Old Turkana Food Container – Eburi – Kenya

Wood, leather, pigment. Weight 470.9 g (16.61 oz); height 20.8 cm (8.19 in); width 12.0 cm (4.72 in).

As nomads, the Turkana of northern Kenya traditionally produce primarily functional objects, designed to be easily transportable and crafted from materials readily available in their harsh, semi‑desert environment. While the basic forms of personal and domestic objects are passed down through generations, there is considerable variation within these types, reflecting the skill, ingenuity, and personal pride of the maker.

A graceful wooden food container carved by Turkana women is known as the eburi. Using an adze called an arong, a woman shapes the basic cylindrical form from the branch or trunk of a thorn tree. The ends are covered with cowhide, stretched and molded in wet sand. The bottom is secured to the container with leather thongs, while the upper piece forms the lid. Decorative designs may then be burned onto the surface using a heated nail or pieces of metal.

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