Akamba Wood Carving

The Kamba (Akamba) from eastern Kenya are Kenya's most famous woodcarvers. Their figures — animals, masks, warriors, abstract forms — are carved from ebony (Mpingo), olive wood, or mahogany and are sought after throughout East Africa.

The tradition goes back centuries but was developed into commercial handicrafts in the 20th century. Today, thousands of carvers work in cooperatives, especially around Wamunyu (between Nairobi and Mombasa) — the center of Kenyan wood carving.

Most popular motifs: Big Five animals (especially elephants and giraffes), Maasai warriors, abstract figures, and the famous "Family Trees" — intertwined family sculptures from a single piece of wood.