Rendille
Encyclopedia
The Rendille are a Cushitic
speaking ethnic group inhabiting the Kaisut Desert, which is in the North Eastern part of Kenya. They also inhibit the south eastern and southern regions of Mt. Marsbit in the Marsabit Central District .They are often referred to as "the holders of the stick of God".
They are nomadic pastoralists
who roam with their camel
s, goats and most recently cattle across about 16,000 square kilometers of Northern Kenya. Women, children, and older men live in semi-permanent villages that are moved only a few times a year and rarely more than a few kilometers.
The Rendille believe that they belong in the desert not by mistake but because its their "promised land". In their popular morning prayers they pray "your people Wakh (God) cannot climb mountains, cross seas but remain in this promised land in which You have looked after our fore fathers, us and our children's children....".the Rendilles are confined to the desert because their most treasured livestock, the camel, cannot survive in cold mountaineous and clay soil environment.
Rendille staple foods include meat, and a mixture of milk and blood, commonly known as "Banjo",although they have now adopted other foodstuffs like maize flour, rice and beans. Men traditionally dress by tying a loincloth
around their waist, while women dress in sheep and goat skins tied around their waists going down while the trunk remains naked. Circumcised
boys and young men who have not yet undergone 'Ennui', the rite into adulthood at age 30 whereby men become Elders and are granted ownership of land, wear purple cloth
and a white feather in their headgear. This switches to a Tartan
pattern among acceptance as an Elder. Warriors are very aware of their headgear and will become upset if it is touched by another tribal member, especially a woman. Many Rendille have appropriated western clothing and are commonly seen wearing kikoys and t-shirts.
Rendilles practice gadaa
, a system of age sets fourteen years apart. An age set is a group of men circumcised together and remain in the warriorhood for 14 years before they are allowed to marry and give way to another age set. Since 1962, there have been six age set namely; ILMAURI, ILKIMANIGI, ILKICHILI[TERIA], ILKIRORO, ILMAULI and the age set circumcised in August 2007, ILMETILI. Rendille culture is built on strict separation of the sexes during important cultural and spiritual practices. Women are not allowed to talk or fraternize with men, and traditionally are shunned from major religious events outside of courtship
rituals.
Rendilles are believed to be alienated and experts believe the pure Rendille language
speakers are confined to the two towns of Kargi and Korr. The rest of towns[settlements] especially those bordering the two Samburu District
s speak more Samburu than Rendille Language. 'Rendille language' especially is under threat from Samburu
,, one of the Maa languages
. Attempts to revive this literature-rich language through introduction of 'mother tongue' subject in schools in all those areas which use Samburu as their media of communication have been futile. Few schools have been built in the earlier years. The first group to attend school in this community were registered in the late sixties and the meaning of education has been well seen through the leadership of the late Hon. Titus L Ngoyoni, MP, who was among the second and larger group of boys who were taken to school. Lately, more school projects through CDF, well wishers and new donations are making changes to help the Rendilles of Northern Kenya.
For a synopsis of Rendille society and their relationship with the Samburu in the 1950s, google "The Samburu, Maasai, and their Neighbours".
Cushitic languages
The Cushitic languages are a branch of the Afroasiatic language family spoken in the Horn of Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan and Egypt. They are named after the Biblical character Cush, who was identified as an ancestor of the speakers of these specific languages as early as AD 947...
speaking ethnic group inhabiting the Kaisut Desert, which is in the North Eastern part of Kenya. They also inhibit the south eastern and southern regions of Mt. Marsbit in the Marsabit Central District .They are often referred to as "the holders of the stick of God".
They are nomadic pastoralists
Nomadic pastoralism
Nomadic pastoralism is a form of agriculture where livestock are herded in order to find fresh pastures on which to graze following an irregular pattern of movement - in contrast with transhumance where seasonal pastures are fix. The herded livestock may include cattle, yaks, sheep, goats,...
who roam with their camel
Camel
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
s, goats and most recently cattle across about 16,000 square kilometers of Northern Kenya. Women, children, and older men live in semi-permanent villages that are moved only a few times a year and rarely more than a few kilometers.
