Английская Википедия: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 Шаблон:Transl, Шаблон:Transl or Шаблон:Transl. 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 Шаблон:Transl 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 Шаблон:Transl.[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 Шаблон:Transl. Within each age set, the initiates were further bundled into a Шаблон:Transl. which can be understood as a 'team'.
The age of an Шаблон:Transl sometimes acquired a nickname based on a defining event occurring during their time.
Age set Names
| Sabaot (Sapiiny) | Maina | Chumo | Sowe | Korongoro | Kwoimet | Kapleelach | Nyikeew | Nyoongi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabaot (Koony) | Maina | Chumo | Sawe | Korongoro | Kipkooimet | Kapleelach | Kimnyikeew | Nyoongi |
| Sabaot (Book) | Sawe | Maina | Gabaiyak | Korongoro | ?* | Gamnenac | Gamnyikewa | Nyongiik |
| Nandi | Maina | Chumo | Sawe | – | Kipkoiimet | Kaplelach | Kimnyigei | Nyongi |
| Kipsigis | Maina | Chumo | Sawe | Korongoro | – | Kaplelach | Kimnyigei | Nyongi |
| Keiyo | Maina | Chumo | Sowe | Korongoro | Kipkoimet | Kaplelach | Kimnyegeu | Nyongi |
| Marakwet | Maina | Chumo | Sowe | Korongoro/ Kipkoimet | Kaberur | Kaplelach | Kimnyigeu | Nyongi[2] |
| Tugen & Lembus | – | 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 used to 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 Шаблон:Transl, 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 Шаблон:Transl is given below. Шаблон:Div col
- Maina
- Chumo
- Sawe
- Kipkoimet
- Kaplelach
- Kipnyigei
- Nyongi[5]
Age sub-set (siritiet)
In each age-set, the initiates were bundled into Шаблон:Transl or what can be understood as a 'team'. There are four 'teams' or Шаблон:Transl in an ibinda namely:
- Chongin
- Kiptaito
- Tetagaat (literally cow's neck)
- Kiptaruiyeek - Kiptoiinik (literally young calves)[5]
References
- ↑ Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 11
- ↑ Kipchumba, Paul, Oral Literature of the Marakwet of Kenya, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, p.37, [1]
- ↑ 3,0 3,1 Daniels, R. E, The Extent of Age-set Co-ordination Among the Kalenjin, Nov. 1982
- ↑ Kipchumba, Paul, Oral Literature of the Marakwet of Kenya, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, p.37, [2]
- ↑ 5,0 5,1 Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 12
