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The diffusion of age-group organization in East Africa: a reconsideration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

J. J. de Wolf
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Extract

In 1962 LeVine and Sangree attempted to answer the question of why some Bantu-speaking peoples in Kenya and Tanzania had adopted the age-group organization and associated rituals of their non-Bantu neighbours, while other Bantu peoples in the same region had not. They examined the Tiriki, who adopted the age-set system of the Kalenjin-speaking Terik, and the Gusii, who are also Bantu and who were also in close contact with the Kalenjin-speaking Kipsigis, but who did not borrow their age-group organization . The authors suppose that the age-group organization of the Kalenjin and Maasai had military functions and that their Bantu neighbours whom they attacked and defeated may have decided to copy this institution, because they would have attributed Kalenjin and Maasai success in warfare to it (LeVine and Sangree 1962:97-8).

Résumé

La Diffusion de l'organisation en classes d'âge en Afrique Orientale: une remise en questión

En 1962, LeVine et Sangree émirent l'hypothèse que ceux des groupes Bantou qui ne jouissaient pas d'une supériorité manifeste en termes d'importance numérique, de capacité de défense ou d'alliés puissants, et qui ne possédaient pas de classes d'âge, avaient tendance à emprunter l'organisation en classes d'âge des Kalenjin ou des Maasai en vue d'améliorer leur potentiel militaire. A l'appui de cette hypothèse, ils ont étudié le cas des Gusii, qui n'ont pas adopté le système de classes d'âge Kalenjin, et celui des Tiriki qui l'ont adopté. D'après les nouvelles données que l'on possède sur l'histoire des Gusii, il semble peu probable que ceux-ci aient vraiement profité des avantages que leur attribuent LeVine et Sangree. En outre, le lien entre l'organisation en classes d'âge et les fonctions militaires n'est pas universel, comme le montrent l'exemple des Sebei Kalenjin et des Bukusu Bantou. Il est suggéré que les Tiriki et les Bukusu qui sont les seules tribus Luyia à avoir adoptè le système de classes d'âge des Kalenjin le firent à l'instigation de leurs voisins Kalenjin. Ils acceptent d'accueillir les réfugiés et les migrants Luyia à condition qu'ils soient initiés au système de classes d'âge des Kalenjin.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 50 , Issue 3 , July 1980 , pp. 305 - 310
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1980

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