Ibinda (age set)




According to the Kalenjin social system, the male sex is divided into boys, warriors and elders. The female sex is divided into girls and married women. The first stage began at birth and continued till initiation.


All boys who were circumcised together are said to belong to the same ibinda,ipinda or ebendo. These age sets played a significant role in traditional Kalenjin society since they were used to record time. Once the young men of a particular ibinda came of age, they were tasked with protecting the tribal lands and the society, the period when they were in charge of protection of the society was known as the age of that ibinda.[1] There were eight ages in general though this varied between sections as an age-set would temporarily be dropped from use if a disastrous incident occurred during the age of the ibinda.




Contents






  • 1 Age set Names


  • 2 Marakwet


  • 3 Nandi


    • 3.1 Age sub-set (siritiet)




  • 4 References





Age set Names



























































































Sebei
Maina
Chumo
Sowe
Koronkoro
Kwoimet
Kaplelaich
Nyikeao
Nyonki
Sabaot
Sawe
Maina
Gabaiyak
Korongoro
?*
Gamnenac
Gamnyikewa
Nyongiik
Nandi
Maina
Chumo
Sawe

Kipkoiimet
Kaplelach
Kimnyigei
Nyongi
Kipsigis
Maina
Chumo
Sawe

Kipkoiimet
Kaplelach
Kipnyigei
Nyongi
Keiyo
Maina
Chumo
Sowe
Korongoro
Kipkoimet
Kaplelach
Kimnyegeu
Nyongi
Marakwet
Maina
Chumo
Sowe
Korongoro/ Kipkoimet
Kaberur
Kaplelach
Kimnyigeu
Nyongi[2]
Lembus/Pokor/Arror/Keben/Kakimor/Endorois/Samor

Chumo
Sowe
Korongoro
Kipkoimet
Kaplelach
Kimnikeu
Nyongi
Pokot
Maina
Juma
Sowe
Korongoro
Kipkoimet
Kaplelach
Merkutua
Nyongu[3]

– *La Fontaine states there are eight "age classes" but lists seven names, the order of which is questionable.



Marakwet


There are corresponding female age-sets among the Marakwet; for example, Kaberur (male) – Chemeri/ Chemeri Kipchesum (female), Kaplelach (male)- Tabesit / Tabesit ruompo Laikok (female), Kipnyikew/ Kipmke (male)- Silingwa (female), Nyongi (male)- Kaptura (female), Maina (male) – Charkina (female), Chumo (male) – Kipturbei (female), Sowe (male)- Chelyong/ Kapcheusi (female), Korongoro (male)- Cheptentur/ Sikinkin/ Kesengen (female). The Marakwet still circumcise girls alongside boys. However, the naming of female age-sets changes according to prevailing events.[4]



Nandi


Historically, the Nandi had eight cyclical age-sets or ibinwek, however they dropped one for a total of seven.[3] Legend has it that the members of this ibinda were wiped out in war. For fear of a recurrence, the community decided to retire the age-set.


The order of Nandi ibinwek is roughly as given below.




  • Maina

  • Chumo

  • Sawe

  • Kipkoimet

  • Kaplelach

  • Kipnyigei

  • Nyongi[5]




Age sub-set (siritiet)


In each age-set, the initiates were bundled into siritiet or what can be understood as a 'team'. There are four 'teams' or siritoik in an ibinda namely:



  • Chongin

  • Kiptaito

  • Tetagaat (literally cow's neck)

  • Kiptaruiyeek - Kiptoiinik (literally young calves)[6]



References





  1. ^ Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 11


  2. ^ Kipchumba, Paul, Oral Literature of the Marakwet of Kenya, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, p.37, [1]


  3. ^ ab Daniels, R. E, The Extent of Age-set Co-ordination Among the Kalenjin, Nov. 1982


  4. ^ Kipchumba, Paul, Oral Literature of the Marakwet of Kenya, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, p.37, [2]


  5. ^ Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 12


  6. ^ Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 12









Popular posts from this blog

Italian cuisine

Bulgarian cuisine

Carrot