Describe the social organization of the Nandi in the 19th century.
Answer:
-The family was the basic social unit headed by a father.
- The Nandi had the age set where both boys and girls were initiated at puberty through circumcision.
- After circumcision the boys joined one age set among the eight age sets of the Nandi irrespective of their clan.
- The boys and girls were taught the values of the society and were now considered mature to marry and start families
- The young boys after initiation become junior warriors and later graduated to senior warriors called ‘SaketApeito’ or
slaughter of bullock. The ceremony was done after 15years
- Marriage was an important institution. It was polygamous and exogamous too.
- The Nandi were also religious, were monotheistic and worshipped one god ‘Asis’ through sacrifices. and offerings.
- They also believed in ancestral spirits who were mediators between them and their god. The spirits were appeased by pouring libation and sacrifices.
- They had specia1 people in the community like medicine people, diviners and rainmakers who performed different social function.
- Latter in the 19th century they borrowed the Maasai institution of Oloiboni and created the office of Orkoiyot who became the single religious leader of the Community
- The Nandi had the age set where both boys and girls were initiated at puberty through circumcision.
- After circumcision the boys joined one age set among the eight age sets of the Nandi irrespective of their clan.
- The boys and girls were taught the values of the society and were now considered mature to marry and start families
- The young boys after initiation become junior warriors and later graduated to senior warriors called ‘SaketApeito’ or
slaughter of bullock. The ceremony was done after 15years
- Marriage was an important institution. It was polygamous and exogamous too.
- The Nandi were also religious, were monotheistic and worshipped one god ‘Asis’ through sacrifices. and offerings.
- They also believed in ancestral spirits who were mediators between them and their god. The spirits were appeased by pouring libation and sacrifices.
- They had specia1 people in the community like medicine people, diviners and rainmakers who performed different social function.
- Latter in the 19th century they borrowed the Maasai institution of Oloiboni and created the office of Orkoiyot who became the single religious leader of the Community
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What impact did the southern Cushites have on other Kenyan communities? 
