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 ibinda,ipinda or ebendo. 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 ibinda 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 ibinda.[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 ibinda. Within each age-set, the initiates were further bundled into a siritiet - what can be understood as a 'team'.

The age of an ipinda sometimes acquired a nickname based on a defining event occurring during their time.

Age set Names
Sebei Maina Chumo Sowe Koronkoro Kwoimet Kaplelaich Nyikeao Nyonki
Sabaot 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]
Lembus/Pokor/Arror/Keben/Kakimor/Endorois/Samor – 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 still 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 ibinwek, 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 ibinwek is given below.

  • Maina
  • Chumo
  • Sawe
  • Kipkoimet
  • Kaplelach
  • Kipnyigei
  • Nyongi[5]

Age sub-set (siritiet)

In each age-set, the initiates were bundled into siritiet or what can be understood as a 'team'. There are four 'teams' or siritoik in an ibinda namely:

  • Chongin
  • Kiptaito
  • Tetagaat (literally cow's neck)
  • Kiptaruiyeek - Kiptoiinik (literally young calves)[6]
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References
  1. Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 11
  2. Kipchumba, Paul, Oral Literature of the Marakwet of Kenya, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, p.37,
  3. Daniels, R. E, The Extent of Age-set Co-ordination Among the Kalenjin, Nov. 1982
  4. Kipchumba, Paul, Oral Literature of the Marakwet of Kenya, Nairobi: Kipchumba Foundation, p.37,
  5. Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 12
  6. Hollis, A. C., The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 12
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