Turkana County Deputy Governor Peter Ekai (left) and other guests listen
to speeches at Kanamkemer in Lodwar town on August 27, 2015 at the
start of the Turkana County Tourism and Cultural Festival. PHOTO | JARED
NYATAYA |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Turkana County’s much-awaited cultural festival kicked off on
Thursday, with the government and residents hoping to ride on the
region’s fame as the ‘cradle of mankind’ for economic gain.
For
many, a visit to Turkana would be incomplete without a tour of the
Namorutunga stones - believed to have been the home of Turkana ancestors
who lived over 4, 000 years ago.
Another destination
would be Nariokotome village where Turkana Boy monument, a replica of
the world’s most complete early hominid ever discovered, is erected.
The
twins sites have been receiving local and international attention,
reviving the country’s status as a hotspot for human evolution study.
According
to residents, Namorutunga is a sacred place where the ancestors were
joined by their ‘earthly god’ for the famous Edong’a dance in
celebration of their economic gains.
TRANSFORMED INTO STONES
Due
to their cultural and scholarly significance, the two sites are
attracting visitors both local and international because of their rich
historic background.
County culture chief officer Amina
Ewoi on Thursday disclosed plans to market Namorutunga stones and the
Turkana Boy monument that is also referred to as Nariokotome Boy.
“At
Namorutunga, the dancers who we believe are our ancestors turned into
smooth stones after they mocked their god who had joined them for the
dance,” said Ms Ewoi.
This disrespect to their deity
cost them their lives and they were transformed into stones in different
lifeless postures — some standing, others lying on their bellies and
some squatting.
Located some 40 kilometres along the
Lodwar-Kalokol road, members of the Turkanafilr community visit the
sacred Namorutunga site to appease their ancestors.
“On
arrival at the site, visitors silently stand or sing praise songs as
they places small stones on top of the ancestors, as a show of respect,”
said Ms Ewoi.
The ‘human’ stones have over the years
been defaced by weather due to what legends attribute to displeasure by
the ancestors over sins committed by the current generation.
“It’s
an abomination for anyone to collect and take away the well-worn stones
because they are strongly considered to be the flesh of the ancestors.
The area needs to be protected to conserve it from any destruction,” the
county official said.
TRADITIONAL REGALIA
The
once neglected tourist sites have now attracted local beauty queens who
flock to showcase their modelling skills and entertain villagers and
visitors.
County Miss Talent, Valentine Karey said that
the sites have been neglected and it is not easy for a first-time
visitor to appreciate their value as well as be entertained.
Ms Karey said the models demonstrate how to educate people to value sites like Namorutunga that are labelled as sacred.
“We also give background information to all visitors we find at the sites, to make their visit worthwhile,” said Ms Karey.
She
explained that the models dress in Turkana traditional regalia made
from animals’ skins, with the men carrying walking sticks and a special
seat called Ekicholong as they model as youth, marriage men and the
elders.
Governor Josphat Nanok believes that the story
of Turkana being the cradle of mankind will now be understood better by
those who visit the site.
Mr Nanok said his government
was working with the National Museums of Kenya and Turkana Basin
Institute to maintain and conserve the monuments’ architectural and
building designs.
The NMK has termed as regrettable,
the pathetic state of Kenyatta House constructed in 1959 in Lodwar,
where Kenya’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was detained.
NMK has pledged to immediately give it a face-lift to attract more visitors.
In
his Turkana fact-finding visit two weeks ago, NMK Director-General
Mzalendo Kibunjia said the county has a rich tourism, historical and
cultural potential that should be marketed to open up the region for
tourists.
The county government spent over Sh20 million
on erecting Turkana Boy, which has lately become the most-visited
monument in the country.
It is located west of Lake Turkana - the world largest desert lake.
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