Les habitants du Samburu District

Mariee a 12 ans....

...Les traditions ne se perdent pas au Samburu District...

Femme Samburu

Jeunes filles Samburus, lors des danses tradtionnelles effectuees a l'occasion d'un mariage

Les Samburus ne se deplacent jamais seuls

Comment preparer le the de facon traditionnelle dans les villages Samburus....en l'absence d'electricite.... La collecte du bois est une tache ardue reservee aux femmes.

http://www.samburu2005.org.uk/report_provisional.pdf

Une adresse interessante, un texte que j'ai pris plaisir a lire...


WHO?

The Samburu of northern Kenya, a Maa-speaking group closely related to the Maasai, are one of the last tribes in East Africa to have managed to maintain their rich cultural traditions and associated rituals in the face of growing influence from the Western world. However, very little of this has ever been documented, and as a result little is known about many aspects of the Samburu way of life.

Traditionally semi-nomadic pastoralists, the Samburu survive by herding cattle and smallstock in communal lands or ‘group-ranches’ in the wet season, and migrating with them to better pasture in the drier months. Their livestock is fundamental to the Samburu way of life, and serves not only as their livelihood, but also their material wealth, food, and social status.

WHAT?

The team conducted a three-phase project in the Laikipia and Samburu Districts of Kenya, in order to locate and record previously undocumented rock art and archaeological sites, and to research other aspects of Samburu culture associated with pastoralism and the role of the Moran.

WHY?

This expedition was undertaken in order to research and document a number of cultural practises associated with pastoralism and the role of the Morans (tribal warriors), and to investigate how these traditions are evolving over time. The Samburu inhabit the highland regions of northern Kenya, and unlike areas further south, such as those belonging to the Maasai, their land was never strongly influenced by colonial settlers. Their remote location on the northern frontier, entry into which required a special travel document until several years after independence in 1963, meant that they remained largely isolated from western influence, and even today many parts of the region are not affected by the mass tourism that has spread across the rest of East Africa

Femme Samburu

Les colliers et les couleurs sont de rigueur lors de rassemblements feminins..

Article sur l'ethnie Samburu par Africa Travel


The Samburu: Struggling to Maintain Tradition

The Samburu live in northern Kenya in the rather barren landscape of the Rift Valley Province. Similar to the Maasai, the Samburu are traditionally nomadic pastoralists and move with their cattle, goats and camels from one grazing area to the next. The Samburu are obviously strikingly beautiful, their neighboring tribes named them "samburu" which means "butterfly". But underneath the beautiful exterior, the harsh reality is that this is a tribe struggling to maintain its traditions. Tourists can't get enough of the photo opportunities a visit brings, but a more valuable way to help this tribe would be to stay at a community owned lodge.

The Samburu have remained more isolated than their Maasai neighbors and are trying their hardest to hold on to their traditional lifestyle. This isn't easy when they're under pressure to settle down into permanent settlements and grow crops, something no self respecting Samburu warrior would consider doing voluntarily. Organizations are working towards a compromise whereby the Samburu get more access to clean water, education for their children, but remain independent as pastoralists on their own land. The modern world is a very tricky place for any African tribe trying to hold on to its traditions.

The Samburu of Kenya

The Samburu live just north of the equator in the Rift Valley province of Northern Kenya. The Samburu are closely related to the Maasai of East Africa. They speak a similar language, derived from Maa, which is called Samburu.

The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists. Cattle, as well as sheep, goats and camels, are of utmost importance to the Samburu culture and way of life. The Samburu are extremely dependent on their animals for survival. Their diet consists mostly of milk and sometimes blood from their cows. The blood is collected by making a tiny nick in the jugular of the cow, and draining the blood into a cup. The wound is then quickly sealed with hot ash. Meat is only consumed on special occasions. The Samburu diet is also supplemented with roots, vegetables and tubers dug up and made into a soup.

Traditional Samburu Culture

The Rift Valley province in Kenya is a dry, somewhat barren land, and the Samburu have to relocate to ensure their cattle can feed. Every 5-6 weeks the group will move to find fresh grazing grounds. Their huts are built from mud, hide and grass mats strung over poles. A thorny fence is built around the huts for protection from wild animals. These settlements are called manyattas . The huts are constructed so they are easily dismantled and portable when the Samburu move to a new location.

The Samburu usually live in groups of five to ten families. Traditionally men look after the cattle and they are also responsible for the safety of the tribe. As warriors they defend the tribe from attack by both man and animals. They also go on raiding parties to try and take cattle from rival Samburu clans. Samburu boys learn to tend cattle from a young age and are also taught to hunt. An initiation ceremony to mark their entry into manhood is accompanied by circumcision.

Samburu women are in charge of gathering roots and vegetables, tending to children and collecting water. They are also in charge of maintaining their homes. Samburu girls generally help their mothers with their domestic chores. Entry into womanhood is also marked with a circumcision ceremony.

Samburu traditional dress is a striking red cloth wrapped around like a skirt (called Shukkas) and a white sash. This is enhanced with many colorful beaded necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Both men and women wear jewelry although only the women make it. The Samburu also paint their faces using striking patterns to accentuate their facial features. Neighboring tribes, admiring the beauty of the Samburu people, called them samburu which in fact means "butterfly". The Samburu referred to themselves as the Loikop.

Dancing is very important in the Samburu culture. Dances are similar to that of the Maasai with men dancing in a circle and jumping very high from a standing position. The Samburu have traditionally not used any instruments to accompany their singing and dancing. Men and women do not dance in the same circles, but they do coordinate their dances. Likewise for village meetings, men will sit in an inner circle to discuss matters and make decisions. Women sit around the outside and interject with their opinions.

The Samburu Today

As with many traditional tribes, the Samburu are under pressure from their government to settle into permanent villages. They have been extremely reluctant to do so since obviously permanent settlement would disrupt their entire way of life. The area they live in is very arid and it's difficult to grow crops to sustain a permanent site. This basically means the Samburu will become dependent on others for their survival. Since status and wealth in Samburu culture is synonymous with the amount of cattle one owns, a sedentary agricultural lifestyle is not in the least attractive. Samburu families who have been forced to settle will often send their adult men to the cities to work as guards. This is a form of employment that has evolved naturally because of their strong reputation as warriors.

Visiting the Samburu

The Samburu live in a very beautiful, sparsely populated part of Kenya with abundant wildlife. Much of the land is now protected and community development initiatives have extended to eco-friendly lodges jointly run by the Samburu. As a visitor, the best way to get to know the Samburu is to stay at a community run lodge, or enjoy a walking or camel safari with Samburu guides. While many safaris offer the option of visiting a Samburu village, the experience is often less than authentic. The links below attempt to give the visitor (and the Samburu) a more meaningful exchange.