Koito ("To give away") is a Kalenjin wedding ritual which involves the negotiation of a brides dowry.
61-494: There are variations in practice between the various sub-tribes, with the Kipsigis for example having a smaller celebration where only one's immediate family and oreet members are invited while the Nandi on the other hand have large celebrations where the whole village is invited. For all however the key elements are similar; that is the negotiation of the dowry payment which is done by
122-687: A Nilotic group, contingent of the Kalenjin ethnic group and speak a dialect of the Kalenjin language identified by their community eponym, Kipsigis. It is observed that the Kipsigis and another original group native to Kenya known as Ogiek have a merged identity. The Kipsigis are the biggest sub tribe within the Kalenjin community. The latest census population in Kenya put the Kipsigis at 1,972,000 speakers, accounting for 45% of all Kalenjin speaking people. They occupy
183-454: A boy to a widow who used to herd cattle, she was known as Wambui . The boy is reported to have been named Johnstone Peter Kamau . She then moved to a farm in Nyeri where she married Muigai but who later divorced her because of issues associated with cuckoldry . In 1913, Chebochok Kiptonui Arap Boiso and his two brothers were banished to Fort Hall and Nyeri . Coincidentally, Wambui was assigned
244-558: A close friend of Jomo Kenyatta ). Breaking away from the former Chemwal ethnicity and becoming Kipsigis in about 1790s and 1800s, the Kipsigis population grew from an estimated population of less than five hundred in what is today's Fort Tenan. From here, they acquired military resilience against the neighbouring Luo who would go on to call them Jalang'o (meaning one who is spirited). They also fought Kisii communities out of today's Kabianga in Kericho West District and also towards
305-556: A creature that he notes the Lumbwa people referred to as Dingonek . He describes it as a water creature whose features include an armadillo-like, leopard-patterned, hippo-sized back and a leopard's head with two large protruding fangs. He reports that the Lumbwa and the Wadoko peoples spoke of such a creature in the Maggori River then provides an account of his sighting of the said creature. His
366-473: A defeat that had dire implications on the spirit and identity of the Kipsigis. Other studies depict a more elaborate military organization; for instance, there were an extra tire of regiments and ranks including: the generals (Kiptayat/Kiptaiinik), spies ( Yotiik , Seegeik and Sogooldaiik ), and the procession ranks ( Ng'anymetyeet , Pirtiich , Oldimdo/Lumweet and Kipeelbany ). There were yearly mock up practice for warring called Kaambageet . The arms of
427-507: A defining feature when they settled at Kipsigis Hill in Londiani. The Kipsigis observe a belief system maintained by all other Kalenjin people. The system observes polytheistic theism with the deities Asiis (a solar deity ) and Tororot are each considered major deities. Some studies suggest that Tororot was the initial kalenjin deity but interactions in Kerio valley led to assimilation of
488-437: A few select members/negotiators from both families in the privacy of a room separate from the other guests. Mursik is drunk at the end of negotiations by those present to symbolize agreement and is seen as being crucial to the process. After the negotiations, a celebration is held where the bridegroom and bride are given advice on family life by older relatives from both families. Usually symbolic gifts and presents are given to
549-403: A good or a bad harvest. Sometimes superstitions were held regarding certain events. A halo was traditionally said to represent a cattle stockade. At least as of the early 20th century, a break occurring on the east side was considered to be unlucky while one on the west side was seen to be lucky. A comet was at the same time regarded as the precursor of a great misfortune. The Kipsigis call
610-538: A hide, a belt colloquially called 'Kenyatet', a head gear among others after which, Koilege asked Kenyatta to visit a leader of the Maasai who was a Laibon. The attire was worn by Jomo very many ceremonial times when he was the president of Kenya. Today, Jomo Kenyatta's traditional attire is buried with him in a muselium in Kenya's National Assembly building in Nairobi. Chebochock was the son to Kimyole Arap Turgat . After Kimnyole
671-538: A jurisdiction of the tribe and entitled to a decree of sovereignty. This unit was identifiable as a political institution but the main work of civil control and administration was done by the kokwotinwek (plural of kokwet ). Linguistic evidence indicates that this form of societal organization dates back to their Southern Nilotic heritage. It is believed that the Southern Nilotes of two thousand years ago cooperated in loose supra-clan groupings, called *e:m. Kokwet
