Why locals in Turkana chant, dance and beat drums after seeing Blood Moon
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 8, 2025With different communities reacting in their own ways to the emergence of the lunar eclipse, the Turkana community, too, was not left out, responding in line with their traditional beliefs and practices.
The eclipse, which occurred on the night of Sunday, September 8, 2025, drew mixed reactions across the country. In urban areas, many people came out with their phones, capturing photos of the rare and stunning blood-coloured moon, treating it as an unusual but fascinating natural phenomenon. For the Turkana people, however, the night carried a deeper meaning rooted in culture and tradition.
According to Turkana beliefs, natural events such as lunar eclipses were not just astronomical occurrences but cosmic battles between forces of light and darkness. When the moon darkened, the community believed it was under attack or being swallowed by evil spirits or dark forces. To them, the eclipse was not a spectacle to admire but a threat to the balance of nature that required human intervention.
Beating drums
In response, the locals gathered with drums, making loud noises, shouting, and singing. This ritual, passed down through generations, was believed to scare away the spirits and restore the moon’s brightness. The beating of drums was therefore more than just sound; it was an act of protection and solidarity with the universe, a way of ensuring that life’s natural order was preserved.
In photos seen, both the young and middle-aged and the old came out with drums to chase away the evil spirits, which, according to their beliefs, were trying to dim the moon, which has long illuminated their nights. Those who could not find drums were forced to improvise with jerry cans and other items, which could produce sound.
Biblical perspective
The blood moon, often seen as a dramatic and mysterious sight, has been linked to many spiritual complications across cultures. It is commonly viewed as an omen of change and upheaval, symbolising shifts that may affect individuals or even whole societies. In such moments, people believe hidden truths are exposed, forcing a transformation that is often uncomfortable but unavoidable.
In the Bible, the blood moon is directly mentioned in prophetic texts. The book of Joel 2:31 declares, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.”
This passage has made many interpret the blood moon as a divine sign of judgement or warning. Similarly, in Revelation 6:12, during the opening of the sixth seal, John describes a great earthquake followed by the moon becoming like blood.