In the hills west of Lake Natron, the Sonjo, have for centuries maintained one of East Africa's oldest existing irrigation practices. Since they live in a semi-arid area where each season depends on the coming of rain, water is more than a necessity; it is the basis of agriculture, spirituality and community life. If the rains fail or if there is a threat to the harvest, the elders come together to carry out rain rituals based on many generations of Indigenous knowledge. Using songs, chants, prayer and ceremony, they attempt to reestablish harmony between people, their ancestors and the natural world. For the Sonjo, rain is not merely weather; it is a sacred blessing which keeps the springs, the irrigation canals, the fields and the families alive. All of which have shaped their way of life over the generations.
These photos were taken while recording the activities of the Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT) in one of the Sonjo villages, looks at a living tradition in which culture and conservation are never separated. By protecting their sacred water sites and preserving their ancestral customs, the Sonjo are once again showing us that caring for water represents respect for the land, respect for memory, and respect for the generations that will come after us.