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#1733201871243732-404: A lesbian marriage in context). Clans also projected various professionalism and probably adopted identities where for instance, certain clans were exclusively priests, others were exclusively smiths, others exclusively hunters and gathers while others had other particular peculiarities. The Kipsigis observe a cyclical generation setting system. The system seems to have been arrogated plausibly from
793-466: A mistaken impression emerges of an efficient organized military; rather the existence of a Kipsigis army was indicative of a social organization at the tribal level despite evidence of large portions of conquered territory and defeat of strong armies. The precolonial Kipsigis were presented as a markedly acephalous society politically with both military and political organization having to be examined in terms of relatively autonomous territorial groups within
854-403: A month 'Arawet', which is also the term for our satellite, the moon. A year is called 'Kenyit' which can be derived from the phrase 'Ki-nyit' meaning 'to accomplish, to fill in'. A year was marked by the order of months and more importantly by ceremonial and religious celebration of the yearly harvest which was held at the various shrines. This event being analogous to a practice observed by most of
915-633: A primitive equivalent of slaves. Following the Lumbwa treaty between Kipsigis and The British, the three brothers were arrested and would, in about 1903, be deported to Kikuyu-land while their siblings and immediate families consisting of about 700 individuals were banished to Gwassi in Homa Bay County and stayed there excommunicated between 1934 and 1962. They were later on resettled in Kablilo, Sigowet-Soin, Kiptere, Ainamoi, Belgut and some few in Emgwen. Among
976-454: A qualitative or quantitative measure of happiness. The Kipsigis people's oral tradition is observed to have a rich background in songs. Many of their oral traditions feature a creature known as ' Chemosi', which is interchangeable with the Nandi bear ; a monstrous ape-like basic-intelligence creature which also feature among other communities of Kenya, Uganda and parts of Congo. A western adventurer Edgar Beecher Bronson claims to have seen
1037-452: A sacred and cyclical nature of life. They believe all elements of the natural world are connected, that good deeds never go unnoticed, and that bad deeds lead to consequences in various forms. The Kipsigis view "happiness" as a lack of negative experiences, indicating a quiet and calm state. This convention under the culture and positive psychology studies when contrasted to other indigenous communities gives researchers an obstacle in obtaining
1098-416: A truce and overnight, amassed aid and reinforcements from Kipsigis warriors across the whole of Kipsigis. On returning to the ultimate and decisive battle, he easily outwitted the Maasai with an army of an estimated 3000 warriors or more. Maasai conceded defeat and resolved to vacate what constitutes today most if not all of Bomet County and Narok West Constituency. 'Orgoik' (plural) or ‘Orgoiyoot’ (singular)
1159-510: Is any clansperson of the Talaai clan spread across Nandi, Kipsigis, Tugen and Marakwet. In Kipsigis, most of the Talaai clansmen can identify a patrilineal genealogy to three sons of Kimnyole Araap Turgat namely: Kipchomber Araap Koilege , Chebochok Kiptonui Araap Boisyo and Araap Buiygut ; Koitalel Araap Samoei was their younger sibling. The three brothers were sent by their father, Araap Turgat to Kipsigis nation shortly before his assassination by
1220-773: Is credited for defeating the Maasai who used to inhabit larger portions of Kericho county. Significant battles are recalled having been fought in Iltianit(Londiani), fought in Kericho, Chemoiben, and then Siriat in Sotik. Initially an outcast and an outlier, Menyua Arap Kisiara was banished off the tribal land for marrying a Kapkerichek clanswoman which at the time, was also his own clan. He defected with his company of warriors, - Tapkile and Kipketes/Kipkeles into Maasai community. He then started his own clan of Kapkaon. Returning later on as formidable warrior and establishing his army, he challenged
1281-409: Is estimated that he died in 1885 and was buried adjacent to what is today's Sotik Police station in Sotik town. The Kipsigis hold that Mugenik had revelations and visions which he told to the people. These revelations contained instruction on how the Kipsigis people were expected to live a holy life before Asiis, their solar deity . Mugenik's visions also foretold future events that were to take place in
