Done
A man holds a girl as she tries to escape when she realised she is to to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County, Kenya,  December 7, 2014. As Pokot tradition dictates, the future husband arrived to her family home with a group of men to collect the girl. The men arrived with the last settled dowry of livestock for the girl's family.  (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A man holds a girl as she tries to escape when she realised she is to to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County, Kenya, December 7, 2014. As Pokot tradition dictates, the future husband arrived to her family home with a group of men to collect the girl. The men arrived with the last settled dowry of livestock for the girl's family. In this case it was 20 goats, three camels and 10 cows, given during a period of several weeks. The remaining 10 cows were to be given the morning the girl was taken to her new home by her husband and the rest of the men. The girl was unaware of the marriage arrangements that her father had made. The family said that if they had told her in advance she might have run away from home. In the Pokot tradition, parents give their daughters as wives usually at the beginning of their adolescence. The Pokots have developed social structure and practices that aim to optimise the chance of survival of each household in an often difficult and hostile environment. The girls are ready for marriage after an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot men and women hold a girl before she is taken away by a group of men to be married to a member of their community after the group came to take her from her family home, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot men and women hold a girl before she is taken away by a group of men to be married to a member of their community after the group came to take her from her family home, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A man holds onto a girl as he brings her back to her family home after she tried to escape when she realised she is to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A man holds onto a girl as he brings her back to her family home after she tried to escape when she realised she is to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot men hold onto a a girl as they lead her to be married to a member of their community after the group came to take her from her family home, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot men hold onto a a girl as they lead her to be married to a member of their community after the group came to take her from her family home, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot men walk towards the home of a girl to be taken as wife for a member of their group, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot men walk towards the home of a girl to be taken as wife for a member of their group, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot men stand near the home of a girl to be taken as wife for a member of their group, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot men stand near the home of a girl to be taken as wife for a member of their group, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls wearing beads and animal skins sit in a secluded hut slightly more than one week prior to an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County November 24, 2014. They are part of a group of over a hundred girls that will take part in the ceremony lasting one night and through the next day. Before the ceremony, as Pokot tradition dictates, the girls are secluded for over a month, out of sight of the men in the community. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls wearing beads and animal skins sit in a secluded hut slightly more than one week prior to an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County November 24, 2014. They are part of a group of over a hundred girls that will take part in the ceremony lasting one night and through the next day. Before the ceremony, as Pokot tradition dictates, the girls are secluded for over a month, out of sight of the men in the community. The ceremony will mark the girls coming to age and they will be able to be married. For most, their marriages have already been arranged. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls wearing beads and with their faces painted, walk towards a secluded place slightly more than a week prior to an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County November 25, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls wearing beads and with their faces painted, walk towards a secluded place slightly more than a week prior to an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County November 25, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A Pokot girl gets her braids done by her friends prior to an initiation ceremony marking her passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County, December 5, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A Pokot girl gets her braids done by her friends prior to an initiation ceremony marking her passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County, December 5, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls take part in an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls take part in an initiation ceremony marking their passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A man inspects the last settled dowry of several cows received for his daughter's hand in an arranged marriage, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A man inspects the last settled dowry of several cows received for his daughter's hand in an arranged marriage, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot men grab a bull for an elder of the community to bless during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. The ceremony will last one night and through the next day. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot men grab a bull for an elder of the community to bless during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. The ceremony will last one night and through the next day. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls hit a young bull as part of an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. Each of the girls taking part of the initiation will punch the young bull until the animal is exhausted and then the men of the community will kill the animal from a blow to the head and a spear thrust to the heart. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls hit a young bull as part of an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. Each of the girls taking part of the initiation will punch the young bull until the animal is exhausted and then the men of the community will kill the animal from a blow to the head and a spear thrust to the heart. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls punch a young bull as part of an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls punch a young bull as part of an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A young bull lies dead on the ground after having been killed by a blow to the head and a spear thrust to the heart during a Pokot initiation of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County, December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A young bull lies dead on the ground after having been killed by a blow to the head and a spear thrust to the heart during a Pokot initiation of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County, December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls walk in line during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls walk in line during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A man grabs a girl to bring her back to her family home after she tried to escape when she realised she is to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A man grabs a girl to bring her back to her family home after she tried to escape when she realised she is to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A man and women hold onto a girl as she tries to escape when she realised she is to to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A man and women hold onto a girl as she tries to escape when she realised she is to to be married, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 7, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls and adults stand in a circle during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls and adults stand in a circle during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls attired with traditional jewellery stand in a circle during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls attired with traditional jewellery stand in a circle during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




A Pokot man holds a lamb as he blesses over a hundred girls during an initiation ceremony marking the girls' passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

A Pokot man holds a lamb as he blesses over a hundred girls during an initiation ceremony marking the girls' passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls and boys dance together during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls and boys dance together during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls and boys dance together during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls and boys dance together during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)




Pokot girls and boys dance together during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)

Pokot girls and boys dance together during an initiation ceremony of over a hundred girls passing over into womanhood, about 80 km (50 miles) from the town of Marigat in Baringo County December 6, 2014. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Reuters)
11 Dec 2014 14:07:00