The concept of heroism in Samburu moran ethos
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2172910 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Peter Wasamba (0009-0003-8978-0903), Peter O A Wasamba (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 145-158 |
| Publication date | 2009-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of African Cultural Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1369-6815 • E-ISSN: 1469-9346 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13696810903259343 |
| OpenAlex | W2078480673 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 1 |
The tenacity of the Samburu to tradition has interested anthropologists and missionaries for decades. One of the enduring aspects of the Samburu tradition is the institution of moran – young Samburu men admitted into warrior-hood upon circumcision. In this paper, I argue that the title of moran is a metaphor for heroism due to the military and aesthetic exploits morans are famed for. Basing my analysis on the data gathered during fieldwork in the community between 2004 and 2008, I interrogate the concept of heroism in the Samburu moran ethos. I contend that though threatened with modernity, moranism is still a coveted institution among the Samburu that promotes comradeship, self-esteem, courage, strength, perseverance, self sacrifice and adventurism in young men. Finally, I argue that, in spite of the challenges it is facing, moranism still remains the foundation on which the pride of the Samburu community is grounded. Young boys are looking forward to the day they will join the prestigious club of morans. Though traditional moranism celebrates war-like activities, the roles are changing because of modernization. The future of moranism among the Samburu, therefore, lies in maintaining a delicate balance between cultural pragmatism and nostalgic attachment to the heroic past. Herein lies the changing concept of heroism in Samburu folklore. Acknowledgements I am very thankful to DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) for supporting my research visit to the Asia-Africa Institute, Hamburg University, April–July 2007, where data analysis resulting in this paper was done. This paper was first presented at a seminar organized by the Asia-Africa Institute, Hamburg University, Germany on 28 June 2007. My profound gratitude goes to the University of Nairobi for supporting this study financially and administratively. This study is part of a larger project in the Department of Literature at the University of Nairobi. In 2002, the Department of Literature embarked on a programme to strengthen research in African oral literature. This was in response to a number of factors, namely: the need to preserve indigenous knowledge forms and apply them to local development needs and train young scholars in modern ways of collecting, documenting, preserving, analyzing and disseminating oral art forms of Kenyan communities. I have been in charge of this project. For the last four years, I have managed to document oral narratives of the Digo and Duruma in Mombasa; the Luo and Luhyia in Western Kenya and Samburu of the North Rift region. I am grateful to Samburu elders Kiros Leldebe and Lurumpan Loolkokoyo, to retired chief and elder Simon Peter Lekarikei, and to Juliet Lempoore and John Nguru for granting me interviews to talk about Samburu moranism
Courage · Ethos · Institution · Modernization theory · Political science · Pride · Social science · Sociology · African history and culture analysis · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology · Gender Studies · Law
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,44 |
| Citation span | 2017 - 2026 (10) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |