The Sakuye name comes from an old name for Marsabit, Saaku.  The group of Rendille who moved north from Marsabit were called Sakuye by the Borana. Sakuye People inhabit North Kenya, near the Ethiopian border. They go up to Godoma in Ethiopia. According to oral history, up to ten generations came from their center in Dabel and migrated to Elwak and some other places in search of pasture for their animals. Sakuye are also in Marti, Garbatula, and Waso all the way to Marsabit. Their main center is, however, Dabel on your way from Moyale to Wajir. Dabel is their traditional ceremonial site. The ..read more

Once Upon a time there lived a brave, intelligent and honest dog known as “Seipu” in Samburu Manyatta at the slopes of Mt. Ngiro. In Samburu ancient stories no one can tell the origin of a dog in colour, but as for time let remain unknown until the next article about the origin of a dog based on our research. “Seipu” the name of the dog-is direct translation of dark-brown dog (Samburu dialect), “Seipu” lived with a tall, dark Samburu girl by the name Nashipae, and truly they were darlings of their times, as per my grandma’s narration. The dog and the girl were always together day in day ..read more

In the 1880s our Samburu community was met with a disaster( Mutai). The Samburu herds were decimated by overwhelming scourges that were destroying the animals elsewhere in East Africa. When they were faced by a severe loss of animals which they entirely depend as a source of their livelihood they gradually fragmented and drifted for shelter towards neighbouring tribal communities, where they were accepted on terms dictated by their tolerant hosts. The following tribes and people group provided help and hosted our Samburu people in their distress:- 1: DASANACH This was a tribe pra ..read more

The Rendille community calendar functions according to a procession of seven-or fourteen-year cycles, which is based on both lunar and solar aspects. The calendar, which is passed down in oral tradition, is essential for determining not only the various life-stages through which men must pass before being able to marry as elders, but also regulates with clockwork-like precision the various movements of the Rendille clans through their traditional territory, thus avoiding conflicts over forage and water rights, and preventing overgrazing which would otherwise quickly turn their already margi ..read more

Professor Habtamu Tegegne,Historian The mass rape and heinous genocidal killings frenzy the Oromo young men known as Qeerro carried out against the Amharas, Dorzes and Guraghes residents of Burayu in the outskirt of Addis Ababa is nothing new from the perspective of Oromo history. The habit of rape and mass murder are deeply embedded into Oromo culture of warfare and social practice. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Oromo spread out to the Ethiopian highlands through sheer terror and unbridled violence. They brought a distinct culture of violence that radically differed f ..read more

In ancient Borana tribe narration, Liban Watta was known to be one of the intelligent, wise and bravest Borana legends. He was respected Borana and in many occasions, he solved so many intrigue issues in Borana tribe and beyond. Liban was consulted widely on matters of great concerns and sensitivity on cultural aspects, this gave him a special role in the society. Met Liban!!!!!! A stranger from far land started a journey to visit Liban Watta to learn a lot about him and get wisdom too. journey to Liban’s village took him months to reach there, the ..read more

PICTURE: Samburu woman ready for milking early morning, Lpus village, Marsabit Kenya / Photo: Mario Kuraki Milking among the Samburu within the manyatta is the preserve of married women. Every married woman milks (a) lactating cow(s) or camel(s) from the allotted herd of one’s husband. This singing accompanies milking that they execute within the manyatta. That is either early in themorning or in the evening after the animals return from grazing. A distinguishing feature of these songs is the diction employed in their composition. An analysis of their phraseology reveals firs ..read more

In every sovereign society, there is the head, in Burji tribe he is called ‘Womm’, deputized by ‘Daina’, spiritualized by ‘Gann’, and represented in all clan(goss) by ‘Woonee’. There is also counsel of elders called ‘Anshiiya gors ‘, their work is to advise, counsel and judge the community, through the help of ‘ Bitaanachi’ the electoral process other elected leaders are chosen, such leaders are; ‘jaalaabba’ (financier) and ‘Haayo'(head of military ). In short, the list of Burji political system is as elaborate as this; since they ditched ‘Gaada’ system of government. 1. Woomm………. King, most ..read more

The Turkana People are the largest of the seven ethnic groups that make up what is called the ‘Karamajong cluster’, which includes the Karamajong, Jie, Teso, Dodos and Donyiro in Uganda, and the Toposa of Sudan. The actual name “Turkana” is something of a mystery, with the most commonly ascribed meaning being a corruption of ‘turkwen’, which means ‘cave people’, or ‘aturkan’ which means ‘cave land’. As there are no caves in present-day Turkana-land (at least east of the Ugandan border), they must have migrated from elsewhere. This much is certain, as each of the nineteen sections of the Turka ..read more

Sampurr also known as Lbene le Kuechi is a large cowhide storage sack, used for woman’s secret personal items not to be touched by men, not even her boys. That leather bag is owned by married women especially aged mothers Inside her Sampurr the mother keeps some of her items like Sikira, Surutia lo nkiyia o la nkaik, Lkidong’i le ngorno, mparua, Lenyok loomporro, Lkiiyat lesainiai, urraurri, Lturet, Lorisie, mbitta, saasaa, Sanapati, Lgiiso, Mungen among many other items. All these items are later to be inherited by her elder daughter her death. In her absence or death, it is only her first d ..read more