Portrait photos of Kenya, Kenya

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Portraits of Kenya

The Nilotic people of Kenya are the most traditional, with their distinctive dress and decorations. In the south, along the border with Tanzania, live the Maasai, with boys and young men looking after their cattle. The Samburu and Turkana live in the arid northwest of the country.

Maasai herd boy
 
Young Maasai woman
 
Maasai woman
 
Traditional Maasai moran
 
Traditional Maasai moran
 
Maasai girl, Loita Plains
 
Maasai girl, Loita Plains
 
Maasai woman
 
Maasai man
 
Elderly Samburu woman
 
Little Samburu girl
 
Young Samburu man
 
Turkana woman
 
Turkana girl
 
Samburu man
 
Samburu girl
 
Samburu woman, Maralal
 
Young Samburu man
 
Samburu man
 
Young Turkana girl
 
Turkana girl
 
Turkana boy
 
Turkana boy near Isiolo
 
Somali boy in Isiolo
 

These are the faces of traditional Maasai, the related Samburu and the Turkana. All use red ochre to decorate their faces, and especially women and girls have the most intricate beadwork decorations. These are the faces of traditional people, self-assured in their culture.

The Somali boy in Isiolo would be descended from soldiers who settled in the area after the First World War. Speaking a Cushitic language, the Somalis are Muslims and primarily engaged in business.