September, 2013 marks the end of an important period for Samburu morans, or Samburu warriors. This is normally done through a traditional ceremony known as Lmuget Le Nkarna. Lmuget Le Nkarna is a ritual in the Samburu culture that comes once every seven years and marks the middle of the 15-year period after which a moran becomes an elder.
The Samburu assemble and live in a manyatta at that time refered to as lorora. A lorora is a clan manyatta, where members of the clan meet and settle for a short while, either for protection during times of tribal fighting, or to celebrate rites of passage for its members. This is a gathering of families to create a grand ceremonial village.
Since the role of the morans is crucial in this tribe, other young boys are prepared to be the morans of the community during the celebration. They provide security for the community and are always out on watch in case of any attacks by invaders to rustle cattle.
Hundreds of cattle are slaughtered during this ceremony, as every moran is supposed to slaughter a cow and a goat. The lorora can have more than 300 families, and most families have 2 to 3 morans each. So over 1000 cows are slaughtered during this moment of celebration, which takes a whole week to complete.
As these animals are slaughtered, every part of the body is designated for various groups in the community. For example women are meant to have the digestive parts, which includes the liver, kidneys, matumbo or bowels, and all the stomach parts; the elder men are provided with special steaks, like the ribs steak, the ram steak, and the head; the young uncircumcised boys are given the lower backbone, while the warriors and their girls will have the ribs, backbones, and the legs.
The girls are normally not allowed to attend the ceremony during the day. At night they will also have their meat, which has been kept for them safely in the bushes by the warriors. The warriors too must consume their meat in the same bushes since they are not allowed to consume anything at home until after next Lmuget, or graduation of elders. After this stage, and within a period of another five years, there will be another ceremony marking the passage to elders, and this is when this men will be officially allowed to eat food cooked by their wives and at home.
This celebration is amazing to many even amongst other tribes in Kenya, since it is unique and only practiced amongst the Samburu and the Maasai communities. The Samburu are a strong culture in Kenya. They are thriving in a world that pushes many indigenous people towards unwanted change. In an unquestioned celebration of bravery, the morans are passing through a vital graduation ceremony that shows they are rising up in their community to be recognized as men in the society.
Story by Emily Lerosion
Photos by Emily Lerosion and Dawn Kane.
