Storying Our Futures

Discovering how storytelling can best serve the people and lands experiencing the worst impacts of climate crisis

Storying Our Futures: climate resilience through indigenous knowledge is a British Council funded international collaboration project, produced by Adverse Camber, with partner ICPAC (IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre) which is based in Nairobi and works across East Africa. The aim of the project is to discover how storytelling can best serve the people and lands experiencing the worst impacts of climate crisis in the border territories of the Horn of Africa. Working together to look at how storytelling meets the challenges of our climate emergency.

We met South Sudanese journalist Joseph Ngor Deng, and learned about Rainmakers, indigenous traditional knowledge holders who help communities with limited access to meteorology prepare for the weather. Joseph attended rainmakers’ meetings in his community and created a live broadcast in Dinka, one of South Sudan’s languages, for community radio stations.

Nairobi based storyteller John Mukeni Namai and Scottish/Kenyan storyteller Mara Menzies joined the project in May 2022. They interviewed Joseph about his research and travelled with ICPAC on a field trip to Turkana and Western Pokot, in Northern Kenya. The storytellers, on their own voyage of discovery, helped the ICPAC team to gather video and audio footage, talked to communities who are being impacted by the current long-term drought, and thought about ways to share the stories of their experiences.

You can now listen to two podcasts made from the material gathered on the field trip, and take part in online discussion events. Follow the links below.

Storying Our Futures Podcasts

title graphic with black and yellow lettering background image of jeep and flower

Storying Our Futures Webinar Series

Storytellers Mara Menzies (left) and John Namai (right) pose for a photo after an interview with youth in Loima, Turkana County, Kenya. In the middle are local chief and ICPAC User Engagement Expert Calistus Wachana (in striped t-shirt).

Storytellers John Namai (left) and Mara Menzies (right) interview Abdi Achegei Adan, the Director of Elemi Development Organization, an organization that works with marginalized communities in northern Kenya, during the Lokiriama Peace Accord Commemoration in Lokiriama village, Turkana County, Kenya

Storytellers John Namai (left) and Mara Menzies converse with Turkana musician Sammy Epungure at the Lokiriama Peace Accord Commemoration in Lokiriama, Turkana County,Kenya

Abdi Achegei Adan, the Director of Elemi Development Organization, an organization that works with marginalized communities in northern Kenya, speaks during an interview at the Lokiriama Peace Accord Commemoration in Lokiriama, Turkana County, Kenya

From Left: Storytellers Mara Menzies and John Namai interview Obed Tuyumvire, an entrepreneur (right) at the Lokiriama Peace Accord Commemoration in Lokiriama village, Turkana County, Kenya. Looking on is Turkana County Meteorological Services Director Francis Muinda.

Photographs taken by Edwin Kiplagat from ICPAC.

The project has been co-designed by a trio of ICPAC scientists and community engagement experts, Linda Ogallo, Collison Lore and Calistus Wachana, working closely with two UK co-lead storyteller/researchers, Cath Heinemeyer and Hannah McDowall for Adverse Camber.

Storying our Futures: climate resilience through indigenous knowledge is funded by the British Council’s International Collaboration Grants, which are designed to support UK and overseas organisations to collaborate on international arts projects.