ceremony

ɛn-áíkútí n. Cut of meat eaten by a group of women together. ɛnáíkútí oelíékì entíto (-K) ɛnáíkútí with which the girl [who is being engaged] will be smeared. Kɛ́nyá oshî inkítùààk ɛnáíkútí Women eat ɛnáíkútí.

ɔl-ámál Nom sg: ɔl-amál. Acc pl: ɨl-amalá. Nom pl: ɨl-ámàlà. n. Ceremonial group. Képuonú táatá ɨlámàlà pɔ́ɔ́kɨ áàshʉ̀là. All the ceremonial grouping will get together today. LING: W lacks a plural form that takes ɨl-. However, in W the apparent singular form controls the suppletive plural form of 'go': Képuonú táatá ɔlamál pɔ́ɔ́kɨ áàshʉ̀là. All the ceremonial grouping will get together today. (W -K). Epuɨ́tà ɔlamál. The ceremonial group(s) is/are going. (W).

ɛnk-áŋ ɛ kʉ́lɛ n. Milk ceremony; an initiation ceremony which follows the e-únótó ceremony by a few months. Prior to this, a warrior must eat together with other warriors and may not even drink outside of the camp if women are present. Only following the ɛnk-áŋ ɛ-kʉ́lɛ ceremony may the man eat in the presence of his female lover or wife (and at first he may feel shameful doing so). This ceremony happens perhaps one week to one month before ɛnk-áŋ oó nkírír. This ceremony requires the entire age set to shave their red-ochre-stained hair. It is a mother's role to shave her own graduating son. See: a-ók kʉlɛ́ ‘Milk drinking ceremony’; e-únótó ‘Installation home for warriors’; ɛnk-áŋ oó nkírí ‘Meat ceremoney’.

ɛnk-áŋ oó nkírí n. Meat ceremony, which allows warriors to eat by themselves meat that has been prepared by women of a selected homestead near the meat-camp; the particular women (likely women who only have sons and whose homes are not marked by conflict) are selected by elders. This ceremony may happen one week to about one month after ɛnk-áŋ ɛ kʉ́lɛ. Kórè inkitúààk ɔɔ́ nkáŋítìè náàtà típàt náà nɨncɛ́ egelúni peê éyíér inkírí tɛ̀ nkáŋ óò nkírí. Women from homes with values are the ones that are selected to cook meat at the meat-ceremony home. A specially chosen bull is slaughtered for this ceremony. Wives (from the nearby homestead) must prove to their husbands (junior elders) that they have not engaged in any illegitimate affairs with men of the younger warrior age-set. Whether this has occurred will be revealed by participating in the bull's skin ritual. Men wrestle among themselves to get near the bull's skin, to see if their wives have been unfaithful to their own (junior elder) age set. (If a woman is guilty, she will be disrespected by the whole age set. To regain respect she must obtain a cow for her husband from her relatives.) By the end of the meat ceremony, both men and women fight against one another for the specially roasted meat. See: ɛnk-áŋ ɛ kʉ́lɛ ‘Milk ceremoney’; e-únótó ‘Installation home for warriors’.

ɛnk-apʉtɨ́ Nom sg: ɛnk-apʉ́tɨ̀. Acc pl: ɨnk-aápʉ̀tɨ̀. Nom pl: ɨnk-aapʉtí. n. 1 • Marriage negotiations; the establishment of a relationship between in-laws. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ŋolé ɔlpáyìàn ɛnkapʉtɨ́ éntító ɛnyɛ́. The man went for the marriage negotiations of his daughter. ɛnkapʉtɨ́ includes the contact between the two people who are going to marry, between the families, and the formal instructions by parents and parents' friends to the people who are going to marry. The primary focus in the negotiations is on the man; typically women do not come to negotiation meetings until the final stages.

2 • Relative by marriage.

3 • [South] Relative (any). LING: The masculine counterpart does not exist for this word.

in-kíshú ɛ́ nkapʉtɨ́ Cattle for marriage negotiations.

ol-ásàr(r) Nom sg: ɔl-ásâr(r). Acc pl: ɨl-ásàrrì. Nom pl: ɨl-ásárrì. n. Sacrifice; offering to a deity. Eitáíkia apá Abraham ɛnkáí ɔlásàr. Abraham made a sacrifice for God. For a study of sacrifices in Maasai society, see Priest (19**).

a-itayú ɔl-ásàr To give up something of great value, e.g. devoting oneself to doing something extraordinary. aitayú ɔlásàr arét ɨlaɨsɨnák To devote oneself to helping the poor.

ol-átím Acc pl: ɨ́l-átímî. n. 1 • Twigs placed at the entrance of the house where newly-initiated boys and/or girls live. Usage: plural.

