Ruth Oriama, PhD (An Applied Economist and Conservation Enthusiast with a keen interest in Public Sector Governance)
In an age of screens, blockbusters and bustle, I sometimes wonder what has become of village storytelling, the kind that shaped values, character, and identity as profoundly as the land itself. We might have all heard the tales from our grandfathers and grandmothers — for the older generations this must have been something they experienced far more routinely. In my community, there is even a name for the children of the hearth: Ipurong for the girl and Epurong for the boy.
I only experienced these stories once or twice — I was way too young to recall the exact stories, but I know for sure I must have sat there until the last drop of it — told by my grandmother Tata Ipurong, imbibing the whole narrative, down to the reactions of my cousins. The older ones enjoyed how scared the younger ones were, those who were almost falling asleep but would be teased back into life, my elder cousins who would sneak out the pot of brewed alcohol made from millet flour from Tata’s kitchen when she wasn’t looking while taking care of the younger ones. One thing that was certain is that around Tata there would always be some good stew — boiled chicken or fish from Babu’s pond with a dash of salt — this made for the best accompaniment with millet ugali.
Beyond storytelling, there was the whole influence of Babu, who would at any request to meet him for a chat or to ask him to share his collection of berries with you, would whisk you away into the fields where he would mark out areas for you to plant trees one hedge after the other, even extending into the neighbour’s corner, “They will eventually benefit from either the berries or the shade,” he was very confident of this. My father would tag along, because he too is a tad bit too interested in stories and has never been one to miss out on a good party. He would have his convoy of nephews and nieces and would spell out the names of every bird we encountered — using both the botanical and traditional names — telling us stories of what each bird would traditionally signal in Iteso culture, details that Babu was too introverted to share with us. For instance, when you see this multi-coloured bird, you know for sure that a visitor is on the way! These are some of my fondest memories from those days.
To think of it, EcoPulse Alliance was born out of these interactions with the community we live and experience these stories in the midst of woodland in Kapina, where local children gather their own tales from elders and transform them into conservation narratives.
This is a simple glimpse into the kind of stories that EcoPulse Alliance is set to unfold, one ecosystem at a time across the eastern African region. The stories of the Chorwet and Momoryot from Mokwo (Kaptarakwa Village) — mystical tales of mountain spirits and healing herbs, the woodland legends from Kapina Village where children learn from ancient trees, and the grassland folklore from Cheptirit Village where traditional songs carry environmental wisdom. We want to take you through the lens of Ipurong into the intertwining of these narratives with our environment.
We are a social impact project bridging mentorship, art and conservation. Our mission is to cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious and empowered youth across 10 diverse ecosystems in eastern Africa. By weaving together education, art, and conservation, we aim to equip over 1,500 students in select rural primary schools with enhanced knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical experience in conservation and sustainable development.
From the mountains of Mokwo to the woodlands of Kapina, we invite communities to gather around a new kind of firepit — one where ancient wisdom meets modern conservation, where children become storytellers of their own environmental future. We believe, as Rachel Carson once wrote: “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”
Join us, read the stories, share your own, plant a tree, or simply listen anew. The circle by the fire is bigger than ever. EcoPulse Alliance welcomes you home.
