Ken Karner was born in Colorado in 1954. He left the US at nineteen, on a journey which evolved into a life long African adventure and quest for things tribal.

In 1976 Ken arrived in Cape Town travelling aboard the “Windsor Castle” on it's final voyage. There his first of many overland journeys between the Cape and Cairo began. He discarded excess baggage quickly and become a hardened traveller, while developing an urge to undertake unusual routes at the flip of a coin.

In 1977 he travelled in the southern Sudan to Zaire with a friend. They rode in the back of trucks and on the roof of trains, then entered Zaire atop an Arab’s truck which was hauling beans, “and god knows what concealed therein”. The route was a concealed track and the time was well past midnight. No problems with visas for these boys! Together they found their way through some rather aggressive Mangbetu country and arrived at the “bend in the river”, Kisangani.

There they attempted to purchase a canoe and embark on the voyage of a lifetime, travelling 1600 kilometres downstream to Kinshasa.

From Kinshasa,  Ken steam-shipped back to Kisangani travelling in 1^st class, at the cost of $12.00. Along the way Ken befriended “Kaunda”.

Along these and other journeys, Ken bartered personal effects for tribal artefacts, of which a number of sentimental examples he remains with today.

Ken immigrated to South Africa in 1989. Once settled, he read an article on Lwena published in a 1968 African Arts article by Marie-Louise Bastin. Therein, she advised that from the mid 19^th century, the Chokwe and related peoples had expanded into portions of western Zambia.

Already longing for the bush, a journey was undertaken. Three months later, he returned from the field with a wealth of Mbunda, Luvale, Luchazi, Lozi and Nkoya peoples material culture. Artefacts in the region had seemingly travelled unnoticed through time. This important, core tribal area had been entirely overlooked by the hoards of Zairian runners and collectors worldwide.

During this period, he learned the basics of the Mbunda and Luvale peoples language, researched 19th century migration of their peoples into the areas, utilized detailed aviation maps which helped pinpoint specific tracks, tracked down each and every active Mukanda, as well as earlier chieftainships, while interviewing virtually every headman or chieftainship he encountered. A unique relationship developed with  Senior Chief Ndungu of the Luvale, thanks to having rescued him from an ox cart in the plains.

At a certain moment, word of the discovery got out. Three South Africans entered from the south, while a Frenchman flew into Lusaka and headed west in a hired 4 x 4. Near the Angolan border, villagers alerted Ken of Zairians who had recently passed in search of tribal objects. Marc Felix visited Mongu. Manual Jordán researched the Chokwe related people in the districts of Kabompo and Zambezi. The rush was on.

By 1995, the collecting frenzy had become so heated that Ken was being offered reproductions in the centres of Mongu, Kalabo and Zambezi. At the same time, he felt he had searched virtually every mukanda camp in the vast area. At no time did he feel masks were kept hidden from view. His quest seemed complete. Since that time, forgeries of high quality have poured into the American, European and African markets. From experience, Ken believes the majority should be considered suspect.  

As a result, Ken’s attention turned towards the tribal peoples of Southern Africa, a topic which he remains engulfed with today. His search for things tribal led to the homes of decedents of the colonial past. At the same time, he has continued to field collect in both Botswana and Lesotho.