2 • Ceremony. Memítoyi ndáâ ɛ́ látím. Food in a ceremony cannot be denied. (SN). See: n-koperrerrí [North] ‘Twigs placed at the entrance of the house where newly-initiated boys and/or girls live’.

a-bárn v.prog. 1 • To shave sth. or s.o. Ɛgɨ́rà áàbàrn ɛnkayíónì ɛlʉ́kʉ́nyá. The boy is having his head shaved. (Pk). Órè peê kɨbarnʉ́ ɨlpápɨ́t ló lmelíl, níkiduŋúdùŋ. When we shave hair from the neck, we shall cut it into pieces. Ábárníé olmúnyéí ɔlmʉrʉ́nyà. I use a razor to shave the beard. Ábárnishoré ɔlmʉrʉ́nyà. I use a razor for shaving. abarnishoré entalóíshì è kishómì to shave at one side of the gate of the kraal. Ɛgɨ́rá áàbàrnò ilmúnyùò. They are shaving each other's beards. Ɛbárnà. He is shaven. / He will shave himself. Ɛbárnò. He is shaven. / He will shave himself. (W). Ɛ́bárn kɛwɔ́n. He will shave himself. (W). Maasai men do not traditionally shave themselves. The kɛwɔ́n form is appropriately used to express the unusual reflexive situation, rather than the middle form. In Samburu, mothers will shave themselves and their children, though children can go to someone else's mother to get shaved. Men are shaved by their own wife (wives?). A week after a birth, the mother and her midwives will be shaved. If warriors are ever shaved, they will shave each other, though only in great mourning, after all the rest of the family has been shaved. (Warriors mourn about the shaving of their hair, which they have taken all their time to make, about their lifestyle that will have to change, and their friends that they have to part with.). abárn ɨntaré To shave sheep.

2 • To give a [person a] name in the em-barnoi ceremony. LING: The Middle and Perfect(ive)/Subjunctive are somewhat irregular for some speakers, using -ɔ or -o, instead of -a. Mol says this verb is "irregular in its past tense and imperative suffix -o.".

a-barnɨshɔ́ To shave, do shaving. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛntásât abarnɨshɔ́. The old woman is shaving. Étéjó entitó kéyoókì abarnishoyú. The girl said she shall be good at shaving (some day).

a-barnʉ́(n) To shave (off?). Ɛgɨ́raɨ áàbàrnʉ̀ ɨlpápɨ́t lɔɔ́nkɔnyɛ́k. She is having her eyebrows shaved.

a-barnaá To shave off; to shave several people in succession. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛntásât abarnaá ɨnkɛ́rà. The old woman is shaving children in succession.

a-barnoó To shave off; to shave several people in succession. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛntásât abarnoó ɨnkɛ́rà. The old woman is shaving children in succession. (Pk). LING: This is irregular taking suffix -oo (instead of -aa; cf. Mol 1996). See: a-rɔ́ny ‘To shave’.

ɔl-barnɛ́t Nom sg: ɔl-bárnɛ̀t. Acc pl: ɨl-barnɛ́tà. Nom pl: ɨl-bárnɛ̀tà. n. 1 • Lamb slaughtered for shaving ceremony. Eteyiaŋákɨ̀ ɔlbarnɛ́t tɛndá âŋ The lamb for the shaving ceremony has been slaughtered at that home.

2 • A goat or sheep slaughtered in child's naming ceremony. A shaving ceremony is performed when a child of about two is given a new name, and again about a month prior to circumcision. These are performed for both boys and girls.

ɛm-barnɛ́t Shaving instrument. See: l-kérr lɛ́ m-bárnótò [North] ‘Lamb for shaving ceremony’; a-bárn ‘To shave’.

ɛm-barnisho n. Shaving ceremony.

ɛm-bárnò n. 1 • [South] Ceremony where warriors are shaved to graduate them to adulthood.

2 • Shaving. See: ɛm-barnisho ‘Shaving ceremony’.

ɛm-barnoi n. Coming of age ceremony in which a person is named and ceremonially shaved. See: a-bárn ‘To shave’.

lɛ-bártá n. Slow haunting circumcision song, sung by boys about to be initiated. This is thought to be a form of "collective inducement", and to give encouragement to the initiates to withstand pain. See: ɔl-áɨ́bártànì ‘Shaved initiate’.

l-búután [North] n. [North] Ceremony held about four days after the birth of a child (or up to several months or definitely before the child is circumcised ) when an ox or sheep is slaughtered outside the mother's house. Prior to this ceremony, the father does not go near his wife's house.

en-córríbá Nom sg: en-corribá. Acc pl: in-corríbàn. Nom pl: in-córribán. [West] Acc sg: en-córúbá. n. 1 • Skin dress to put on when it is raining to prevent oneself from being rained on. Eishopítò ɔltásât encórríbá ɛnyɛ́ peê mɛ́sháɨ́kɨ̀. The old man is wearing his skin dress so that he could not be rained on.

