Adventures in Africa: November 2012

This is a story written by Musarini, a young guy I met while volunteering in Kenya.
The photos below are ones I took while experiencing a Lorora (ceremony described below) as I was travelling with a mobile clinic on camel in Samburu. See September blog entries.

The story about the Samburu Boy

By Musarini Lentoijoni

The Samburu boy is the most unique thing in the daily life of this tribe. To begin with is from birth, the birth of a boy is totally different from that of a girl, due to the cultural processes involved in it.

During a boy’s birth, a male animal is slaughtered to mark the newborn in the family. Immediately after the birth, the father cuts the umbilical cord using his right shoe (using the sole of the shoe). Afterwards, three arrows, a calabash, a bow and milk is prepared. One Moran and two small boys are appointed to go and fetch some “unique” water (water mixed with milk) which will later be used to shave the child and mother’s head.

In two years time, the brothers to his mother (uncles) prepares the boy’s first shoes, then the boy starts hi first task in life which is to look after the young goats and sheep. After another year, the boy is promoted to look after the calves of the goats and sheep and finally to the cows and camels. Now the boy is ready for circumcision.

Now the first Lorora (gathering) is entered, this is done by communities of the same clan. Houses are arranged according to how families inter-relate, formally.

Before circumcision, there follows a traditional procedure: The first age-set above the boys age are blessed by the elders, this age-set has powers to command and control everything in the boys life, this appointed age-set is known as Mpiroi.

After the appointment of Mpiroi, this allows the boys to get Saktei (certain gum) which will then be followed by Lbaa (sticks made in a way that they act like bows and arrows) thn are used by the boys when circumcised.

Blessings are done by the elders then the boys are allowed to be circumcised traditionally by the use of one knife. After the boys circumcision this age-set is named (eg Lkizhami). This process all takes about one month. The sticks and gum is used to kill some birds, which is stuffed with grass and is decorated around the young boys head. Then a ceremony called a Lenkweny is held to graduate the young boys into Morans. And the birds are given to their mothers to hang in their right ear.

The young Morans (formerly boys) start to enjoy themselves are Morans, they have to value all the traditions of a Moran. After 8 years time, another Lorora is constructed called a Lenkarna, this now marks the beginning of the young elders, in future blessings and sacrifices are done and a special fire, called a Lasar, is prepared. Lasar is so unique, 8 branches from different species of trees are removed from the bush by 8 appointed Morans who are purely holy.

This means that they have never participated in ANY sexual activity. They must not have had sex with a woman with FGM (female genital mutilation). This is determined by putting a stick on the ground and they have to step over it. Lying does not occur, as magic will happen.

Lasar is prepared at around 7:30pm by elders and a special song called a Lodo is sang. This song is not allowed to be sung by two Morans only if permission is granted during Lasar. Morans and elders will now meet for the first time in singing and this interaction will continue for the rest of their lives. Sometimes the last Morans to belong to this age-set are also circumcised at this Lorora. Now the Lorora is dispersed.

In 3 years time, other animals are slaughtered to allow the Morans to marry, marriage is now permitted. In another 2 years time, another age-set is prepared and the Morans become community elders. When the Morans marry, the girl should be from a different clan. The young elders (formerly Morans) are now allowed to attend ritual ceremonies like the other elders. The Morans become elders until their death.