Lopae: Geographical Dispersal Of Friendship In Turkana"

Abstract

Lopae are special friendships among the nomadic Turkana pastoralists based on the exchange of stock animals and other gifts. This study of lopae among semi-sedentary southern Turkana has shown that: (1) Lopae serve as an investment, insurance, and risk dispersal over a wide geographical area, and (2) settlement itself does not hinder exchanges or diminish the friendships. indeed, many Turkana in the settlements gained new lopae because of grain from their agricultural plots and their access to purchased food and goods.