Toposa/Turkana Ethnography

Detail films on various aspects of Toposa/Turkana life, recorded during field research from 1983 until 2016

Toposa 1983

The Toposa socio-political system is based on generation-sets. In regular intervals each generation-set holds a nyakidamadam, a generation-set dance celebration, in order to show its vitality and strength. The film shows digitally restored historical Super-8 material. A comparison with some almost identical scenes in "Toposa 2008" may be of some interest.

Author: Harald Müller-Dempf
Length: 30 minutes

Crafts (Toposa and Turkana)

To varying degrees the Toposa and Turkana lead their traditional life and produce their traditional handicraft. On the other hand they have adapted new techniques in order to find income niches in the modern (non-touristic) sector. The film focuses on bead work, rural architecture, metal techniques, and fibre weaving, imbedded in the daily life of people.

Author: Harald Müller-Dempf
Length: 28 minutes