Oreet

The Oreet (pl. Ortinuek or Ortinweek) is a kinship group among the Kalenjin people of Kenya that is similar in concept to a clan. The members of an oreet were not necessarily related by blood as evidenced by the adoption of members of the Uasin Gishu Maasai by Arap Sutek, the only Nandi smith at the time. His proteges would later be adopted into almost every other clan as smiths.[1] More famously, the lineage of the Talai Orkoiik were adopted members of the Segelai Maasai.[2]

Maasai men performing a traditional jumping dance. Many Maasai were adopted into various Ortinuek during the 19th century

Description

Membership and identification by Oreet traditionally served the purpose of regulating marriage (by prevent inbreeding since marriage within Oreet was largely not permitted),[3] arbitrating in murder cases and a support system when payment of blood money was required.[4]

In modern Kenya, identification by oreet is declining among the Nandi and Kalenjin. However oreet histories have consequently gained prominence as a means of studying the settlement and formation of the Nandi sub-tribe of the Kalenjin. Like the wider Kalenjin Occupation of the Rift, a look at the individual Nandi clan histories shows that the narrative of origin, though containing elements of truth, largely over simplifies the formation of the Nandi sub-tribe.[5]

Sub-tribe

The Nandi sub-tribe was formed through the settlement of the Nandi region by members of various Kalenjin clans from different regions. The traditional Nandi account is that the first settlers in their country came from Elgon, and formed the Kipoiis clan; a name that possibly means 'the spirits'.[5] They were led by a man named Kakipoch, founder of the Nandi section of the Kalenjin.[6] They are said to have settled in the emet (county) of Aldai in south-western Nandi. Kakipoch's people were later joined by a few Kipsikis, who were then followed by people from the other Kalenjin branches.

Settlement

The account of settlement by the 17 clans present in the early decades of the 20th century is as follows;

• From Elgon & Lumbwa (Kipsigis)

Kipoiis

Kipamwi

Kipkenda

Kipiegen

• From Lumbwa (Kipsigis)

Tungo

Kipaa

Kipasiso and Kapchemuri (Chemuri)

Elgoni (Kony)

• From Elgon

Kipkokos

• From Elgon & Elgeyo

Kipsirgio

Moi

Sokom

Kiptopkei

Kamwaikei

• From Lo-'sekelae Masai

Kipkoiitim (also partly from Elgon)

Talai, the medicine men's clan (partly also from Kamasya)

Toyoi[5]

The Nandi ortinuek are each identified by an 'animal' or tiondo, which no clan member could hunt. Clan symbols (tiondo) range from birds, wild animals, frog and snake to bees. Although the sun is not an animal, 'she' has oreet and is called 'tiondo' in the same sense as a lion.

• Kipkenda Maimi

Segemiat (bee)

• Kiboiis

Lelwoot

Solopchoot (coackroach)

• Mooi

Kong'oony (Crested Crane)

Soeet (Buffalo)

Kergeng, Cheptirkiichet (Dik-dik)

Kipkamoriet

Kogos, Chepkogosiot (Eagle)

• Kipsirgoi

Toreet (palee kut ak kutung')

• Kipamui

Kergeng (Antelope)

• Sogoom

Chepsirereet (Eagle)

• Talai

Ng'etuny, Lion (Kuutwo, Talai Orkoi)

Ng'etuny, Lion (Talai Nandi)

• Kipoongoi (che kwees tibiik)

Taiyweet

• Kibiegen (kap rat setio let)

Moseet (Monkey)

Muriat (rat)

• Kipaa (koros)

Ndareet (Snake)

Tisiet (Baboon)

• Toiyoi (moriso)

Ropta (rain)

Birechik (Safari Ants)

• Kap Oiit

Beliot, kiramkeel koe mooi (Elephant)

Kipleng'wet (rabbit)

• Kipasiiso (Kap koluu)

Asista (Sun)

• Kuchwa

Mororochet (frog)

• Tungo (korap oor)

Kimageetiet (Hyena)

• Kiptabkei

Chereret (vervet monkey)

Notable Oreet Customs

It is claimed that Kong'ony (crested crane) was the first animal allocated a family. Hence Moi (Kong'ony) is regarded as the 'leader' and in child stories this is shown as the source of babies in a family.

The Hyena (Kimageet, oreet of Tungo, korap oor) is claimed to have been the last tiondo to be allocated and comes along with several rules of favour (ostensibly to hide the fact that it was the last). Hence, even though the Nandi claim 'Cheptaab oreet age ne wendi oreet age' literally 'a daughter from one clan goes to another clan and belongs in the new clan', to mean a woman has no clan, the Tungo girls are permitted to retain their clan identity.

References

1. Hollis A.C, The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 36
2. Hollis A.C, The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 49
3. Hollis A.C, The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 6
4. Hollis A.C, The Nandi - Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 73-74
5. Huntingford, G. W. B. (15 June 2018). "Remarks upon the history of the Nandi till 1850". The East Africa Natural History Society – via Internet Archive.
6. Huntingford, G. W. B. (6 December 2012). "The Nandi of Kenya". Routledge – via Google Books.