At the north-western corner of Kenya lies a ribbon of water whose unique colour is comparable to a gem. The Jade Sea is one of the many names it has amassed over the years, a tribute to its algae-covered floor that becomes even more distinct in calm weather. The evolution of this waterbody’s name is one that tells of the importance of the Kenyan journey and speaks to the significance of our national identity.
Anam Ka’alakol.
This was the name that the Turkana christened the lake. It was not just an object of beauty but also a source of livelihood. Even when the worst droughts hit the already desert land inhabited by this community, they could always rely on Anam Ka’alakol for protein. Fishing was an important economic activity that sustained the Turkana, a skill that required patience and precision to master. The sea of many fish, the lake came to be.
Basso Narok.
That which gives also takes, and the Samburu knew this to be true about the lake. This community had also been sustained by fish from this waterbody for hundreds of years, but it was not without a price. Sometimes, fishermen would leave their homes never to return. Other times, they would return with scars that told of a fierce battle between man and beast. The very same waters that teemed with fish were also abundant in crocodiles. Not to mention the dark sulphurous smoke belched from the volcanoes found on lake’s most centered island, and the black sands that lined its beach. No other name was as befitting as Basso Narok, The Black Lake.
Lake Rudolf.
On March 6th 1888, Hungarian explorer Count Sámuel Teleki led the first European expedition to northern Kenya. Here they encountered the glistening waters of the lake. Perhaps Teleki could not sound the names that local communities used to refer to this waterbody, perhaps he didn’t bother to ask. And so, he named it Rudolf, in honour of the crown prince of Austria.
During its time as Lake Rudolf, its three islands were given the names Central Island, South Island and North Island. The three crater lakes on Central Island became Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake and Tilapia Lake. Its length was verified to be 250 kilometres, and its population of Nile crocodiles was found to be the largest in the world. It was confirmed to be the world’s largest permanent desert lake and the world’s largest alkaline lake.
Lake Turkana.
Decolonization began once the Union Jack was lowered at Uhuru Gardens on 12th December 1963. In 1975, this sentiment finally docked on the shores of this lake when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta renamed it to Turkana. Three national parks were gazetted within and around it: Central and Southern Islands, and Sibiloi. In 1997, the parks were collectively recognized as a place of outstanding universal value and inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.
There is much to say about Lake Turkana. What other names did it go by in the past? Are its waters as green as they are made out to be? Share the stories you have of Anam Ka’alakol/ Basso Narok with us.
