“Ancestral Echoes” is a photographic journey into a festival held in Tharaka in Northern Kenya, revealing their deep spiritual beliefs and cultural connection to the land. Set around sacred sites like Kijege Hill, the exhibition captures the essence of their creation myths, rituals, and close relationship with nature.

Central to their spiritual life are figures like the Mugwe, who blesses the people and land, and Kibuka, a legendary warrior who performed miracles but cursed the community after their betrayal. This festival celebrates Kibuka and aims to seek forgiveness from him with the hopes he will lift his curse. It is also a reconnection and a revival to their culture in the face of modern pressures.

These photographs showcase the Tharaka’s efforts to preserve their traditions, particularly through their sacred natural sites, despite the pressures of modern life. “Ancestral Echoes” invites viewers to reflect on the resilience of cultural identity, the power of ancestral ties, and the ongoing quest for harmony between ancient beliefs and the challenges of the contemporary world.

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