Living Tradition

A man's cattle bring him wealth and social standing, allow him to perform his vital age-set rituals, and purchase wives. They provide the basic food needs of his family: milk, yoghurt, butter, and blood. The Samburu do not kill their cattle, and generally neither do they kill other animals, except rash lion threatening their flocks, or a goat for a special ceremony. A cow is branded to show its owner's clan, and its ears cropped to identify the individual owner. Sheep and goats have a lower importance.

Particularly revered among the Samburu are Prophets, Teachers, and Blacksmiths. The last needs alittle explanation. Blacksmiths are a special caste, outside the normal Moran system. They are associated with magic, and have special powers (after all they do turn earth into spear heads).

The Samburu live in settlements called Manyattas. These consist of six or more houses built in a rough circle with a thorn fence around the outside, and an open space in the middle. Attached to the Manyatta is a thorn-fenced corral for stock.

The Samburu live in harmony with nature, and wild animals, even troublesome ones are accepted as part of the great eternal plan.

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The Elders
The Warriors
The Women
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