Freda Nkirote M’Mbogori (National Museums of Kenya)

Material culture images

Unlike many Kenyan Communities, the Marakwet have maintained aspects of their traditional way of life.  This may be partly attributable to politics and bad road networks which have played a role in buffering the community from external influence.  Moreover, the hilly and rocky terrain, coupled with low rainfall regimes have contributed to protection of the Marakwet land from other Kenyan farming communities. While far from isolated the Marakwet have maintained a partially indigenous way of life.

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by Charles French (University of Cambridge)

images of the Marakwet environment

 Introduction

The Marakwet field workshop in December 2013 enabled a geoarchaeological assessment of the landscape character of this region and some initial soil sampling. Particular attention was paid to three areas: first the farm compounds, fields and slope off-take irrigation system occupying the lower slopes to the northwest of the village of Tot; second the River Embobut valley at the base of the slope over a distance of about 4km eastwards; and third the wider valley floor to the southeast-east of Tot and the main River Kerio floodplain and low terrace area towards Pokot where the Canadian Red Cross has extensively cleared land for a new irrigation system and multiple field plots over an area of some 250 hectares.

A more detailed report of these observations and the soil profiles described has been placed on file and will be incorporated into future research. The following provides a brief summary of the observations so far:

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Welcome to this new site on Marakwet heritage which has developed out of a range of previous research conducted by Professor Henrietta Moore and Dr Matthew Davies. This site is currently under construction but we look forward to developing and adding to the site over the coming months.

For further information on current projects please see:

http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/marakwet

http://www.farminginafrica.wordpress.com/marakwet

You can also find more information via the personal websites of Henrietta Moore and Matthew Davies