Beyond nutrition

Social-cultural values of meat and meat products among the Borana people of Northern Kenya

Bibliographic Data

ID5166344
AuthorsBuke G Dabasso (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, corresponding author), Anselimo O Makokha, Anselimo Makokha (0000-0003-2168-3050, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology), Arnold N Onyango (0000-0003-2078-6496, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology), Julius M Mathara (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology)
Year2022
Volume9
Issue1
Publication date2022-12-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnic Foods (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2352-6181 • E-ISSN: 2352-619X
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s42779-022-00160-5
OpenAlexW4311079778
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited25

To most indigenous communities, livestock plays important socio-cultural roles in addition to sustenance. Like many other communities in the world, the Borana people regard livestock and livestock products not only as nourishment but as an integral part of their cultural identity and social construct. The Borana are Cushitic-speaking people who reside in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia and practise pastoralism as the primary way of livelihood. Livestock is reared by Borana people to obtain meat, milk and other by-products further to socio-cultural roles that were important for communal prosperity and resilience. The aim of this paper was therefore, to describe the various role of cattle and its significance to Borana people. For data collection, qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed. The results showed that cattle and particularly bulls were slaughtered for meat consumption, rituals and high-value ceremonial purposes. Moreover, as a desired form of wealth, cattle provide numerous resources to the owners and the prestige associated with herd of cattle accelerates social status and identity among the Borana community. Thus, according to participants' discussions and views, cattle are highly symbolic and have cultural meaning not only as the primary source of food but also in shaping social-cultural values embedded in their social structure. The various role of cattle and its products had significant implications on food security; the traditional practice of livestock wealth sharing shielded the Borana community in times of need and the practice of commensality led to greater social bonds. However, the changing socio-cultural environment caused by recurrent droughts has affected the traditional coping mechanism and led to alternative forms of livelihood

Agriculture · Biology · Business · Cultural identity · Focus group · Geography · Indigenous · Livelihood · Livestock · Participant observation · Pastoralism · Political science · Prosperity · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Sustenance · African history and culture analysis · Indigenous Studies and Ecology · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology · Marketing

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