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#17332018712431342-469: Is known as Poit'ap kechei (literally sea of stars ), the morning star – Tapoiyot, the midnight star – Kokeliet, and Orion's Belt – Kakipsomok. The Milky Way was traditionally perceived as a lake in which children are bathing and playing. Furthermore, the movement of stars was sometimes linked to earthly concerns. For example, the appearance or non-appearance of the Pleiades indicated whether or not to expect
1403-564: Is the only account of such a creature. Food and Drinks The meals mainly consist of a cooked thick paste of elusine flour, vegetables or meat, a blend of milk and cow blood, or milk. The Kipsigis ferment milk in gourds with powdered popcorn flower tree cinders. The sour milk is known as Mursiik. The tribe also brewed nubian gin and it was reserved for men and women in and past middle age. Mushrooms The Kipsigis are known to gather Termitomyces tylerianus , Termitomyces umkowaan and Termitomyces microcarpus (puunereek). The Milky Way
1464-420: Is told to warn against pride. Another common tale is that of the blind girl who returns from death . Riddles (Tyangoi) are mostly used as a way of sharpening children's wits and capturing their attention during story-telling time. The Pokot have various, descriptive terms for different classes of speech that man engages in. These are as follows; Lökoi: News of other places Chiran: News of going on's in
1525-461: The Maasai into a duel estimated from oral traditions to have taken place in the 1770s to where Kaplong town in Sotik is situated today, Menya led an army to war against the Maasai in order to resolve land disputes and territorial privileges. The war ensued for a number of weeks to a couple of months and for the most part, both sides lost many warriors, and many were injured. Towards the end, Menya called in
1586-460: The Bantu Kikuyu people. The system completes a full rotation in between about a hundred and a hundred and twenty years. The set is composed of generations that extend between 15 and 20 years. The system was used to account for historical events and demographic management. Em or emet, was the highest recognized geographic division among the Kipsigis. It spans a geopolitical region demarcated as being
1647-875: The British in 1889 and within 17 years, the British had established their rule over the tribe. The British initially started to expropriate the tribal Kipsigis land to create a buffer zone between the mutually antagonistic Gusii and Kipsigis; but it was clear from the beginning that an underlying tenet of the British policy towards the Kipsigis was the ultimate conversion of the tribe from a predominantly semi-pastoral economy to one of peasant cultivation. Pokot people Modern ethnicities Diaspora Performing arts Government agencies Television Radio Newspapers The Pokot people (also spelled Pökoot ) live in West Pokot County and Baringo County in Kenya and in
1708-506: The Kipsigis country. Among his prophecies were the arrival of the British, the arrival of trains, the development of towns, modern clothing, and the establishment of colonialism and the eventual independence of African nations. Also significantly, it is narrated how he had visions of the establishment of Sotik Police station, Sotik KCC creameries factory and two of Sotik bridges that were to be operated under colour bar system. There are also accounts from his visions that detail vast expansion of
1769-440: The Kipsigis territory and others that hint a decimation of the Kipsigis population as a handiwork of a boy, or more precisely translated to mean derogatively an uncircumcised boy. Among many other prophecies, perhaps of great intrigue to the Kipsigis was one in which he foretold about a Kipsigis man with a star on his (possibly military) who led what is equivalent to Kenyan jurisdiction today. The Kipsigis had an initial contact with
1830-634: The Kipsigis, there is speculative talk that implicates Daniel Arap Moi and Jomo Kenyatta as having relations with the Orgoik. Kipchomber lived in Cheriri in Kiptere before being imprisoned by the British and sent to Rusinga island of Kisumu . He was instrumental in dispersing Luo people from Kiptere to Sondu . Among the Kipsigis, and perhaps among all the other Kalenjin, Arap Koilege is believed to have blessed Kenyatta Jomo and handed to him his attire which included
1891-543: The Nandi adopted groups of people associated with Sirikwa culture . From local folk lore, the Kipsigis were initially a single group and identity with the Nandi as 'Chemwal' until 1800 when the community was separated by a wedge of Uas Nkishu Maasai in Kipchorian River (River Nyando); the resulting community south of Nandi hills (Kipkelion) became Kipsigis. ...the Kipsigis and the Nandi moved to Rongai area. The Kipsigis and
