A Blog Post by Matthew Cole: Culture Shock
A fact that many Westerners do not know about Kenya is how diverse it is. Due to its equatorial and coastal location, it has been at the confluence of trading routes from all over Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. The majority of Kenyans are ethnically Bantu (the largest ethnic family in Sub-Saharan Africa) while most of the rest are of Nilotic (literally “of the Nile”) and the final minorities are Cushites (from the Horn of Africa), Arabs, Indians, and Europeans. These classifications are further broken down and in total there are 42 different recognized ethnic tribes in Kenya, most of whom speak a unique language. The Samburu people are Nilotes and are closely related to the more numerous and famous Maasai, who are depicted quite frequently in Western media. While a Maasai and a Samburu can understand each other’s language, there are distinct differences between the two. The Samburu are among the least populous ethnicities in Kenya with an estimated number of around 250-350k. For comparison, the largest ethnicity, the Kikuyu, has an estimated population of 7-8 million. As a result, the ethnic minorities, like the Samburu can sometimes be left out in the cold when it comes to helping from the government.
This map, although poorly uploaded, shows some of the different ethnicities of Kenya.
(Murele et al 1959)
To unite all of these ethnicities, for hundreds of years the common language has been Swahili, but, in the last hundred years, English has become common due to the influence of the colonial British. However, owing to the harsh conditions and remoteness, the north of Kenya was not as developed by the British and the Samburu culture remained relatively isolated when compared to others in Kenya. However, progress is inevitable and in the age of the internet and smartphones, even parts of remote Kenya are connected with the rest of the world.
As is such many young Samburu are seeing western culture and yearning to be like kids in Nairobi and New York, not like those in Manyattas. Some are not even learning the Samburu language and have no interest in the meanings behind the aspects of Samburu culture. There is a meaning for everything the Samburu do, why they circumcise in the morning or afternoon, why certain women wear certain color beads, etc and it is being lost in the young generations. As a WASP from colonial New England, I have always wished to have a rich culturally identity like this, and seeing these young Samburu want nothing to do with it, instead wanting the same commercialistic “culture” that I have, it pains me.
I met a woman called Rhodia Mann in Nairobi last week who has spent her life studying and trying to learn the Samburu culture. Born to Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust in Kenya, she has watched this country grow and develop from its very inception. And the entire time she has been centered on learning about the Samburu. She knows more about Samburu culture than any other “Mzungu” on the planet for sure and knows more than some Samburu themselves. To see this rich culture that she has worked so hard to preserve be lost slowly before her eyes are something that clearly does not sit well with her.
Rhodia Mann at her exhibit located in the library of the International School of Kenya (ISK).
I know for a fact that it is possible to embrace Samburu heritage while adapting to the 21st century as I see it every day in Eric. He grew up in a Manyatta, learning the pastoralist ways and the cultural traditions of his people while attending school and learning the ways of the world. He embraces modern medicine but still knows his roots. I have realized that it is up to people like Eric to fight for the future of the Samburu, carving their place in Kenya and in the world, while protecting everything that has already accomplished.
Note, if you would like to know more about Rhodia Mann and Samburu culture, she has an incredible life story and I recommend starting here.