The Rendille believe that they belong in the desert not by mistake but because its their "promised land". In their popular morning prayers they pray "your people Wakh (God) cannot climb mountains, cross seas but remain in this promised land in which You have looked after our fore fathers, us and our children's children....".the Rendilles are confined to the desert because their most treasured livestock, the camel, cannot survive in cold mountaineous and clay soil environment.
Rendille staple foods include meat, and a mixture of milk and blood, commonly known as "Banjo",although they have now adopted other foodstuffs like maize flour, rice and beans. Men traditionally dress by tying a loincloth
Loincloth
A loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.-History and types:Loincloths are being and have been worn:*in societies where no other clothing is needed or wanted...
around their waist, while women dress in sheep and goat skins tied around their waists going down while the trunk remains naked. Circumcised
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
boys and young men who have not yet undergone 'Ennui', the rite into adulthood at age 30 whereby men become Elders and are granted ownership of land, wear purple cloth
Tyrian purple
Tyrian purple , also known as royal purple, imperial purple or imperial dye, is a purple-red natural dye, which is extracted from sea snails, and which was possibly first produced by the ancient Phoenicians...
and a white feather in their headgear. This switches to a Tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
pattern among acceptance as an Elder. Warriors are very aware of their headgear and will become upset if it is touched by another tribal member, especially a woman. Many Rendille have appropriated western clothing and are commonly seen wearing kikoys and t-shirts.
Rendilles practice gadaa
Gadaa
Gadaa is the traditional social stratification system of Oromo males in Ethiopia and northern Kenya; it is also practiced by the Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. Each class, or luba, consists of all of the sons of the men in another particular class...
, a system of age sets fourteen years apart. An age set is a group of men circumcised together and remain in the warriorhood for 14 years before they are allowed to marry and give way to another age set. Since 1962, there have been six age set namely; ILMAURI, ILKIMANIGI, ILKICHILI[TERIA], ILKIRORO, ILMAULI and the age set circumcised in August 2007, ILMETILI. Rendille culture is built on strict separation of the sexes during important cultural and spiritual practices. Women are not allowed to talk or fraternize with men, and traditionally are shunned from major religious events outside of courtship
Courtship
Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. In courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement...
rituals.
Rendilles are believed to be alienated and experts believe the pure Rendille language
Rendille language
Rendille is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Kenya by the Rendille. However, many Rendille are showing a preference for Samburu as their primary language.-References:...
speakers are confined to the two towns of Kargi and Korr. The rest of towns[settlements] especially those bordering the two Samburu District
Samburu District
Samburu District is a district in Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It covers an area of roughly 21,000 km² in northern Kenya where the Samburu tribe live...
s speak more Samburu than Rendille Language. 'Rendille language' especially is under threat from Samburu
Samburu language
Samburu is the Eastern Nilotic, North Maa language spoken by the Samburu in the highlands of northern Kenya. The Samburu number about 128,000 . Samburu is closely related to Camus and to the South Maa language Maasai...
,, one of the Maa languages
Maa languages
The Maa languages are a group of closely related Eastern Nilotic languages spoken in parts of Kenya and Tanzania by more than a million speakers altogether. They are subdivided into North and South Maa...
. Attempts to revive this literature-rich language through introduction of 'mother tongue' subject in schools in all those areas which use Samburu as their media of communication have been futile. Few schools have been built in the earlier years. The first group to attend school in this community were registered in the late sixties and the meaning of education has been well seen through the leadership of the late Hon. Titus L Ngoyoni, MP, who was among the second and larger group of boys who were taken to school. Lately, more school projects through CDF, well wishers and new donations are making changes to help the Rendilles of Northern Kenya.
For a synopsis of Rendille society and their relationship with the Samburu in the 1950s, google "The Samburu, Maasai, and their Neighbours".