SAMBURU KENYA

The Samburu are a Nilotic people of north-central Kenya. Samburu are

semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd mainly cattle but also keep sheep, goats and
camels. The name they use for themselves is Lokop or Loikop. They primarily
herd cattle but also keep other livestock such as goats, sheep, and camels.

They are closely related to their southern neighbours the Maasai, sharing the
common Maa language, but are semi-nomadic, wandering in remote, arid
areas for pastures. Like many East African pastoral tribes, they have a diet
that includes cow milk and blood.

The Samburu are renowned for their unique social structure and colourful
clothing, indeed the word Samburu means ‘butterfly’, which refers to their
many colourful adornments. Men wear black or pink robes in the style of a
Scottish kilt, along with headdresses, anklets, bracelets, necklaces. Women
have their head shaved and wear two blue or purple cloths – one around the
waist and one around their chest, adorning their bodies further with ochre,
similar to the Himba of Namibia.

Their social structure is known as a gerontocracy, a system where the

leaders are the eldest members of society. They make all the decisions and
have the final say in all matters.