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1952-569: The Nandi are said to have lived as a united group for about a century, but eventually were forced to separate due to antagonistic environmental. Some of these were droughts and invasion of the Maasai from Uasin Gishu. The recollection of various accounts among the Kipsigis describe an origin in Egypt and a migration route up the Nile for cooler climate with the group calling themselves 'Miotik' or 'Lote Bunik' with
2013-649: The Nandi people. Their benefactor was their uncle, Araap Kiroisi of Sotik. Considered special and thought to have out-of-worldly powers, the three were pushed into leadership and for the first time in Kipsigis history, they were able to hold positions that can be equalled to a king or leaders of autonomous regions. Their influence led to expansion of the Kipsigis territory adding to the achievements of Menya Araap Kisiara. They were also considered herbal medicinemen and thus acquired wealth from war reparation and pay for medical services. They went on to have very sedentary lifestyles with their homesteads employing several servants and
2074-618: The Pokot District of the eastern Karamoja region in Uganda . They form a section of the Kalenjin ethnic group and speak the Pökoot language , which is broadly similar to the related Marakwet, Nandi, Tuken and other members of the Kalenjin language group . Pokot identity formed in the Kerio Valley perhaps as early as the late 18th and certainly not later than the mid 19th century. It emerged from
2135-542: The Western Highlands of Kenya at an altitude of 1500m to 2000m; they mainly grow tea , undertake dairy farming and farm maize . They also grow wheat, pyrethrum and coffee . The Maliri people originally from Omo Valley in Ethiopia , immigrated into South Sudan and later Uganda ; The Maliri are thought to have settled in what are now Jie country and large parts of Dodoth country in Uganda . Their arrival in
2196-508: The age set which takes between 100 and 120 years. The first season of the year, olt-ap-iwot (iwotet), was the wet season and ran from March to August. The dry season, olt-ap-keme (kemeut), ran from September to February. The kipsunde and kipsunde oieng harvest ceremonies were held in September and October respectively to mark the change in Seasons. The Kipsigis tribe is a patriarchal society that
2257-427: The agricultural sections armed themselves with a sword, known as chok . Archery was also very much a prominent skill practiced among the Kipsigis for purposes ranging from agriculture to defense and security. There were an array of arrows for various specialties such as for shooting a bull for blood, hunting arrows and defensive arrows meant either as a deterrent by causing mortal wounds or others meant to get stuck in
2318-881: The assimilation of the Sirkwa era Chok by the Pokotozek section of the Maliri . Early 20th century accounts of the Pokot identify two distinct branches of the community with the caveat that much as two ways of life are detailed, they were one people. Beech (1911) identified significant differences between agricultural and pastoral sections of the Pokot in; oaths, punishment for murder and homicide, punishment for assault, punishment for witchcraft, punishment for theft and robbery, marriage & divorce, recourse in case of unpaid debt and land tenure. He however notes that "it must be therefore borne in mind that, although written of here as two distinct sections,
2379-477: The couple during this ceremony. The koito is often quite colorful and sometimes bears resemblance to a wedding ceremony and it is indeed gaining prominence as the key event since the kaayaaet'ap koito is sometimes merged with it and at other times the tunisiet is foregone in favor of it. Kipsigis people Modern ethnicities Diaspora Performing arts Government agencies Television Radio Newspapers The Kipsigis or Kipsigiis are
2440-622: The districts is estimated at 600 to 800 years ago (i.e. c.1200 to 1400 AD); As a consequence of Lwoo incursion into the Maliri territory, the tribe broke into groups that would go on to forge the Pokot and Sebei factions of Kalenjin and Merille/ Dasaanach (who migrated back to Omo Valley through the East banks of Lake Turkana). The Pokot faction would go on to interact with Maasai and Iraqw around Kerio Valley in Kenya with profound impact which would cement
