Summary
Overview
Filmmaker Jackie Lebo shares her transformative journey to Turkana, northern Kenya, where a documentary about oil discovery evolved into a profound exploration of pastoralist identity, creative collaboration, and resource sharing. Through working with local and Nairobi artists, Lebo discovered how traditional Turkana society's communal values could inform new models of artistic collaboration and collective ownership, ultimately leading to the creation of the Nomadic Arts Festival.
Introduction and Traditional Turkana Greetings
Lebo opens by introducing the traditional Turkana greeting ritual that asks about people, children, cattle, and rain—questions that reveal the essential elements of pastoralist life. She explains how these greetings reflect deep cultural values that have sustained nomadic communities for generations, setting the stage for her exploration of how traditional societies intersect with modernity.
- Traditional Turkana greetings ask: How are you? How are the children? How are the cattle? Is it raining?
- These greeting questions represent the essential elements that sustained pastoralist lives for generations
Journey to Turkana and the Oil Discovery Context
In 2014, Lebo traveled to Turkana, the northernmost region of Kenya, where people have been so marginalized they don't identify as Kenyan. Post-independence policies concentrated resources in the agricultural south, but oil discovery brought new attention to the region. Lebo's own family had transitioned from nomadic pastoralism just one generation before, making this project deeply personal as she reconnected with her heritage.
- Turkana people have been marginalized for so long they don't identify as Kenyans
- Post-independence policies focused resources in the agriculturally rich south, neglecting Turkana
- Oil discovery led Kenya to lay claim to Turkana
- Lebo's own family transitioned from nomadic pastoralism just one generation before
- The project initially focused on oil revenues but evolved to encompass water, security, and cultural preservation
" Just one generation before, my family was compelled by the twin forces of modernity and colonialism to transition away from a life of nomadic pastoralism. "
" They wanted water and security to continue with their pastoralist way of life because it was part of their culture and identity. "
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