Discover how Nairobi’s Lucille Nyikuri transforms cow horns into eco-luxury jewellery, winning global fans from Cornell to Johns Hopkins.
♻️ From Slaughterhouse to Showroom: The Kenyan Artist Turning Cow Horns Into Global Luxury
What does a vice president at SC Johnson Business School at Cornell University, a New York-based global trend ambassador, and an associate professor at America’s first research university have in common?
Surprisingly, all three are loyal customers of Lukagwa African Art and Jewellers, a Nairobi-based wearable art brand that’s quietly captivating the world.
- Dr. Wamwari Waichungo, VP of Global Safety at SC Johnson,
- Patti Carpenter, a Maison et Objet Global Trend Ambassador based in New York,
- and Dr. Marlene Williams, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,
…are among the international clientele drawn to Lukagwa’s intricate, eco-conscious jewellery.
✨ “There’s Always a New Bead to Discover”
“I feel I can discover a new bead or trinket each time I wear the necklaces because they are so dense and layered,” says Carpenter, who stumbled on Lucille Nyikuri’s work at the NY NOW trade show in Manhattan.
Williams, on the other hand, discovered Nyikuri’s brand at a global conference:
“I loved the unique jewellery and continued to purchase. I get compliments all the time.”
For Waichungo, it’s all about timeless elegance:
“Lukagwa jewellery is very unique and timeless. The colours are vibrant and never go out of style.”
📿 A Brand Inspired by Heritage—and Sky
The name Lukagwa, Nyikuri explains, is derived from Uganda’s Buganda community and loosely translates to “that which falls from above.”
“I embraced this name for I had determined that my inspiration and creative ideas would be falling from proverbial skies,” says Nyikuri.
Her late mother—a passionate collector of African artefacts—sparked her early love for art.
🐄 Where It All Begins: Dagoretti Slaughterhouse
Every Wednesday morning, Nyikuri drives 14 km from her Nairobi workshop to Dagoretti slaughterhouse, a gritty complex where roughly 600 cows are butchered daily.
She collects cow horns, otherwise destined for burning, garbage heaps, or worse—the polluted Nairobi River.
By transforming this discarded material, Nyikuri is not only creating beauty from waste, but also participating in environmental restoration.
According to Earth5R, Nairobi produces 2,475 tons of waste daily, much of it flowing into local rivers. Nyikuri’s work offers a powerful counter-narrative—one where sustainability meets luxury.
🔨 The Transformation Process
After purchase, the horns are boiled, stripped, cleaned, and sanded—ready to be shaped into statement pieces.
“They are carved into beautiful wearables—necklaces, chokers, and bracelets,” says Nyikuri, who was a law student before pivoting to full-time entrepreneurship.
She credits Ismael Onyango, a former cow horn artisan turned silver and iron craftsman, for connecting her to Dagoretti.
“She was still in university when I helped her source quality horn,” Onyango recalls.
🌍 Sustainability and Pan-African Craftsmanship
Lukagwa pieces often incorporate:
- Cow horns & bones from local slaughterhouses
- Brass from local metalworkers
- Maasai beads from Kenya
- Glass beads from West Africa
“The vibrancy of West African beads caught my attention—and they’re also eco-friendly,” says Nyikuri.
These elements are combined to produce handmade Afrocentric pieces that reflect Kenya’s design ingenuity and Africa’s broader aesthetic spirit.
🛍️ Where to Find Lukagwa’s Art
Nyikuri sells her jewellery through:
- Her Etsy store (international shipping available)
- A physical boutique at Village Market Nairobi
- Major design exhibitions including NY NOW and African artisan expos
Notable pieces include:
- African Blue Layered Necklace
- Afrocentric Maroon Wired Bracelet
- Black Cow Horn Bracelet
- Orange Layered Choker Necklace
- Multi-Strand Maasai Beaded Statement Piece
- Eccentric African Choker Necklace
“Our mission is to celebrate African culture while preserving the environment. Every piece tells a story of transformation,” says Nyikuri.
🔗 Related Stories (Internal Links)
- 10 African Female Entrepreneurs Redefining Global Luxury
- Kenyan Startups Embracing Sustainability
- The Rise of Eco-Jewellery in African Fashion