The Butterfly People

423 warriors. Hundreds of cattle slaughtered. A gathering of 130 families to create a grand ceremonial village. The Samburu hold a strong culture in Kenya, thriving in a world that pushes many indigenous people toward unwanted change.

The Samburu are also known as the Butterfly People, a name given to them by neighboring tribes in recognition of the bright colors with which they adorn themselves.

In an unabashed celebration of masculinity, the moran (Samburu warriors) are passing through a vital graduation ceremony that shows they are rising up in their community. The Lmuget is a ritual that comes once every seven years and marks the middle of the 15-year period after which a moran becomes an elder.

These photographs were taken during the production of this story for National Geographic.