This hand-carved wooden bowl comes from the Turkana people of northwestern Kenya. The bowl’s distinct shape, often with curved or petal-like edges, reflects traditional forms used in everyday life by Turkana pastoralist communities.
 
Turkana bowls are typically used to hold milk, water, or porridge and are essential in both domestic and nomadic contexts. Their compact and durable design makes them practical for transport and daily use. Many are equipped with string or leather ties, allowing them to be carried or hung when not in use. This bowl features a fiber-based string, showing signs of long-term use and exposure.
 
This particular bowl shows signs of extensive use. It retains some residual smell and surface stickiness, which is evidence of its history and prolonged function in daily life. These qualities speak to the bowl’s authenticity and connection to the lived experience of its original owners.
 
The Turkana are semi-nomadic pastoralists whose livelihood centers on livestock herding in arid regions of Kenya. Objects like this bowl play an important role in sustaining mobile life, while also representing the close relationship between utility, environment, and culture.