Title: Necklace/Collar - 'mporro engorio"
Material: Palm fiber, leather, glass beads, android ochre.
People: Smaburu
Country: Kenya
Description: These beaded collars were traditionally given to
Samburu women upon marriage. When elephants
were plentiful in the northern desert areas of
Kenya, these collars were made of elephant hair
instead of palm fibers. Beads communicate social
status for both Samburu women & men. A Samburu
warrior describes a beautiful girl as someone who has
beaded necklaces all the way up to her chin. Since
most girls get married at the age of fourteen to sixteen,
they start collecting necklaces at the age of 7-8. And
by the age of marriage they have a substantial collection.
Collected in Kenya in 1965
