Lake Baringo Pokot
Tori E Bohn

Pokot Life
Tori E Bohn

Pokot Grandmother
Tori E Bohn

Pokot tribe woman-Kenya
Joxe Inazio Kuesta Garmendia

For two to three months after their circumcision, Pokot boys sing and dance in a special seclusion camp while undergoing instruction from tribal elders

Towards the conclusion of a Ngetunogh ceremony, an initiate must put on his mothers jewellery for a day before removing the wild sisal face mask he has worn for 2-3 months

During a Ngetunogh ceremony, the mother of a Pokot initiate sings and dances holding high the cowhorn container she used to smear fat over the masks of her son and other boys as a blessing

At the start of a Ngetunogh ceremony, the mothers of Pokot initiates will smear animal fat on the boys masks as a blessing

During a Ngetunogh ceremony, the mothers of Pokot initiates sing and dance holding high the cowhorn containers they used to smear fat over the masks of their sons as a blessing

After 2-3 months seclusion, Pokot initiates leave their camp in single file to celebrate Ngetunogh. They must wear goatskins

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

Two Pokot girls carry water in wooden containers on their heads. Pokot girls and women traditionally wore leather skirts and capes made from home-tanned goatskins

A jovial group of Msai girls are chased by warriors during a ceremony

Picture No. 10848717
KENYA - Pokot tribe Date:

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The Pokot tribe, a group of pastoralists speaking a Southern Nilotic language, proudly showcase their rich cultural traditions through their distinctive attire and ceremonies. A Pokot man adorns himself with intricate beaded ornaments, symbolizing the pride he takes in his tribal heritage. Meanwhile, a brave Pokot warrior leaps gracefully into the air while surrounded by young women during an exuberant Atelo ceremony. This celebration marks an important milestone in his life. In contrast to the warrior's display of strength and agility, a young Pokot girl wears a traditional broad necklace made from hollow reed grass as a symbol of her uninitiated status within the community. Similarly, two unmarried Pokot girls wear unique ornaments that signify their availability for marriage. For several months following circumcision, Pokot boys participate in seclusion camps where they learn valuable lessons from tribal elders. Donning goatskins and concealing their faces behind masks crafted from wild sisal (sansevieria), these initiates engage in singing and dancing rituals that connect them to their ancestral roots. During the Ngetunogh ceremony's conclusion, an initiate experiences a profound transformation by wearing his mother's jewelry for one day before removing his wild sisal face mask—a symbolic representation of shedding old identities and embracing new responsibilities. Throughout this sacred rite of passage, mothers play an essential role by smearing fat over their sons' masks using cowhorn containers—an act believed to bless and protect them on their journey towards adulthood. The joyous atmosphere is heightened as these proud mothers sing and dance while holding high these significant vessels. Finally, after spending two to three months secluded within the camp walls, initiates emerge in single file processionals to celebrate Ngetunogh—rejoicing together as they embrace newfound roles within society. The vibrant culture of the Pokot tribe shines brightly through each captivating moment captured in Kenya—their customs serving as timeless reminders of unity, resilience, and the power of tradition.