Kalenjin tribe of Kenya

Kalenjin tribe of Kenya : The Kalenjin people are known as “The Running Tribe of Kenya.” The Kalenjin are a group of tribes who are native to East Africa and mostly live in what was once Kenya’s Rift Valley Province and Uganda’s eastern slopes of Mount Elgon. Kenya‘s population is 6,358,113 according to the 2019 census, but the estimated 273,839 individuals from the 2014 census were primarily concentrated in the districts of Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo.

The Kalenjin are made up of 11 tribes, each of which has its own unique language and culture: the Nandi, Pokots, Sebei, Sabaot, Keiyo, Tugen, Marakwet, Ogiek, Terik, and Sengwer. The Kipsigis number 1.9 million. The native tongues of the Kalenjin people are the languages they speak. The linguistic group belongs to the Nilotic family. The bulk of Kalenjin speakers reside in Kenya; smaller populations can be found in Tanzania (Akie) and Uganda (Kupsabiny).

While a tiny minority of Kalenjin people speak English and Kiswahili as their first and second languages, the majority of Kalenjin people speak them as their second and third languages. The majority of individuals who use Kalenjin names are those who speak the language, such as the Akie of Tanzania and the Sebei of Uganda, as well as the Kalenjin people of Kenya. In certain instances, such as the examples of Alfred Kirwa Yego and Daniel Toroitch arap Moi, the patronym Arap was gained later in life. In the past, each Kalenjin person was given two main names; however, in the present era, a Christian or Arabic name is also provided at birth.

Culture of the Kalenjin

Beginning

An important part of being a Kalenjin is the initiation process. Male initiation (tumdo) and circumcision (yatitaet) rites are particularly significant events because they symbolize a man’s transition from boyhood to adulthood. All things considered, the process still occurs in a boy’s preteen/early teenage years, however there are now obvious variations in its application. There is still a great deal of esotericism in the ancient initiation rite, and in 2013 the Kalenjin elders were greatly incensed when certain aspects of the tradition were openly questioned in the International Court. Conversely, a number of contemporary Kalenjin are having their circumcisions done in hospitals as standard surgical procedures, and a number of learning process models have emerged to support this contemporary practice.

Kalenjin Matrimony Procedure

During the first ceremony, the young man who wants to get married notifies his parents about it. They then discuss whether the couple is a good match (kaayaaet’ap koito) with their relatives.If the girl’s family approves, they will pay them a visit to show their support and ask for the girl’s hand in marriage. Usually, the request is made in front of aunts, uncles, or even grandparents, and it’s usually pretended to be an apology to the intended bride’s parents for trying to keep their daughter away from them. If her family agrees to give them their daughter, a formal engagement date is scheduled. Other than initiating the ceremony, the intended husband and future bride do not take part in it.

During the second ceremony, the formal engagement (koito), the bridegroom’s family pays the bride a visit so they can meet her family in person. A chamber is used for lengthy introductions and dowry talks with the groom’s relatives, who include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others. After the talks, there’s a ritual where the bride and groom get parenting advice from elderly relatives on both sides. Presents and other symbolic objects are often presented to the couple during this ritual. Because it is sometimes paired with the kaayaaet’ap koito and sometimes skipped over the tunisiet, the koito is sometimes quite colorful and sometimes takes the form of a wedding ceremony. It is really becoming more significant as the major event as a result.

The third ceremony is a big wedding called a “tunisiet,” to which a huge number of friends, family members, and business associates are invited. In modern versions, this ritual often takes on the structure of a conventional Western wedding; rings are exchanged, a priest officiates, and the ceremony is followed by a celebration in a church.

Tales of the Kalenjin People

Like other oral communities, the Kalenjin produced a rich body of legend. Folktales were meant to teach a lesson, and many of them featured the terrifying monster known as the Chemosit, or Chebokeri in Marakwet, who devoured the brains of young mischievous people.

The Legend of Cheptalel is well-known among the Kipsigis and Nandi; the word originated in Kalenjin mythology and was adopted into modern society. The fall of the Long’ole Clan is another well-known story that is based on a true incident and is meant to serve as a warning against conceit. The story goes that the Long’ole warriors thought they were the strongest people in the area, so they challenged their far-off rivals, the Maasai, to combat. The Long’ole clan was destroyed by the Maasai when they finally struck, in spite of their initial resistance.

Art and craft of the Kalenjin people

Arts and crafts are practiced by the Kalenjin people, and the most advanced visual art is intricate beading. The Kalenjin people are not well known for their handicrafts, even though local women make and sell exquisite calabashes made from gourds. These oil-rubbed calabashes and tiny colored beads adorn these gourd-made sotet calabashes, which are used to store mursik.

Kalenjin cooking

The staples of Kalenjin cooking include cooked vegetables like isageek (African cabbage) or sochot (African nightshade), together with milk and ugali, also known as kimnyet. Roast meat is usually composed of beef or goat and is occasionally eaten with rice, chapati, or ugali. The traditional millet and sorghum ugali is called pog’iot. It is said to be healthier than ugali made of maize flour, which is comparable to brown bread or white bread. This has led to a resurgence in popularity in line with global trends toward healthier eating. The classic, still-highly-liked snack moriot is made from the crust left over after ugali is cooked. In a similar spirit, honey and the traditional beverage mursik—both long considered delicacies, karise/kariseyuek—remain incredibly popular.

Dairy products are widely used in both modern and traditional dishes, such as bean stew with milk and cream and mcheleng (rice with milk, a creamy smooth dish made as a delicacy for children but usually enjoyed by the entire family). Socheek is a vegetable relish made with greens, milk, and cream. While not traditionally regarded as Kalenjin, combination cuisines and combinations are widespread in more cosmopolitan areas. The most well-known of these is kwankwaniek, a boiling mixture of beans and maize that resembles githeri. Milk or tea go well with any meal or snack, for both adults and children. Generally speaking, tea is highly sweetened and has an average of 40% milk by volume. Tea can be sipped black with sugar if milk is not available, yet it is still seen as a real hardship to drink without it.

Athletic

There are occasions when people refer to the Kalenjin as “the running tribe.” Kenyan men have dominated international athletics since the mid-1960s, winning a disproportionate number of major titles in events ranging from the 800 meters to the marathon; most of these Kenyan running heroes are Kalenjin. Since 1980, Kalenjin has accumulated over 40% of the top rewards in terms of Olympic medals, World Championship medals, and World Cross Country Championship honors for men over these distances. These include other arguments—like the fact that they live in a relatively high altitude, that they run to school every day, and that the prize money from races is significant compared to other nations—that are equally persuasive for other Kenyans or residents of other countries who are not disproportionately excellent athletes.