2501-600: The east against the Maasai who occupied parts of Kipkelion, Kericho and Londiani. The expansion of the Kipsigis territory was rapid and violent and by the 1890s as Orkoiyot institution was established, Kipsigis territory extended from the Nandi Hills in the North to Sotik in the South, with a small region in Bureti. Menya is narrated among the Kipsigis as an excellent diplomat and war hero. He
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2562-405: The eastern, northern and southern counties had long narrow blades with long iron butt, short socket and short shaft. Those of the central county (emgwen) had short broad blades with short iron butts. In the western counties, a spear that had a particularly small head, a long shaft and no butt was in use, it was known as ndirit. The pastoral Pokot carried two Maasai era spears, known as ngotwa while
2623-463: The emergence of Kalenjin tribes such as Cherang'any people ; while Sebei interacted with Oropom thus possibly creating a seedbed in Mount Elgon highlands for a proto Nandi-Kipsigis group. The Nandi account is that the ancestors of Nandi migrated from Mount Elgon under the leadership of Kakipoch. It is observed from the Nandi oral traditions that Lumbwa clans joined them later, thus implying that
2684-425: The fighting men usually consisted of a spear, shield, sword and club. By the late 19th century, up to four kinds of spears, representing various eras and areas were in use. In Nandi, the eren-gatiat, of the Sirkwa era was still in use though only by old men. It had a short and small leaf-shaped blade with a long socketed shank and a long butt. Two types of the Maasai era spear, known as ngotit, were also in use. Those of
2745-745: The highlands of Kericho stretching from Timboroa to the Mara River in the south and the Mau Escarpment in the east to Kebeneti . They also occupy parts of Laikipia , Kitale , Nakuru , Narok , the Trans Mara District , Eldoret and the Nandi Hills . Apart from the Kalenjin, the other tribe is the Tatonga of Western Tanzania . In their expansion southwards, the Kipsigis and the Tatonga people reached
2806-671: The hill and pastoral Suk are essentially the same". Even in the early stages of assimilation, there were no notable differences in matters of social organisation, initiation or governance between the two Pokot groupings. Socially, Pokot men were divided into three groupings; Karachna or boys, Muren or circumcised men and Poi or old men. Boys once circumcised would join an age-set. The Turkana , samburu and Pokot ethnic groups have organized cattle raids against each other. The two groups have been through numerous periods of war and peace. The number of Pokot speakers in Kenya has been estimated at 783,000 (last Kenyan census carried out in 2009) while
2867-500: The later meaning cormorants; Along their migration route, they had transitionary settlements in countries they named: Burgei, Tto, Koita Tui/Lotik and finally Mount Elgon region. Later on, the accounts detail an interest among Miotik (Nandi and Kipsigis) to move into Lake Baringo where they possibly encountered the Maasai and pressed on South to Mau Summit and thus split into two; Kipsigis eponym being coined by their material culture of woven plates (Kisgisiik) which seems to have been
2928-433: The neighborhood Kokwö: Serious conversations of a business-like nature Kiruok: Conversations of legal nature (from this stems, kiruokot, a legal specialist) Ng'öliontoköny: Talk of olden times Even with the introduction of Western education, the Pokot still use folklore as a means of teaching. In November 2014 there was public outrage abroad when pictures of circumcision of young Pokot girls were published in
2989-511: The number of Pokot speakers in Uganda is estimated at 130,000. Verbal art is very important among the Pokot. Proverbs are used with versatility both to teach and to make a point. At a gathering of elders, a person may use proverbs to show what a good speaker he is. They are also used to teach younger people the consequences of straying from the moral path. A popular tale, that of the Louwialan clan ,
3050-429: The one side and Ng'etunyo and Kebeni on the other; but ultimately, the strength of this army was tested with a resounding defeat at the hands of Gusii in the battle of Ngoina dated to circa 1850 . Once again, the Kipsigis army regiments regrouped into one force composed equally of all four regiments and while this development would spur a record of victories, it would also be tested in the battle of Mogori circa 1890 with
3111-565: The other Africans has inspired the Kwanza festivities celebrated by predominantly by people of African descent in the United States. Kenyit started in February. It had two seasons known as olto (pl. oltosiek ) and was divided into twelve months, arawet (pl. arawek ). In place of a decade is the order of Ibinda which is usually between 10 and 17 years. In place of a century is the completion of
