1.
Compare and contrast two communities you are familiar with guided by the
definition of culture as “an integrated system of meanings, believes and values borne
by society and transmitted between generations through socialization.
Rendile- (a group of Cushite)
i. Integrated system- this means that all components in the culture of the Rendile
are in relationship. non can do without the other. For example, in the case of the
rites of passage that is marriage and circumcision. they go hand in hand. You
cannot marry before getting circumcised. Wiping out of one component, leads to
distortion of the whole culture.
ii. Believes: The Rendile people have got their own believes that are different from
other communities. For example, at the sight of the new moon, a sub clan of the
Rendile; Rongumo, mix incense with milk and apply on their children. girls are
applied on the ears while boys are applied on the forehead. This is a sign of their
new beginning and a reborn in the new month. They also believe that if a person
dies, he/she should be buried before sunset and that is before 4pm. This is because
they do not want the deceased to set with the son.
They also believed in a supreme being “waqa”.
iii. Meanings: as in the case of all other communities, the Rendile culture also have
their own things with their special meaning. For example, when a girl is married,
she is given a special chain made of red and white beads and has got two pieces of
lion’s skins on each side. This is to signify that she is married and the bead is not
just a decoration as others would think. In the same case of marriage, a woman
passes a certain opening in their new house this is to signify that even if they
divorce, no other man will ever marry her.
iv. Values: there are certain values that are highly held by the Rendile culture.
Faithfulness among the spouses, despite the facts that some are polygamous.
Bravery is another value. This is seen in the initiates, they are circumcised
according to their forefathers with pain and they should not show any signs of
cowardice. Honesty is another value truly observed by the Rendile culture.
v. Borned by society- culture cannot be owed by an individual. It is collectively
owned by a society. An individual cannot start his/her own culture.
If one wrongs she/he is punished by the society through the elders. In times like
circumcision of the boys, it is celebrated communally. Everything is done
according to the society.
vi. Transmitted between generation through socialization . If you are not part of
the society then, you won’t learn the believes values and everything else. It is
through socialization that culture is passed from one generation to another. For
example, during circumcision, people move from their permanent homestead and
go to another place where all other clan members are gathered to carry out the
rite. This helps because not all families have elder people hence the few who are
still surviving will help conduct the ceremonies and teach the age set after them
how it should be done.
Kikuyu –Bantus
i. Integrated system
The Gikuyu culture is an organized system that maintains unity and a balance in
the society. This was very important because every unit in the society was
interrelated to the other hence could not be separated. a separation would cause
total distort to the whole unit.
ii. Believes
The Gikuyus believed in a supreme being (Ngai), who lives on Mount Kirinyaga.
The name ‘Ngai’ means ‘one creator God’ to whom they offer prayers and
sacrifices at designated places such us on top of hills, Mount Kirinyaga and under
specific trees. The sacrifices are conducted by members of the ruling ageset.
They also believed that ‘Ngai’ created the first man (Gikuyu) and woman
(Mumbi) to whom now the Gikuyu trace their origin.
iii. Meanings
The shield in the Gikuyu culture was used for dancing and not protection as it
may be the first thought that crosses a person if asked. this shield was called
‘ndome’.
iv. Values
The Gikuyu valued marriage and it was celebrated in traditional set up. This
ceremony was characterized by feasts, songs and merry-making called’ Ngurario’.
The elders and fathers of the bride and groom drank ‘Muratina’ together as they
negotiated for the bride and groom drank ‘ Muratina’ together as they negotiated
for the bride wealth which was in form of sheep, goats, and cattle.
v. Borned by society
The aspects of the Gikuyu culture are borned by the society and not individuals.
There cannot be personal ownership of culture.
vi. Transmitted between generations through socialization.
It is not transmitted through any other way but socialization. For example,
language, you cannot learn language without socializing or interacting with
people.
Cultural universals between the Gikuyu and Rendile.
Just like the Gikuyu, the Rendile also have these:
Family
Marriage also practiced
Incest taboo is also forbidden
Their children are named
There are kinship ties between people
Circumcision of both girls and boys.
Cultural change among the Gikuyu and Rendile.
Among the two communities there have been cultural change. for example, among the
Rendile, Female Genital Mutilation is slowly being eroded gradually.
Early marriages are also being swiped away by the waves of civilization.
