The Transformation of the Religious thought of the Pokot of Northwestern Kenya, c.1800–1900

Historical studies have indicated that African religions, in the pre-colonial period, were dynamic and multilayered with long histories of contradictions, contestations, and synthesis. Using the Pokot of north-western Kenya as a case in point, this contribution attempts to demonstrate the fluidity t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shiyuka, Karani (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2022
In: Journal of religion in Africa
Year: 2022, Volume: 52, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 475-500
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Kenya (Nordwest) / Suk (People) / Karamojong / Interfaith dialogue / Syncretism / Cultural appropriation / History 1800-1900
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AX Inter-religious relations
BB Indigenous religions
BS Traditional African religions
KBN Sub-Saharan Africa
TJ Modern history
Further subjects:B Asis
B Agency
B Religion
B Karimojong
B Pokot
B Tororot
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Description
Summary:Historical studies have indicated that African religions, in the pre-colonial period, were dynamic and multilayered with long histories of contradictions, contestations, and synthesis. Using the Pokot of north-western Kenya as a case in point, this contribution attempts to demonstrate the fluidity that was inherent in African religions. The Pokot originally were an agro-pastoral group inhabiting the Cherang’any and the Sekerr ranges. During the first half of the nineteenth century, a section of them descended the hills to pursue pastoralism. In their pastoral excursions, they came into contact with Plain Nilotes, especially the Karimojong. What followed was cross-cultural bartering of religious artefacts, both ideological and material, in which process the Pokot adopted selected religious aspects from the Karimojong and fused them with their previous beliefs to formulate syncretism. This contribution not only highlights the religious concepts that were fused but, also, attempts to explain the process of fusion itself.
ISSN:1570-0666
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion in Africa
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700666-12340239