THE AOYATE DROUGHT WHICH DISPLACED THE SENGWER

-



By Thomas Chemelil

Prior to the 18th Century existed a large, vibrant community of cattle keepers known as the Sengwer, Sigerai, Senguer or the Cherang'any. 

The name Sengwer is derived from the tradition of Sengwer women of adorning themselves with a dangling cowrie shell referred to by the Karamojong as the esigirait.

Chief Kamussein noted at A.C.H Hoey's farm that the Sengwer were indeed a powerful. community then. Hoey was popularly known as Bwana Hoi amongst the local people around 1932.

Sengwer territory is said to have covered a wide area ranging from Kiporoon River in Uasin Gishu, Kapsumbeiywet, Ziwa, Moiben Posta, Kongipsebe, Kimowo, Maron, Kamologon, Sebit, Somor, Kongelai to as far as Swom river.

The Aoyate drought resulted in displacement of the Sengwer. Those who headed Eastwards are said to have met their deaths at Moru Eris due to starvation.

The Kacepkai clan are said to have been displaced during the Turkana invasion of Moru Asiger. They are said to have fled to Mt. Elgon and formed diviner clans there. 

Some were assimilated by neighbouring communities like the Uasin Gishu Maasai, the Turkana, Nandi and the Kipsigiis.

A few remnants of the Sengwer fled to the Embobut forest where they were swallowed by the emerging Marakwet community around the 19th Century. 

As for the name Cherang'any, it is noted that the Masai laughed at the Sengwer for losing their cattle to the Karamojong, thus the derogatory term by the Maa speakers, Cherang'any.

This is the tale from the mountain folks. ( Source Wikipedia).

chemelil.blogspot.com 


Photos: news-trust.org $ Water Charity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE DAY TULA CHESAINA REFUSED TO PUT ON SHOES

-
Image
 Photo/Veronica: Tula Chesaina By Thomas Chemelil I have always told you hilarious tales in the past, tales that have defined who we are and where we came from. By knowing where we come from, we get the visa to where we are going. Today, I choose to tell you the story of Tula Chesaina a.k.a KopCheserem of Kapkomora  who is married to Nyirar. The story year is 1974. The occasion? The lovely wedding of Anne Mubichi from Kapkomora to Mubichi Mburugua of Naari  in North Imenti in Meru County. Anne Mubichi is the great mum to Mutembei, Asca, Mureithi and Tim Mubichi.  A delegation to the wedding is dispatched to Meru. The person to drive them to Meru is none other than the army officer who owned a Land Rover then, Daudi Kibuswa- the uncle to Jebiwot Bischof. Here is where the drama begins. Mzee Chemelil Yatich (RIP) buys adamant Tula Chesaina shoes at Eldoret in order to prevent the 'shame' of Tula travelling to Meru without shoes! For those in the know, Tula Chesaina hol...
Read more

OF MARAKWET HIGH SCHOOL AND THE FORTY ONE FIREPLACES

-
  By Thomas Chemelil Marakwet Secondary School( now St. Peter's Marakwet High School) is definitely one of the old schools that has served the community well producing great men and women.  I stumble on one Mzee Luka Kotut at Wagon Wheel in Eldoret who narrates to me a hilarious tale of Marakwet High School. It must have then been an Inntermediate School. The year is 1966. The characters in the story? The likes of Cheptile, Kotut amonst others.  In total, there were 41 students in the school. 30 from Marakwet and 11 from Keiyo.  The interesting part of the story is that each of the forty one students had his own fireplace where he would cook his own meals! In total there were 41 fireplaces or what Mzee Kotut would funnily call " Kabekeren chole artam oko akong'o". Each student brought his own flour from home and other necessary items in order to individually cook his own meals.  Tired of the messy process, young Kotut asked the students to approach the Board of ...
Read more

MALALA'S TROUBLED PLAYS AND KENYA'S LONG HISTORY OF CENSORSHIP

-
Image
Photo/Butere Girls: Echoes of War.  By Thomas Chemelil  Cleaphas Malala's play 'Echoes of War' has generated immense heat in Kenya's political landscape with many wondering what the play is all about. However, this is not the first time that Malala has run into trouble with the authorities over his contentious plays. Somewhere around 2012, Malala scripted 'Shackles of Doom,' a narrative that detailed the exploitation of a  marginalized community in whose land  valuable crude oil had been discovered. What follows is a mad rush by an "investor" community to reap from the new-found oil at the expense of the locals. In order to endear themselves to the host community, the "investor" unashamedly marries a local girl  who would act as bridge between him and the community to facilitate the wanton pillage of the community resources. Like 'Echoes of War,' 'Shackles of Doom' raised enough political dust with the authorities taking note....
Read more