Kenya’s Samburu warriors still make rock art and express their cultural identity through images of humans, animals, and weapons painted and carved on cliffs and rock shelters. Incoming Concurrences member Professor Peter Skoglund has received funding from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond for a research project in which he will interact with different generations of Samburu painters and through conversations learn when, where, and why they make rock art. Also, the project will discuss with present-day painters how they are adapting or keeping to their traditions in a changing world. The overall research question is to investigate the socio-environmental context of Samburu rock art, and to analyze how the tradition has changed during the last 100 years. The collaborative, participatory nature of the research is intrinsic to the enquiry, and a hallmark of this project is an ongoing interaction with Samburu communities and organizations on the best way to conduct fieldwork and research.
A trained archaeologist, Peter will be a member of LNUC Concurrences from January 2025 and the project will be part of the Centre's research.
