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The Pokot people live in the western Pokot
and Baringo districts of Kenya and in eastern Karmoja in Uganda.
The
Pokot history is a complicated one, they seem to be related to many
peoples of the region, with ties to the Nilo-Hematic people from the
north and the Bantu from central Africa. The Pokot have two main sub
groups. Due to their nomadic life, adopted by most of the Pokot, they
have interacted with many different peoples throughout their history.
Social customs of neighbors were thus incorporated into their way of
life and marriage with other communities was common. Their neighbors,
the Turkana of Kenya and the Karamojo of Uganda seem to have had the
greatest influence on the Pokot.
The
Pokot society is governed through a series of age grades, and membership
to any specific group would be determined by the age at which a Pokot
would go through their initiation into that group or society. For the
men it is usually between the ages of fifteen and twenty, whereas for
the women, it is around twelve. Young people are allowed to for
matrimonial binds once the initiation has been completed as well as
begin taking part in the local economic functions. There are close bonds
formed within the initiation groups, that are functional in future
political ties as they move through the ranks of the tribal structure.
When Pokot peoples reach old age, they get a certain degree of status
and the respect that goes with that. Elders have responsibilities to
the Pokot such as presiding over important tribal decisions, festivals
and religious celebrations.
The
Pokot are mostly cattle herders/farmers, but about a quarter are
cultivators, mostly growing corn. However, whether a cultivator or
pastoralist, the measure of wealth among the Pokot is determined by the
number of cows one owns. Cows are used for barter, and exchange, which
further goes into "bride wealth". A man is permitted to take more than
one wife, as long as he has enough cows to offer her family in exchange
for her hand in marriage. Their cattle are hardly ever slaughtered for
meat as they are far more valuable alive. The cattle also provide milk,
butter, and cheese which are an important part of the diet of the Pokot.
The
Pokot believe in Tororot being the supreme deity, and prayers and
libations are offered to him during a variety of tribal festivals and
dances that are overseen by the Pokot elders. The Pokot also have
diviners that are responsible for maintaining the spiritual balance of
the community. The Pokot are superstitious and believe in sorcery, and
call on various forms of protective talismans to ward off the ill will
of any sorcerers. The Pokot also revere other deities such as the sun,
moon and the spirit of death. |
