SOCIAL FACTORS FOR THE RABAI PEOPLE PRESENTATION.pdf

A case study on social factors

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SITE DOCUMENTATION AND
ANALYSIS
SOCIAL FACTORS OFTHE RABAI
COMMUNITY

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SITE DOCUMENTATION - SOCIAL FACTORS
-The Rabai people, originally know as 'Aravai',
are one of the sub-groups of the larger
Mijikenda tribe, who occupy a part of the
Kenyan coast north west of Mombasa.
Who are the Rabai?
.According to oral tradition, they came from a mythical territory known as 'Singwaya'.They
then settled on a hilltop which was fortified by very dense vegetation (these settlements
were known as Kayas)The Rabai's original language is Kirabai.
Kaya
Settlements
Introduction
Routes believed to have been used according to
oral traditions.
Some say they accesed the hinterland via the
coastal strip while others insist that hinterland
routes were the initial ones.
Mombasa
Island

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-The people had rich cultural practices which revolved around kinship ties, which was
central to their social structure.There were families and clans which made up the community
and played a significant role in interactions, inheritance and marital relations.
-The group had its own unique customs, practices and dialects which had similiraties to the
other Mijikenda subgroups.
MIJIKENDA
Chonyi
Kambe
RABAI
Kauma
Duruma
DigoJibana
Ribe
Giriama
ClansCommunities Lineage
A diagram representing the flow of the Rabai social structure
What was their social structure like?
Family
(Kaya) (Kambi) (Mudzi) (Nyumba)
Basic roles and responsibilities
Every member of the community had their own roles and responsibilities which ultimately
contributed to the success of the larger community.
Men-were the providers.They went farming and tapped the wine from palm trees.They
also went hunting and gathering once in a while to suppliment their vastly plant-based diets.

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-Being a patriachal society, the eldest man within the clan (Kambi) took up the role of
leading the Kambi as the chief( mzee mkubwa).He maintained stability within the Kambi and
led clan rituals.
-The community then had a council of elders (Funga) whose role was to guide in decision
making and maintaining socal order.They also led community rituals and prayers.
-The council was made up only of men
who were considered to be of upright
character ,established family status
and tittle holders.
Women-stayed home and took care of the younger children and homestead (which included
cleaning, maintainance, cooking and building new huts whenever needed)
Children- depending on their ages, they were allocated roles like fetching water, feeding
and herding the cattle and grinding the grains as part of grooming for their adult roles.
Other roles and responsibilities

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-The clans, being an integral part of the community, were known for different attributes
which were highly considered during allocation of roles.The main clans were:
Mwamkala- were known for their leadership roles and were often delegated significant
authoritative positions in the community.
Mwamzandi- were associated with the spiritual realms and were thus allocated the spiritual
and religious duties , including the maintainance of the sacred sites.
Mwamkenga- renowned for their skills in agriculture, livestock rearing and craftsmanship in
works such as wood carving ,weaving and beadwork.
Mwamkala- were known for their patience and 'innocent' spirits.They were therefore often
involved in conflict resolution and peace keeping within the community.
Did the clans have a role to play?
NOTE:
Being from a certain clan did not guarantee these roles, it was just a vast belief among the
people and was taken into serious consideration.

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-The typical Rabai homestead had a standard arrangement with each structure playing a
unifying role to the Kaya.
-They lived in traditional
communal set ups known as
Kayas which comprised of
many individual residences or
homesteads.
How did they live?

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-At the middle of the compound was the mid house
which accomodated the chief, mzee
mkubwa.Around the homestead were the huts
belonging to the wives. As the boys become youth,
they would also move from their mothers' huts and
moved closer to the center of the homestead.
-It started with the Koma, which was a small structure built to act as the prayer area.It held
the sticks from the graveyards which represented the ancestors' protection of the
homestead.It was located closest to the homestead entrance.

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-The homestead structures were built using flexible sticks and palm fronds.These materials were sustainable
and readily available but could not hold up large span construction.
-For security, the
whole homestead was
fenced using a thorn
tree fence which was
called Ukigo.It left
two entrances for
access.
The girls were married off at a certain age and went on to start families as the community grew.
Considering the rich
social ties within the
community, the indoors
mainly accomodated them
for night time.
-The children were
accomodated in their
mothers' houses and boys
eventually moved out as
they approached puberty
just after initiation.

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-The Rabai people originally led an agrarian
lifestyle, keeping cattle and growing mainly
maize,rice,beans and coconut trees.
What did they do for a living?
palm fronds (makuti) were used in
thatching, making mats, baskets etc.
coconuts were consumed as fruit and also ground to
extract coconut milk( tui) and coconut oil (naazhi) .
Palm wine( udzhi) was tapped from the overgrown
coconuts after fermentation.It was a local drink
mainly consumed by men.

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-The Rabai people believed in one supreme
being whom they called Mulungu.He was
responsible for their good fortune, provisions
and protection.The ancestral spirits acted as
the middle men between them and this god.
Did they have any religious beliefs?
- They relied on the harvests not only for food but also economically as they engaged in
barter trade amongst themselves and also with neighbouring Kayas ,with grains and palm
wine being the mainstay.Within the community,the harvests were also shared and used to
take care of the orphans, widows and poor.
Rice grains Bean grains Maize
They also believed in the existence of evil spirits and a dark world who were
responsible for all the misfortunes that came to them.

