About Samburu Way Back When
Brief History of Samburu County
The Samburu people entered Kenya around 500 years ago, or in the 15th century, originating in the Sudan Nile Valley. They moved south along the Rift Valley plains, settling in northern Kenya, south of Lake Turkana, to the current homeland that is named after them. By the mid-19th century, the Samburu controlled a vast area of land, but clashes with the Turkana and Pokot forced them to retreat south to their present-day range. Originally a nomadic tribe, the Samburu today still embraces their nomadic trait while also running some of the liked game lodges in the North.
One of the most endearing legends among the Samburu tribe, often referred to as the Butterfly Tribe as a tribute to their colourful regalia and ornate ornaments they adorn, is that they are one of the lost tribes of Israel and God’s chosen people. The Judaic law and culture still has a glimpse of a remnant within Samburu community modern life: For example it’s very interesting to note how many stories they tell of birds and creatures that are based on this or that old testament story. Myth or not, their kindred Nilotic roots are undeniable, tracing their origin in the north of Africa.
Along their migration the Samburu were in company of the famous Maasai tribe. Indeed, the Samburu speak a dialect of the Maasai language, and several family names are common to both tribes. They are, as ethnographers insist, Maasai-speakers, and share many cultural traditions. It is assumed that at some point in the past the Samburu broke away from the Maasai, remaining in Kenya’s north whilst the Maasai continued to South-Western Kenya. For present purposes, it is deduced that the Samburu are sufficiently like the Maasai as to warrant no debate.
Akin to the Maasai, the Samburu moran, though no longer strictly warriors, are still in a position ritually separate from the rest of the society and for a period of from twelve to fifteen years. Young men, of the age-set most recently formed, observe a number of ritual prohibitions and don’t marry until the end of the period when a new age-set is formed. Samburu girls are wed at the same age as boys become moran, at about fifteen, and this results in a high proportion of married women to married men, and a high preference of polygamy among retired moran, or elders.
Also cross-cutting is the age-set system, a segmentary clan system not based on the concept of lineage, but specifically defined nevertheless. This definition of segmentation concerns the ritual and legal norms of conduct between segments at different levels, and below the level of the clan, which is exogamous, many of these norms are those of the moran. Corporate feeling within the clan is very marked, and an individual tends to be associated with his clan throughout his life.
As we now know, the Samburu speak a dialect of the Maa lingua, and some family names are common to both tribes. Attire too is similar from the ancient tradition of wearing goatskins to the modem use of kikoy. Both tribes have always had a complex social structure wherein male members are divided into different age-grades: junior warrior, senior. Judging from other Nilo-Hamitic tribes one would say that the corporateness of the clan among the Samburu is stronger than else where, and that even if this factor serves to weaken the corporateness of the age-set system within the tribe as a whole, it definitely strengthens it inside the clan.
Akin to the Maasai, the Samburu have always relied on their herds of cattle, sheep and goats. The stock economy entails constant attention by the owner of a herd if he is to avoid sudden and drastic loss. Faced with the need for mobility, he makes his own rules as new opportunities for grazing and water arise, and even dividing his herd into two parts if needed. This leads Samburu households with their herds to live in smaller impermanent settlements. These tend to belong to a dispersed cluster of similar settlements associated with a single clan – the local clan group.
For millennia, individual householders had the freedom to detach themselves as the need arose, normally seeking links with their clan elsewhere. This age-old pattern of nomadism was also rewarding for the dispersal of their herds, suiting their cattle and limiting the spread of disease, ergo even the less fortunate willing to devote his energies to his herd could with luck marry several wives over time, with a growing family to match a growing herd: A career pattern that is open to a younger man as he matures, allowing him to achieve a measure of autonomy.
The arrival of the British drastically changed the nomadic ways of the Samburu community who comprised 80% of the population. The British administration introduced grazing schemes in the 1950’s, against the proclivity of the Samburu nomads, as a way to safeguard land that had been previously over-grazed. Also, some forests were demarcated by the new administration, where grazing was completely forbidden. In the 1970’s, post independence, the Government of Kenya helped to establish some of its group ranches as a way of re-demarcation. And thus the land ownership was transferred back to the Samburu community.
Samburu County, in northern Kenya, offers stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and unique wildlife. Known for its stunning mountains, hills, remote wilderness, traditional Samburu culture, and less-visited national reserves, the county provides an authentic experience away from the popular safari circuit.
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Explore Destinations in Samburu County
A Guide to Samburu County
A Summa Digest of Samburu
About Samburu Way Back When
50 Destinations in Samburu County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, west then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Shaba National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Ashnil Samburu Camp, Archer's Post, Chanler’s Falls, Umoja Cultural Village, Nashipa Eco Camp, Lion's Cave Camp, Samburu National Reserve, Samburu Sopa Lodge, Samburu Intrepids Camp, Ewaso Lions, Kalama Conservancy, Saruni Samburu Lodge, Westgate Conservancy, Rhodia Mann Museum, Meibai Conservancy, Mount Ololokwe, Namunyak Community Conservancy, Sarara Camp, Singing Wells, Reteti Sanctuary, Mathews Range, Kitich Camp, Sera Conservancy, Saruni Rhino Camp, Ndoto Mountains, Mlima Tatu, Ngurunit, Ngurunit Rock Pools, Camp Ndotto, Mount Nyiru, Desert Rose, El Barta, Samburu Hills, Baragoi Deanery, Nachola Site, Napong Hills, Losiolo Escarpment, Emuruangogolak, Kirisia Forest, Ngari Hill Lodge, Maralal Safari Lodge, Yale Camp, Maralal Camel Derby, Kenyatta House Maralal, Loroghi Plateau, Engare Narok Sanctuary, Lake Mbaringon
Know More About Samburu County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Samburu is almost always hot! The driest months are January and February. The mean annual temperature is 29oC, with fast blowing winds especially on the lowlands. Rain is temporal and erratic.
Over 80% of Samburu lies within the fragile arid to semi-arid ecological vast block of Kenya. Altitude, excepting the ranges and mountains, varies from 2040 ms to 600 ms asl.