Borana Tribe
This tribe is originally from Southern Ethiopia and shifted to
the South Northern areas of Kenya in the early years of the 16th
century. They currently reside in and around Isiolo, Tana River, Garissa, Moyale
and Marsabit Districts. The weather conditions are basically dry and hot with irregular
torrential rain. The language they speak is also called Borana. It's a form of the
broader Oromo grouping, a Language; originally of an Eastern Cushite family
of the Afro-Asiatic language.
Segregation between men and women is strictly practical among the Borana. The duty
to care for the herds is for the men, while women are responsible for upbringing
of the children and day-today life activities in the home. Being Nomads,
they tend to move up to four times in a year, depending on the weather circumstances
and obtainable grazing land. Their reliance on oral history is strong and deeply
cherished with numerous traditions passed through music.
Milk and milk products like yoghurt are their staple food. Meat,
although an important food, is consumed irregularly and cannot be classified as
a staple food because only on very special occasions, will they slaughter an animal
and eat meat – their livestock are far too valuable. Milk supplemented
by corn bread is the staple food.
Polygamy is a common practice, so majority of the men have at least two wives; or
even more. Family relations are closely knit; and children are very important, therefore
fathers are caring to small children. Livestock, mainly cattle
and camels are the major resource of wealth, and are applied to payment of bride
price, for sacred sacrifices, and legal fines. They also rear goats, sheep and at
times camels.
As per the Borana, the link between their religious beliefs to
their herds is inseparable. Their herds are not only for food; but also vital for
sacrifices and rituals to guarantee fertility, health, and assistance from spirits.
Islamic influence is quite strong in some than in others. Their God is called Waka
and only in him do they believe. Religion spread around their little towns, but
there has been little combined effort specifically targeting the Borana in their
ancestral homelands.
The Borana people have in store culturally beautiful things, for
souvenirs from beaded leather jackets to prettily designed jewelry. The famous
Borana Lodge found in Laikipia District has artistically decorated
and they are ornamented with works of art talent by several Kenyan artists. The
Borana wear a shawl or light blanket type overwrap. Women wear scarf head coverings.
Men often wear a "prayer beanie" cap or a turban.
Women play a great role in the Borana tribe; they build houses, usually traditional
round grass huts, do tea ceremonies during the opening ceremony of
the new houses. They also weave portable grass huts called the dasse. They are made
from handy and temporary materials. Even though the huts are temporary,
the style, customs and civilization has existed for centuries. Women's other responsibility
is to relocate the villages from place to place by camel or sometimes donkey.
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