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Travel Diary Ep.2 / Creating a Wedding Wall Hanging with the Hamer Tribe – A Story of Beads, Fire, and a Little Surprise

Katja Watamu Dunes • February 24, 2025

🌿 Creating a Wedding Wall Hanging with the Hamer Tribe – A Story of Beads, Fire, and a Little Surprise 🎨🔥

Imagine sitting inside a traditional kraal, a fenced-in space usually reserved for goats. This was our creative studio for the day, an enclosed area where we, Laura Davis and I, could lay out our materials without cows and goats stomping across our work. The Hamer tribe children, however, were free to roam, adding laughter and curiosity to the process.

For this collaboration, we embraced two traditional techniques: beading and leather burning. Together with the Hamer artisans, we carefully selected beads and materials, deciding to create a wedding-themed wall hanging. In Hamer culture, a wedding ring isn’t worn on a finger; instead, it’s a neckpiece made of steel and leather that symbolises marriage. This became the centrepiece of our design.

The final piece was crafted on soft beige leather, adorned along the edges with beautiful wooden beads, giving it a rich, earthy elegance. As we were putting the finishing touches on this masterpiece, a little moment of real life unfolded...one that had us all laughing.

A small child, curious about what his mother was making, toddled over. She paused her work to give him a gentle hug and some breastfeeding, a moment of pure love. He lingered near us, watching. And then… well, nature called. 😅 In the innocent way that toddlers do, he relieved himself, right onto the almost-finished wall hanging!


For a split second, we all froze. Then came the laughter. Pure, joyful, belly-aching laughter. 😂 We quickly grabbed some water, rinsed the leather, and just like that...good as new! After all, this is nature in its purest form.
Moments like these are what make Honor the Tribes so special. Each piece is not just a work of art but a story, a connection, a beautiful glimpse into a way of life.

✨ Want to bring a piece of this magic into your home? PM us for details on how to order this special edition Hamer Tribe Wedding Wall Hanging.

Watch the movie about the Hamer-Tribe:

Together, we can honor the tribes, celebrate their creativity, and keep their traditions alive.

PM
For more information or inquiries about our Karo Tribe collection, please feel free to contact us:
📞 WhatsApp: +254795525021 📧 Email:
info@honorthetribes.com 🌐 Website: www.honorthetribes.com
We would love to hear from you and help you bring a piece of the Karo Tribe's artistry into your space!

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