Clutching an assault rifle, Ekai Lokipeng shows off six marks on his chest, the result of ritual scarification ceremonies to indicate the number of people he has killed. The scars symbolise the pride that Kenyan pastoralists along the country’s volatile border with Ethiopia take in protecting their herds from rustlers, and have made the 30-year-old Turkana tribe member a hero in his community.
Eager to cash in on its stunning wildlife and scenery, Kenya is revamping its maligned film policy and luring filmmakers with incentives in a bid to become the Hollywood of Africa. Mindful of the stiff competition offered by South Africa and Nigeria, Kenyan officials are determined to see the lucrative movie business, which now directly employs 41 000 people in full- and part-time jobs, grow.
In a football stadium tucked away in Western Kenya, the contenders pace and snort under a brilliant blue sky as gusts of wind carry the cheers of thousands of spectators. Oblivious to the noise and bets being placed, Iminyi and Ingwe prepare for battle, racing up and down the pitch as if possessed.