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-Altars were also placed in individual homesteads to signify the presence of the gods and
their protection within the homestead.
They also believed in life after death and paid their respects to their ancestors by making
offerings, pouring libations etc.
Rituals and festivals were held to appease theanscestors and avoid their wrath.These
rituals also accomodated the supplications of the community to the god.They included
requests for good rains, good harvests ,protection against evil spirits and even to give
thanks for the community.

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Did they have a social life? Any social ties?
-It wasn't always about responsibility and roles, there
was still time for fun and games among the people.
-They had their own
music, dance, games
and festivals that they participated in.These activities
played a huge part in the social interactions and ties within
the community.
Just like any other human being, they also needed to
unwind and take time from their work.

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Some dances were perfomed just for fun while others were specific to certain
ceremonies( like weddings,funerals) and rituals.
The Rabai had ceremonies and festivals like:
Chenda Chenda- ussually happened during the ninth month.It was a celebration of
the culture and heritage of the people.It acknowledged the contribution of every single
member of the community.
Kuhaswa-mostly held during the ninth month(Nyoha) when the harvests were
bountiful.This ceremony was typically a wedding but involved many couples and
prayers to the ancestors for the new unions.
Kuhenza- was a celebration of love both among the
people and their gods.It was marked by sacrifices
to the ancestors.

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There was an aspect of pouring ashes all
around the huts and homestead (Kumwaga
Urunzi) to keep the evil spirits away.This
ritual also signified their readiness for new
beginnings.
Mwaka Muphya wa Chiraphai- happened during the tenth month (Nzula), which was
regarded to be the last month in the Rabai calender, right after the harvest of the long
rains.It was a celebration of the incoming new year and new begginings.
-The Rabai had their own calender which they followed by calculating the months mainly
based on the appearance of the moon and the agricultural seasons.

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Were there any values that held together the community?
There were rules, taboos and values that held together the society and helped maintain a
balance.
Rabai traditional values were based on three main aspects:
Kufaana (Reciprocacy) - it emphasized mutual aid and support within the community.This
value highlighted the fact that relationships were to be two way and each party had to
contribute to the success of the relationship.
Soyosoyo (Equilibrium) - focused on the balance between man and nature.It highlighted
the fact that one had to take of the environment he was in in order for it to be of use to
him.It also focused on the use of only what one needed as opposed to taking in excess
which was viewed as greed.
Umwenga (Solidarity)- this value promoted unity and collective action amongst the
community members.It also advocated for the pooling of available resources to ensure every
member had the needed provisions.

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Are there any contrasts between then and now? Any challenges?
Time comes with inevitable changes, and just like every other community, there have been
many changes that have occured among the Rabai people.
*Political structures*
Older men used to be in authority.They
had a say over the younger men and
women.
Women and young men were therefore not
allowed into the council.
The council of elders ruled and made
decisions on behalf of the
community,based on laws and rules.
These decisions were considered final.
Given the coming of a formal government
rule, the council of elders has been
undertuned and can only decide on minor
matters.
Their decisions are also not considered
final, As one can appeal via judicial
systems
Pressures of gender equality have made it
possible for women to join the council of
elders and have a say on any decisions
that are made thereof.
TRADITIONALISM MODERN ISM
Before initiation into the council or tittle
ranks, there used to be requirements to be
met.These partained to age, moral
standing, social and family status
The value of the ranks and tittles has
significantly decreased, and has ended up
being monetary.If you can pay for it, you
have it.
'Money Talks'

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*Cultural and Religious Practices*
Some proffesions like being
magicians(fingo), healers, seers and
fortune tellers(wapiga ramli) were believed
to be prestigious and sacred, a gift from
the ancestors and gods.
Rabai people believed in life after death
and in a supreme being.They made
offerings and poured libations to appease
ancestral spirits.
Christianity has become the vast religion
with people abandoning the traditionalist
beliefs and picking up the christian ways of
living.
A part of the population also practise the
Islam teachings.
Proffesions and practices like these have
been abandoned and shunned to some
extents as they contradict the current
religious ways and teachings.
TRADITIONALISM MODERN ISM
There were specific places of worship
where only choice people could access as
they were consirdered sacred.
Current religious ideals have brought the
idea of a supreme being who is
omnipresent and doesn't have a specific
dwelling place.

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*Language and Education*
Kirabai was original
Kirabai was the predominant language
spoken by the people.
Education was informal (oral,
apprenticeship and learning by practise).
Oral descriptions were most relied on
when it came to documentation.
Swahili and English have become widely
spoken languages among the people with
the spread of formal education.
Methods of documentation have also
become formal in terms of writing and
taking of photographs etc.
Kirabai has evolved with the coming of new
vocabularies and the intermarriage of
original words with words from the other
languages.
TRADITIONALISM MODERN ISM
The type of education and available roles
within the community provided knowledge
for opportunities by then, eg weaving,
beadworks, craftsmen,medicine men.
Formal education opened up more
possibilities and has seen more people
move on into other formal proffesions.

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With time comes change and change,being inevitable, comes with its advantages and
disadvatages.However, with varying of opinions, what one sees to be an advantage might
not be so to the next person.
There has been a serious split among the community members with the traditionalists
wanting to hold on to the original ways as passed on to them while there are modernists who
are open to embracing change in every aspect of the Rabai community's social practices.

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As prepared by:
KIRUI CHEPKORIR FAITH
DERICK MURIITHI MAINA
ARNOLD MUSAU MWENDWA
MOKORA OBED YARAMA
MARK KIPKIRUI BETT
VIVIAN NAYIANOI OLOLCHOKI
KIRINGO ANN PENINAH
KELVIN WAWERU MWANGI