S2 E2 - Clans and Totems!

So you want to get married? Be sure to start with: Oret ngwong ko ne? ang tionto? Olinyo ko Soti, asista na ngwan.   Beyond the family unit, the Keiyo people among the Kalenjin tribe, are organized into clans, known as oret, each often linked to a totem which is often an animal or natural symbol that represents the lineage. These totems serve as identity markers, carry taboos such as prohibitions against harming or eating the totem animal, and guide marriage rules by ensuring individuals do not marry within their own clan or closely related clans. Because clans are strictly exogamous, elders play a key role during marriage negotiations by confirming the clans and totems of both families to ensure the union is acceptable.