Kora Necklace

Leather, giraffe hair, glass beads

The Kora necklace is a traditional ornament worn by Samburu women and forms part of the elaborate system of adornment that expresses beauty, identity, and social belonging within the community. Jewelry among the Samburu often reflects age, marital status, and personal prestige. Materials drawn from the natural environment, such as giraffe hair, connect the ornament to the pastoral and ecological landscape in which Samburu culture is rooted.

The necklace is constructed around a leather-wrapped circular frame. Bundles of tightly gathered giraffe tail hair are attached to the lower section, creating a dense, textured fringe. Glass beads are incorporated as decorative accents, while the leather structure provides strength and shape. Each necklace is assembled by hand, combining leather work, bead application, and careful arrangement of the hair to produce a balanced ceremonial ornament.