Taken in northern Kenya, 2009

I met this young Turkana girl very near to the shores of Lake Turkana, walking with her head covered to provide small protection from the fierce midday sun. The Turkana live close to the eastern shores of the lake, yet where I was, very few lived directly at the lake shore. In such a hot, arid environment I was initially surprised that I did not meet more Turkana on this breezy shoreline, in fact most people I met were from the Turkana’s neighbours, the El Molo.

Later I learned that the lake was less hospitable than you might imagine. The water itself is salty, which unfortunately renders it useless as a drinking water for both humans and animals. The lake shore is also host to scorpions and vipers, which likewise does little to attract habitation. In addition, the temptation to bath in the coolness of the water within the searing heat of the day would be unwise; Lake Turkana is host to a huge number of crocodiles that regularly kill fisherman and people swimming in the lake. So perhaps understandably for the Turkana, who come from a life of nomadic pastoralism, in Loiyangalani they generally leave lake fishing, swimming, and living to their neighbours, the remarkable El Molo. The El Molo have centuries of experience as fishermen here, and trade with them the local catch of crocodile, tilapia and Nile perch.

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