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BACKGROUND

The Borana live in Kenya, East africa

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YOUTH

The birth of a child is met with a thanksgiving ceremony by family members. They make merry to welcome the newborn. A goat is slaughtered and divided into 3 parts: one portion goes to the poor, the second to ancestral spirits as sacrifice and the third portion consumed in the home.

The child is named after one week. No special rules are followed. The child is named after the grandparent if it is the first-born. Generally, the child is named according to prevailing circumstances e.g. a boy child born during the rainy and dry seasons will be called Roba and Bonaya respectively. The time of birth may also determine child’s name e.g. a child born in the late evening will be called Galgalo. Father and mother name the child. Though involved, grandparents play a minor role and the name they give becomes secondary.

After delivery, the mother is exempted from domestic duties. She is also given a special diet and allowed plenty of rest. She stays in a separate hut and men prohibited from going there. In deed, it is a taboo for a man to get into a hut where a new mother is recuperating. One week after delivery, the mother is allowed to interact with other people. This transition from solitary confinement to normal social interaction is marked with a special ceremony.

If the family does not have a grown up daughter, the closest family member volunteers to do the mother’s daily chores. The mother receives a lot of special attention at this time. She is exclusively fed on a diet of milk and meat. Sometimes she also takes animal blood to make up for blood lost during delivery. She is also encouraged to eat animal fat.

Use of herbs is a central part of medication among Boranas. Such herbs are prepared by people with extra ordinary skills in the craft and given mothers. The belief of people with ‘evil eyes’ was common. Charms from diviners were administered to counteract the fatal effect of the evil eyed. Sacrifices could be offered if the situation was extreme.

Children make toys, especially those of cattle from mud. They are encouraged is doing this by their parents as one way of inculcating in them love of cattle. Children are also trained to sing and dance traditional songs. Training on how to wrestle and throw spear is thorough. Boys are trained on looking after cattle. They start with goats before being allowed to look after cattle. At this time, training on how to fight is intensified. Girls are left with their mother. She trains them to become responsible future wives. The teaching thus differs. Boys are taught by their fathers and the training centers on herding; girls by their mothers on domestic chores.

Rite of passage from childhood to adulthood occurs during puberty-around 13-15 years. Boys and girls are circumcised and temporarily put in seclusion from the wider society. Cultural dances are performed. The rituals are different from boys to girls’. A male ‘cuts’ boys while an expert old woman ‘cuts’ the girls. Like wise, boys are taught by men while women teach girls. The special training lasts till the wound heals. They are taught as a group.

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DATING

Courtship is done by the parent of the young man who wants to marry. During the dating, the father, accompanied by some old men, visits the girl’s parents for negotiations. He, the father, carries with him the twig of a special tree called DWARA, and tobacco. The girl is thus not allowed to choose her mate. She is expected to marry any man chosen for her as long as he can pay the required dowry. To reject the chosen man would lead to dire consequences. She can be thrown out of the home. In most cases however, she will be persuaded to accept the man.

Premarital sex is strictly forbidden. This is reinforced through constant counseling of the girls. Contact between boys and girls is also reduced to the minimum.

If a man impregnates a girl, he will pay a fine amounting to several heads of cattle. The girl is immediately married of to an old man-before she delivers. The name given the child depends on the old man. The child is regarded as his henceforth.

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MARRIAGE

The payment of dowry is an integral part of the marriage institution among the Borana. The dowry is paid by the boy’s father. The boy also contributes to the dowry. There is no specific limit to the amount of dowry paid. It depends on the demands of the girl’s parents and the negotiating ability of the boy’s father. A consensus will however be reached, primarily according to the economic status of the bride. Dowry is regarded as a present or token given to the girl’s parents for taking good care of her.

Cows and goats are given for dowry.

Negotiations are accepted and take only a day. Parents of both parties are involved. There is no set time for one to pay all dowry. The remaining dowry can be paid slowly as long as the couple is together. Education level of the girl is not a factor in determining dowry. It all depends on negotiating ability of the parents.

If the girl decides to change her mind, then all the dowry will be returned, PLUS a fine. In case it is the man who changes his mind, only a small fraction of the dowry will be returned.

The marriage ceremony is marked by the tying of a matrimonial cord and is conducted by a Kadhi (Muslim priest). Traditional songs and dances are performed and food and drinks served for all present.

The expenses incurred from the ceremony are met by both families-bride and grooms. Relatives, friends and well-wishers also make contributions. The marriage ceremony lasts for a couple of weeks-often two.

Conflict in Marriage

The couple’s parents will try to solve a conflict between their married children. If they fail to do so, a council of elders will be convened to look into the matter.

If the couple fails to reach an amicable solution, they separate temporarily. This will enable them to make up their mind and also serve to reduce the simmering tension. The wife leaves the home. Children are left under the care of their father. The mother will however be allowed to carry the infant child with her-if any. The father will continue providing for both the children in his custody as well as any other that may have left with the mother.

If conflict persists, the couple may divorce. The mother simply packs her belongings and leaves the house. The couple consults the Kadhi to untie the matrimonial knot. Divorce is not allowed. It is the last resort. It is allowed in case of unfaithfulness among the couple, incompatibility and lack of understanding.

Grown up children remain with their father. Young ones leave with the mother.

Dowry is refunded if the divorce is caused by the wife. As long as the divorce results from the wife’s fault, dowry is refundable, notwithstanding the many years the two have been together. It is not a taboo to get divorced. It is considered as an ordinary situation.

Remarriage is allowed. If the divorced wife is remarried, dowry is paid for her.

The dowry is much less than that of a new bride. Modern times have changed the sanctity of the marriage institution. There has been cultural erosion and urbanization, which have lead to such habits as cohabiting and ‘come-we-stay’ marriages, especially among the youth.

