Social Organization of the Ogiek Community up to 1900
Ogiek are southern Nilotic speakers.
Most of them live in the county of Nakuru, Mau and mt Elgon forests.
Family was the basic unit among the Ogiek community.
The lineage was responsible for enforcing traditional law and order.
Father was head of the family.
The Ogiek were polygamous.
There was division of labour among the ogiek community.
Men provide for the family needs, provide leadership and security.
Women worked in homestead, bear children and do household chores.
Children helped with household chores, cultivating in farms and artisanship.
The Ogiek were a patriarchal society- men owned property and passed it to their sons.
The ogiek believed in one Supreme Being called Tororet who they offered prayers and sacrifices to.
They believed also in the existence of ancestral spirits called Oiik.
They had diviners who could foretell the future using supernatural powers.
Both boys and girls were initiated.
Boys' ceremony was called tumdo op went
Girls' ceremony was called tumbo op tiipik
Initiated boys of the same age group sets were known as ipinda
The Ogiek used plants and herbs from forest for treating diseases
Social Organization of the Zulu Community up to 1900
Zulu are Nguni people, Bantu speaking in south Africa.
They occupy KwaZulu natal province in South Africa. In the Ngumi languages izulu means heaven or weather
The Zulu clans referred to as the isizwe
The Zulu society was organized into patrilineal sibs. The sibs were further divided into lineages which were composed of descendants of a common ancestor
Most households comprised extended families who lived in one household called kraal
Men inherited everything. Inheritance was patrilineal
The zulu people were polygamous. Men married many wives and lived with them with the extended family in the kraal.
Men paid dowry in terms of cows and gifts during the weeding day umabo
The zulu community believed in Umhlanga or Reeds dance ceremony
Beadwork was a prominent attire that worn at the Umahlanga
Beadworks was a sign of communication
It also symbolized wealth status of a person
Zulu believed in one God called unkulunkulu
The controlled day to day human life of the Zulu community
The Zulu had traditional medicine men who treated the sick.
Social organisation of the Asante community up to 1900
Asante are Akan speaking people
They live in the central part of the Modern-day Ghana. They are organized into clans which is headed by a chief
Each clan speaks its own dialect of the Aken Language
They believe in one supreme creator called Nyame.
Ancestors were believed to connect people to Nyame
Asante empire leader was called Asantehene.
He also acted as a spiritual leader
Omamhene and chiefs were all religious leaders who presided over religious ceremonies.
Golden stool was the symbol of national unity in the Asante empire.
It symbolized ones and authority from the Asantehene.
It was based in Kumasi, the capital of Asante empire
Odwira Festival was an annual ceremony
They believed in the spirits of the departed rulers
Asante were socially stratified into 5 main divisions
1st Division- king and those close to the king
Lived in the capital of Kumasi
Were wealthy and lived in luxury
2nd Division- consisted of the chiefs and top officials who assisted the king in enforcing law and order
3rd Division- those who had acquired a lot of wealth hence respect in the society
Comparing the social organisation of the Ogiek, Zulu, and Asante community up to 1900
Student Activity
Aspect of social organisation | The Ogiek | The Zulu | The Asante |
Marriage | Polygamous | Polygamous | |
Initiation ceremony | |||
Social gender roles | |||
Art and clothing | |||
Family set up | |||
Name of their God | Tororet | believed in one God called uNkulunkulu | supreme creator called Nyame |
Inheritance | The ogiek were a patriarchal society- men owned property and passed it to their sons | Men inherited everything. Inheritance was patrilineal | |
Circumcision | Both boys and girls were initiated |
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