Nestled on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana, within the enchanting Marsabit, lies Koobi Fora, one of Kenya’s, if not the world’s, most important archaeological cultural institutions. Named by the Gabbra community, Koobi Fora is christened after the Commiphora myrrh, a resilient shrub that is dotted around Marsabit County’s golden desert landscape.
Truly a treasure trove of archaeology, both animal and plant fossils dating back millions of years have been discovered in Koobi Fora. In 1968, the Koobi Fora Research Project was established to research and amass data on human ancestry. As a result of this and other excavation efforts, the first Australopithecus skull was discovered at this site, as well as the Homo Habilis and Homo erectus. By the year 1994, it is estimated that around 200 hominid and animal skeletons had been discovered in Koobi Fora, surpassing the numbers of any other site of discovery in the entire world.
Recognising Koobi Fora as an important cultural site contributing to the understanding of humankind, the Kenyan government established a headquarters for the National Museums of Kenya within the area in 1973. As such, the Koobi Fora Museum opened its doors to the public, displaying replicas of the fossils that were discovered within the Cradle of Humankind, stone artefacts and photograph collections of Northerners and pre-colonial Marsabit.
Towards the close of the 20th century, in 1997 to be specific, the United Nations also recognised the Lake Turkana National Parks as a World Heritage site. Koobi Fora is enveloped by this area, and so remains protected to this day. Still a place of interest to many, the Koobi Fora Musuem continues to attract globe-trotters who come from near and far to explore and discover where #KeCulture and human culture live.