If one partner dies, the other partner can remarry. In most cases, the brother of the deceased, or any other member of the family inherits the widow. The living partner can remarry after 40 days.

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AGING

A person is considered old when his first-born marries or is married. This often around the age of fifty years. The old act as governors of society. They advise the young and settle disputes. They are also the repositories of the tribes’ wisdom and cultural heritage. The old are cared for by their children. These help them in their daily tasks and needs. If one does not have children, close relatives e.g. brother or sister, take care of him. It is the society’s duty to bury such a person.

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HEALTH ISSUES

The sick are cared for by family members. Herbal medicines are used to treat and prevent diseases. Modern medicine is sought only after traditional methods fail.

Knowledge of herbal medicine is passed from parent to their most brilliant child. This is through apprenticeship: whereby the child accompanies the parent to search for ingredients-herbs, roots, leaves, stems bones etc. in the forest. Back home, the child is taught to mix and make the medicine. These skills are not generally known to the common man. They are the preserve of a few.

Several workshops and seminars have been organized to educate people on the dangers of AIDS. Awareness campaigns are regularly conducted in the villages. People have responded positively to the awareness campaigns. Cultural practices such as widow inheritance and female circumcision are dwindling. These practices are known to spread AIDS. People get information through workshops, seminars, public meetings, mass media and door-to-door campaigns conducted by volunteers from NGO’S (non-governmental organizations).

Promiscuity is low. It is strictly prohibited. They have abandoned such practices as widow inheritance and female circumcision. People know AIDS is caused by irresponsible sexual behavior.

The community shuns infected people. They are regarded as cursed. Close family members take care of the sick.

Relatives take care of AIDS orphans.

The government assists in the dissemination of information and organizing AIDS awareness campaigns. It also provides health services to patients. Adhan believes the method is working.

Adhan opines that the fight against AIDS can be more effective through reduction of the price of AIDS drugs; through dissemination of information on AIDS; and the introduction of sex education in high schools.

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DYING

When a person dies, special prayers are conducted for him. Sacrifices are offered to appease the ancestors and make the destination of the deceased comfortable. Mourning involves crying and praying for the deceased. The dead are buried by the society at large. The community also assists in comforting the bereaved. The rituals are the same for young and old. Mourning can extend for up to 2 weeks.

There are no special memorial ceremonies. Occasional sacrifices will be made for the sake of the deceased.

The rule of inheritance is equity in distribution of the wealth left by the deceased. The share received however depends on how close one was to the deceased. For instance, the orphans are entitled to about 50% of the property. Women do not inherit property. Even divorced women do not inherit. There are no written wills. Most wills are made verbally. The council of elders resolves any conflict concerning the will.

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BELIEFS

Name of traditional supreme god is WAK. The name for god has changed. Today we refer to the supreme God as Allah. The belief of god was characterized by a belief in spirits. This belief has however diminished. Some still practice the worship of this God. These offer sacrifices to Him. Islam is the predominant religion, followed by Christianity and traditional in that order.

Boranas belief man was created by God.

The general belief is that one goes to heaven or hell after death, depending on their deeds while they lived. (NB: These appear to me to be the believes of Islam, not the traditional Borana. I in tend to find out from Adhan).

Witchcraft is sometimes practiced. It is not done openly. People are generally very afraid of being bewitched. They protect themselves with charms, constant prayer and sacrifice.

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SOCIETY-

Taboo's

A man was prohibited from marrying their blood relations e.g. sister, aunt etc. One could also not marry their stepmother or stepsister. It was also taboo for a man to go into a hut where a mother who had recently given birth was sheltered. Men were also prohibited from fetching water at points where women went to fetch water. Boranas avoided eating birds, reptiles and hippopotamus. A Borana woman was not allowed to eat eggs and a chicken’s upper leg-thigh. There was a strict code of ethics that demanded respect between the different age groups. Young people were expected to be obedient and loyal to their elders. Women were expected to be submissive to men, regardless of age.

It was regarded as abominable and lack of courtesy for one to refuse food. One would do well do well to at least take a bite.
A visitor was expected to greet the host by at least shaking their hands.
Younger men were to greet those older than them.
It was offensive to fail to greet older people. One was to give way to the old, and surrender their seats to them. Rudeness and abusive language were discouraged. On their turn the old were supposed to behave in a manner such as becoming their age and status. They were supposed to also respect the youth.

Social problems are drought and starvation, lack of social amenities, diseases and joblessness. The government should help the community to diversify its economic activities; improve educational standards, provide sufficient clean water and establish health centers.

These should change:

a) female circumcision should be abolished. It causes a lot of pain and suffering, is a major cause of the spread of AIDS and reduces or ruins the sexual enjoyment of victims.

b) Women should be allowed to inherit property.

c) Girls should have the right to choose their spouses, have a share of the dowry and be allowed to participate in decision making at both family and community levels.

d) Remarriage should be stopped since it spreads AIDS.

e) The mourning period should be reduced as it leads to wastage of resources.

11.3 These should be preserved:

a) council of elders;

b) age set system.

11.4 Adhan’s story is the usual litany of the woes afflicting Africa today. I therefore find it unnecessary to repeat.

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CRIME

A council of elders was convened to discus the matter. A general consensus was reached on how to punish the guilty person. A council of elders decides the fate of the guilty.

Punishment varied depending on the gravity of crime i.e. the more serious the crime, the more the number of cattle to be paid as a fine. If one stole one cow, he paid two. Murderers were also given a death sentence.

An escaped convict was made to suffer twice the punishment he could have suffered for the crime. In some cases, he could be completely banished from the society.

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PERSONAL STORIES
non at this time.

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ETHNIC FOOD

Unique traditional dish is milk and meat.