The Jikon Kitchen and the Sustainable Lifestyle of the Pokot Tribe

I had the opportunity to step foot on the African continent for the very first time. My plane landed in Nairobi, Kenya - translated as "A Place of Cold Water" in the Maasai language - where I was warmly welcomed by world champion athlete, Tegla Loroupe. Loroupe generously invited me to meet her family and tribe, the Pokot, and during my time with them, I had the chance to live among the tribe, eat their food, wear their attire, and learn about their unique culture and way of life.

Tegla Loroupe, a loved one, and their furry friends enter Jikon Kitchen with beaming smiles

One of the most striking things I noticed during my stay with the Pokot was their strong sense of community and happiness. The tribe had a sustainable kitchen known as Jikon, which played a vital role in their daily lives. The kitchen was an integral part of the tribe's practices, from feeding the children to washing the dishes. Everyone in the community was involved, regardless of their age or gender.

The sketch, taken from Marc Northstar's anthropological notebook, was created on-site as he observed the Lorope Family's utilization and user experience within the Jikon Kitchen.

The Jikon kitchen was built as a separate structure from the main house, and for good reason. It was so important to the Pokot that it needed its own space. The kitchen was built with mud walls on the inside and bricks on the outside, with exposed foundation set at roughly three feet to protect it from water damage and heavy dust. Straw was a crucial element of the kitchen's thatched roof, providing a lightweight, waterproof layer that also provided excellent insulation and protection. The straw material used on the roof is a sustainable and renewable resource that could be harvested without damaging the environment. The kitchen was a seamless integration of the roof, walls, floor, chairs, and fireplace, creating a harmonious whole where every element contributed to the cooking experience, it felt like every element was part of what they cook, especially the maize, adding something to your dish from its sustainable, organic, and natural ingredients from the architecture recipe. What impressed me the most, however, was the roof's insulation system. The smoke from cooking was drawn up to the straw thatching on the roof and filtered out, while the roof also acted as a barrier against direct sunlight, nighttime moisture, and dust and rain. There were no leaks and the smoke was effectively expelled from the interior. I also noticed that they dry and wash dishes outside the kitchen under the sun. Despite the challenges posed by water scarcity in the region, the Pokot used a range of water management techniques to make the most of the limited rainfall they received, including rainwater harvesting.

Mastering the art of maize - Marc Northstar hones his cooking skills inside Jikon Kitchen, Pokot.

The Jikon kitchen's design also served a symbolic purpose. It was a hub for the family, a space where children and adults alike could gather and engage with one another efficiently. The generosity of the design was also important, as having the kitchen outside meant that it was a sign of welcome, with open doors inviting anyone to enter. The kitchen's design also allowed for ventilation of smoke from cooking, while still maintaining a comfortable temperature within the space.

While staying with Loroupe's family, I had the opportunity to milk cows, cook in the Jikon kitchen, and truly live as a member of the Pokot family. The food was simple, fresh, and healthy, and I was struck by the tribe's philosophy of paying more to spoil their bodies. The Pokot's deep connection with nature was also evident, with the tribe living in harmony with the land and taking care to maintain it. As one tribe member told me, "When you destroy nature, the nature will destroy you."

The Loroupe Family enjoys happy moments together as the delicious aroma of cooking wafts through the thrashed roof.

Despite the challenges of living in an arid region, the Pokot were able to maintain a quarter of their land as green, while the rest remained dry. Some members of the tribe had to walk up to 100 kilometres to find water, and currency was not traded - instead, animals were used as currency, with the number of cows one owned indicating their prestige in society. Living on Loroupe's farm was a true escape from modern technology, with no TV, telephone, or internet. Instead, I was able to breathe in fresh air, cook over a wood fire, and drink water from a well. The elderly members of the tribe looked young and healthy, and the Pokot lived in peace and happiness, without the complications of a currency system.

Hakuna Matata, asante sana!