Jackie Lebo: An art movement built on ancestral wisdom

An art movement built on ancestral wisdom

"How are the children? How are the cattle? Is it raining?" Filmmaker Jackie Lebo discovered the meaning of this traditional greeting when she and nine other artists explored Turkana, an isolated part of Kenya where the discovery of oil has disrupted pastoral life. Through film, photography and music, she and musicians Elizabeth Korikel and Eddie Grey share the deep cultural roots of art — and highlight the true connectedness of humanity.

Communities in northern Kenya greet each other by asking about children, cattle, and rain, reflecting what matters most for survival. When local artists explored how oil discovery threatened Turkana's pastoral culture, they created collaborative projects inspired by ancestral wisdom. Their work, from photography to music, sparked deeper connections and honored custodianship over ownership. By sharing creation and revenue, they built a new model of art rooted in belonging and shared humanity.

Art, Ancestry, And Community Power Can Redefine Modern Life

Art rooted in ancestral traditions can help restore community ties and honor the environment, even as modern forces disrupt them. In northern Kenya’s Turkana region, artists created work inspired by local greetings—like asking, 'How are the children? How are the cattle?'—reflecting deep bonds between people, livestock, and rain. Collaborating across cultures, they built new models for sharing resources, blending ancient customs with contemporary creativity. Their festival and projects reveal that true connection and shared humanity flourish when people create together.

Ancestral Wisdom Sparks Art That Reconnects Community And Land

A group of artists traveled through Turkana, a remote region in Kenya, to create collaborative art rooted in local tradition and new discovery. They found that the community’s ancestral greetings, like asking about the children, cattle, and rain, reflect core values for survival and identity. By drawing on these traditions and working together, the artists built projects that transcended individual vision and sparked deeper connection. Their journey inspired a new art festival that blends ancient and contemporary forms, celebrating a shared sense of humanity.