This Borana jug, made by the Borana Oromo people of southern Ethiopia, is a striking example of the artistry and symbolism embedded in pastoralist vessel traditions. The jug is constructed from woven grass reinforced with aluminum wire, a technique that ensures both durability and decorative richness. Its surface is carefully patterned with horizontal and vertical bands of wire, creating a geometric rhythm across the rounded body and elongated neck.
 
At the top, the stopper is adorned with cowrie shells, which were historically valued in many African societies as symbols of fertility, wealth, and spiritual protection. For the Borana, such adornment elevated the jug from a utilitarian container to a vessel with social and ceremonial weight. It reflects how everyday objects, especially those connected to milk and butter, staples of Borana pastoral life, carry deeper cultural meaning tied to identity and hospitality.
 
Jugs like this were used to store and serve milk or butter, central foods in Borana society and key symbols of generosity. The care put into their construction and embellishment shows that these were not simply household containers but objects that embodied continuity, resilience, and aesthetic values within pastoral life.
 
The combination of natural fibers, recycled metals, and cowrie shells illustrates how Borana artisans adapted available materials while maintaining long-standing cultural forms, creating vessels that are at once functional, symbolic, and deeply tied to the rhythms of community life.