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#17332018712433172-580: The ousting and assassination of Kimnyole Arap Turgat . Kimnyole sent his three sons (Kipchomber arap Koilege, Arap Boisyo and Arap Buigut) to Kipsigis who immediately began to establish a Kipsigis confederation, each of them establishing kingly homesteads with servants, messengers and reception parlors. The office of the Oorgoiiyoot was dissolved after the Lumbwa Treaty . While evidence suggests precolonial Kipsigis as having engaged in conquests of territory,
3233-517: The patriarch Kakipoch, immigrated the Nandi-Kipsigis population to Uasin Ngishu plains and Kerio Valley. Formulation of the clan system is thought to have come about due to assimilation of other communities and population growth as a system of preventing pedigree collapse and in-breeding as the main purpose of clans was to prevent marriage within the same clan (marriages being mainly heterosexual but with
3294-796: The present-day Shinyanga area in Western Tanzania only for the former group to return to the Kericho area before some went back south, but could only settle at Angata Barigoi in Trans Mara next to the Tanzanian Border. The IBEAC company and the British colonial government referred to the Kipsigis people as Lumbwa and Kwavi . The pre-colonial traditional occupations of the Kipsigis included semi-pastoral herding, military expeditions, and farming sorghum and millet. Post-colonial Kipsigis today still live predominantly in their historical tribal territory on
3355-546: The priestly Kibasisek clan whose peculiarity is having the Sun as their tortem; they were much sought after to perform marriage rituals and other religious activities. While multiple other deities exist independently to one another. In the Kipsigis' monotheistic belief system, Asis is instead considered the single supreme deity and the other deities are considered Asis' attributes, rather than independent entities. The Kipsigis allude to cultural values including superstition, spiritualism, and
3416-558: The role to look after the three brothers by the Europeans. Barngetuny Mugenik was a Kipsigis prophet who is still respected by the Kipsigis community. His age set was initiated between 1815 and 1838, and lived in what is now the town of Sotik , located in Bomet county. He was of the Kipkendek clan, and his maternal uncle was Kimyole Araap Turukat , from Talai clan , the famous Nandi Orgoiyot. It
3477-411: The tribe. The Kipsigis armies organized themselves into four regiments (pororiosiek) namely: Kikaige, Ng'etunyo, Kebeni and Kasanet . Recruitment into the regiments was achieved through the age set and clan system. Each regiment fought independently which often resulted in weak and often conflicting strategies. At a later stage, the four regiments merged into two consisting of Kipkaige and Kasanet on
3538-527: The victim while others were poisoned and thus each of the arrow types were used depending on the occasion. The military culture of the Kipsigis directly led to adoration of war heroes and successful commanders. Some of them include: Araap Ngulolu, Kipsiongo Araap Terer of Kipkoibon, Araap Taptugen of Belgut, Araap Buiywo, Araap Nyarino, Araap Tamasoon, Araap Kirui of Kapkugoeek clan, Araap Tompo, Araap Mastamet, Araap Cheriro, Kendeiywo Araap Baliach, Arap Moigi and Araap Tengecha (who stood out among all of them and
3599-433: Was organized in terms of geo-political groupings, clan systems, age sets and military ranks. The Kipsigis organize themselves into a series of groupings based on shared kinship analogous to clans . A clan is brought about by a shared ancestor with a context of adoption as a way of naturalization into the clan, usually from Maasai / Gusii / Luo as Kipsigis cannot adopt from within Kalenjin. The patriarchal ancestors, notably
3660-501: Was ousted and assassinated by the Nandi , Chebochok and his two brothers found refuge among the Kipsigis people while Koitalel Arap Samoei found refuge among the Tugen people . Chebochock Kiptonui arap Boisio settled in Londiani . He established himself a kingly estate. He empowered and commandeered Kipsigis armies to acquire land towards Laikipia. He is reported or speculated to have fathered
3721-455: Was the most significant political and judicial unit among the Kipsigis. The governing body of each kokwet was its kok (village council). Kokwet denotes a geographic cluster of settlement similar in concept to a village. Kok elders were the local authority for arbitration and conflict resolution. Operational in Nandi, the Orkoiyot institution was communed to Kipsigis not later than 1850, after
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