Monday, January 20, 2014

KALENJIN RARE ANIMALS WITH THEIR NAMES

Kalenjin language is sweet but difficult. It is the oldest language which was first written down about 18,000 years ago-The Book of the Death and Herodotus affirms it himself because he learned that language during the 5th C BCE.The answers are:
1.Kyupkenyesuut.........ant bear also called Chemengeweet, kuteet.
2.Abusoiit....skin bag also called abusegit.
3.Oorteet....the most poisonous tree whose smoke can kill
4.moss(verb).....to sip milk,water etc
5.Kipkalunyaat.....a very well behaved man.
6.aabiyet....................leopard in Ogieek
7.Kinugeet..............a bird like a dove
8.kobomborwet..........human skeleton
9.Chepkerusiet,....mongoose.
10.Nkwaiyandet,...quail also called Chepakwaeet.
11.Chepkelembuut / Tikwiria,...........quail
13.nkululeek........foot and mouth disease.
14.sisinaat................plain land
15.kisiereet(kusiereet)....the number ONE THOUSAND.

trees according to kalenjins and their as herbs


KEETIKAB KALENJIN ak boisietab age tugul:
1. Emityoot- used for erecting mabwaita
2. Kurbanyaat- used in the performance os some 'mumeek' ceremonies
3. Lelechuet- used in the sprinkling of cattle 'Iseet-ab-tuga'i.e blessing herds and driving diseases e.g anthrax n rinderpest away
4. Macheget- used to warn people of danger, especially where a cow
which died of anhrax had been burried
5. Marongeet- used in cursing ceremonies
6. Noogirwet- a tree with many muloonok. Used mostly during gooito
7. Cheebitet- a very hard tree. Used in construction of houses and
fences. A house was not to be built where cheebitoik grew since
termites heavily inhabited such areas.
8. Tebeng'wet- its leaves were used to drive away anthrax
9. Baregeiwot- the wood was used for making seegetyet, the small
wooden spoon for cutting kimyeet

IBINWEKAB KALENJIN AK SALANIK (AGESETS AND SUB AGESETS)


A) MAINA (Mainek)
- Founded in 1750. The first cycle started in 1900 and ended (keng'asur) in 1922
- Its Salaniks are:
a) Mesiewa
b) Siling'
c) Chemorta
d) Silobai (I)
B) CHUMO (Chumek)
- Founded in 1790. First cycle in 1924 and ended in 1945.
- Its Salaniks are:
a) Silobai (II)
b) Sileta
c) Kiminget
d) Kimoino
e) Kigenya
f) Kimatagur
g) Kiptobot
C) SAWE (Saweiyek)
- Founded in 1800. First cycle in 1947 ak kengasur en 1961
- This age set had no salaniks
D) KORONGORO (Korongorek)
- Founded in 1820. First cycle in 1963 and ended in 1976
- Salaniks are:
a) Kipkoimet
b) Kipsor okwot
c) Kiptor mesendet
d) Kimariri
e) Kibelgot
E) KAPLELACH
- Founded in 1840. First cycle 1977 and ended in 1998 and in some parts of Kipsigis 1999
- Salaniks:
a) Kimut oiywet
b) Kimasiba
c) Kebebucha
d) Kibol oeng
e) Keny age ni
f) Bin laden
F) KIPNYIGE
- Founded in 1860. First cycle 1999/2000 and it is yet to end (it is a taboo to say when).
- Salaniks are:
a) Kipsil Choget
b) Tabarit
G) NYONGI
- Founded in 1890. First cycle yet to begin (taboo to predict when)
- Salaniks are:
a) Kiptil garit
b) Kosigo
c) Kipsir got
d) Kimel siagit
e) Buluu

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Kalenjin myths of origin of"Nandi" name:

The different Kalenjin communities have had different references for each other. Thus, the Nandi were derogatorily or otherwise called Chepng'al (watu wa maneno mengi!) by the other Kalenjins. There is, however, a myth that indicates that the name Nandi was given by some Arab merchants in reference to a community of vicious attackers, much like a swift bird called Nandi. It is perhaps important to mention that the term Nandi is used in the Indian language to refer to a goddess whose symbol is a bull! Does this have anything to do with the love for a cow by the Nandi and Kalenjins? It is a matter of conjecture, perhaps, but the love for a cow is found in the most flowery and unflattering language forms. "Koonyit ko toroor ko tee tany ak muren", respect is equated to a man and a cow! Ostensibly because when a man has cows, he can marry a woman and thus completely earn his respect 'koondit'.

Marriages amongst Kalenjin part I

Eight separate ceremonies were observed in connection with traditional Kalenjin wedding.Each ceremony could not be effected without maiyweek(Local beer).The first step was the engagement.This was preliminary visits made by the young man's father to the father of the girl selected to be his wife

The initial visit is known as kaayaaet-aap kooito.On this first visit,the father was dressed in a robe of blue monkey fur.Upon arriving at the girl's home he would stand at mabwaita(the family altar) and send a message to the girl's father.He did this by placing a noogirweet(ceremonial stick) at the mabwaita.This was the sign that he wanted to begin talks regarding marriage.No cattle tugaap kooito(cattle of dowry) were brought that first visit,but an initial agreement was made.The father's arranged another meeting day.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

God will never ask

My Son! i have faith in you and of the generation which has given unto you, but remember this questions;
God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.
God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.
God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed.
God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.
God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.
God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.
God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.
God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you reformed your job to the best of your ability.
God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.
God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.
God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.
God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.
God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn’t.

Lesson Learned

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
“We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
“We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless.
Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Parts of a Tree in KIpsigis Language

Kipsigiis dialect. The bark - peerteet The stump - muusukyeet The trunk - kesikyoot The log - supeneet The stick - kirokto The branch - teme...