The Sapling

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.

Sip slowly... The Sapling returns for a second season starting this week with Coffee! Coffee’s past is as rich as its aroma, deeply Ethiopian, culturally sacred, and undeniably scandalous. In Ethiopia, coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s a ritual of connection. The bunna ceremony, with its slow roasting, careful brewing, and communal sharing, is a cornerstone of hospitality and identity. But once those magical beans left Ethiopia’s highlands, the world turned them into a commodity wrapped in intrigue. Yemen tried to lock down the trade by forbidding fertile beans from leaving the country, only to have smugglers sneak them out sewn into clothing. European elites whispered that coffeehouses were breeding grounds for rebellion, prompting rulers to ban the drink for being “too stimulating” for the masses. From sacred Ethiopian tradition to global obsession fueled by espionage and attempted bans, coffee has always been a brew with a bold cultural heartbeat and a deliciously scandalous past.

This Week on The Sapling, join host Dr. Jelagat Cheruiyot, Senior Professor of Practice at Tulane University, as she gets down and dirty with dung beetles. Dr. Cheruiyot will discuss her interactions with the dung beetles and lessons beyond entomology. Beetles, a member of the insect order Coleoptera a will teach you the lessons you want to learn and those that you do not. Beetles come in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes, are among the best decomposers, and the reason why herbivores are not buried in their own dung!

This Week on The Sapling join host Dr. Jelagat Cheruiyot, Senior Professor of Practice at Tulane University, as she introduces listeners to one of Kenya's integral tribal brews, Busaa. This episode explores the beverage's production, cultural significance, and controversies, as well as some of Jelagat's earliest days as a budding scientist. 

This Week on The Sapling join host Dr. Jelagat Cheruiyot, Senior Professor of Practice at Tulane University, as she explores the fascinating world of termites—an insect with profound ecological and economic significance. This episode takes a closer look at the cultural role of termites as food among the Kalenjin people of Kenya, Dr. Cheruiyot’s own tribe, and draws connections to her current home in Louisiana, USA. Plus, enjoy a brief interview with a family friend who shares a bit about his personal adventures with termites.  

This week on The Sapling we will discuss Ugali and Maize, a dish and a plant that are integral to the Kenyan community. In fact, Maize is so important in Kenya that the promise to increase Maize supplies and Maize prices are one of the core topics in the presidential elections. The presentation of Ugali, a dish made from the crop can even make or break a romantic relationship.  

This week on The Sapling, meet host Dr. Jelagat Cheruiyot, a Senior Professor of Practice at Tulane University, and dive into the world of honey and honey harvesting with a focus on the Kalenjin people of Kenya, Jelagat’s own tribe. Additionally, the episode includes a brief interview with a honey hunter/family friend.