Ties that bind Isukuti, lizards and tree now on the brink of extinction

Boaz Otenyo Shimoli during an interview with The Standard at Eshiandukusi village, Lurambi. Shimoli earns a living through making musical instruments such as Eshilili, Isukuti, Litungu, Kayamba, drums, etc from different types of skins. In Isukuti making, he uses the monitor lizard's skin which he gets from hunting with his dogs and spear. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Boaz Otenyo Shimoli stoically stretches his lean body to pull a monitor lizard skin from a lump of drying cow and goat skins under the roof of his semi-permanent mud-walled workshop at Lurambi, Kakamega County.

His confidence and skill can be felt in his voice and demonstration as he takes us through his work. He does it with the mastery of a medicine professor showing students the craft of dissecting a patient.