The gourd is arguably Africa's earliest domesticated plant, pre-dating cereals such as sorghum and millet. However, the traditions that have upheld gourd cultivation over the centuries (for consumption, but primarily for crafting vessels) have fallen into disuse, victims of changing lifestyles and the availability of cheap plastic containers. The Meru people form a community primarily engaged in agriculture on the northeast slopes of Mount Kenya. The gourds they cultivate are among the largest in Africa. Used for water or milk, they are precious objects that are carefully maintained. This specimen has an extraordinary patina attesting to its age and use. Remnants of indigenous repairs can be observed on the bottom.