2 • Ceremonial skin dress. Eishopítò ɔltásât encórríbá ɛnyɛ́ amʉ̂ ɛ́tʉ́mʉ́rátá ɔlayíónì. The old man is wearing his ceremonial skin dress because his son has been circumcised. This skin is mainly worn by elders when presiding over a ceremony such as circumcision of an elder's children. See: ɛn-kɨlâ ‘Cloth’; ɛn-kɨlâ ɔɔ dɛɛrɨ ‘Ceremonial skin of colobus monkey’.

a-ɛ́n Variant: a-yɛ́n. v. 1 • To tie, bind, fasten. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛnkáyíóní aɛ́n ɨnamʉ́kà. The boy is tying his shoes. (Pk). Tɛ́ɛ̀nà enetuduŋó ɛnkalɛ́m méítokí awó. Put a bandage on the area that the knife has cut so that it won't keep on bleeding. (Pk). Tɛ́ɛ̀nà ɛnkisunkúu ɛ́ nkɨlâ. Button your shirt. (Pk). Tɛ́ɛ̀nà ɔlkáráshá médoyio. Tie your sheet (shuka) so that it does not fall. (Pk). Tɛ́ɛ̀nà ɔláshê peê méló. Tether the calf so that it does not go. (Pk). Ɨncɔɔ́kɨ̀ ɛnkɛɛnɛ́ náéníé ɛlɛ̂ áshê. Give me a strap for tying this calf. (Pk).

2 • To protect with charms or magic, in order to ward off evil from persons, animals, or objects; be ritually or cremonially tied against disease or bad luck. Protection with a charm is done by special people, e.g. of a certain clan, though it need not be il-oibonok. Ɛɛnɨ́ inkíshú. The cows are ritually tied (against disease or ill-luck). [This is done to make the bulls docile, when the long rains come and they are well fed.]. Tɛ́ɛ̀nà intaré naáɨ́mɨnâ peê mɛ́nyá ilowuarák. Invoke a charm to protect the flock that is lost so that the wild beasts won't eat them. (Pk). aɛná peê mémúóyù to be tied ritually against diseases (Pk). Ɛshɔmɔ́ dúóó entúáà nɛ́yà ɔɛnɛ́t mɛtɛ́ɛ̀nɨ̀. The pregnant woman went with the fee to have herself charmed. (Pk). ɔltʉŋánì ɔɛ́nɨshɔ a person who is tied against disease/bad luck.

3 • To plait. aɛ́n ɨlpápɨ́t to plait hair (Pk).

4 • To arrest; seize and detain someone by legal authority. Ɛtɛɛnákɨ̀ olpúrríshóí. The thief was arrested.

a-ɛná v.mid. To be tied, bound. Áɛ́nà tɛ̀ ɔlmʉ́màì. I am tied by oath.

a-ɛnaá To tie away.

a-ɛnarɛ́ To be fastened with, tied with; tied down (to). aɛnarɛ́ ɛnkɛɛnɛ́ to be fastened with a leather strap (Pk). aɛnarɛ́ ɛncaní to be tied down to a tree (Pk).

a-ɛ́n emotí To perform ceremony of tying the drinking pot soon after circumcision (lit: To tie the pot). See: a-lɨ́d ‘To tie’.

a-ipók v. 1 • To cleanse ritually, purify. Kéípòk inkítùààk ɛnkají natoíshòrè enkítòk peê étûm ɨlpáyianí áàtɨ̀jɨ̀ŋ. Women ritually clean a house used for delivering [a baby] by a woman so that men could get in. Éípòk. He will cleanse ritually. Áípòk. He will cleanse ritually. (W).

2 • [North] To paint a calabash or hide with charcoal to make it look black.

a-ipók n-kají To ritually cleanse the house.

a-ipók nk-ɔ́shɛ̀kɛ̀ To nurture a sick person by giving specialized foods.

enk-ítúpúkúnotó Nom sg: enk-itupukúnotú. n. The ritual of bringing a boy or girl out of the house, usually several weeks prior to circumcision. This is a sign of preparation for adulthood. See: a-itupukú ‘To bring out of the house’.

l-kalɛ́ [North] n. [North] Shaving of the head of a newly-married person, to start the new stage. See: a-bárn ‘To shave’.

ɔl-káríá Nom sg: ɔl-karíá. Acc pl: ɨl-káríân. Nom pl: ɨl-karíân. n. Ochre; red ochre. This is mixed with fat and put in the hair of warriors for coloring, smearned on the oranments of those involved in ceremonies, or applied to the whole body. Éyélíé ɔlmʉrraní ɔltaiká lɛnyɛ́ ɔlkáríá. The warrior has smeared his hair with the red ochre. (Pk). See: e-rékò ‘Red ochre’.

l-kérr lɛ́ m-bárnótò [North] n. [North] Lamb for shaving ceremony. See: ɔl-barnɛ́t ‘Lamb for shaving ceremony’.

ol-kérr loo nkʉjɨt n. The name given to a ram which is slaughtered before the birth of a child. See: ol-kípokêt ‘Birth sheep’; ol-kérr lélàtà ‘Ram for fat’.

en-kiamá Nom sg: en-kíamá. n. 1 • Ceremony or act of getting married; wedding. Kɨ́shɔmɔ̂ ŋolé enkiamá ɔ́ lpayíán ɔyamá enkitók. We attended a wedding yesterday of a man who married a woman. (Pk).

2 • The union of a man and woman in which they are husband and wife; marriage relationship. Áísídáí enkíamá ɔ́ɔ̀ tíwúó áinéí. My parents' marriage is a good one. (Pk). LING: Mutahi 1991:201-203 suggests that ol-kiama 'council' (PL il-kiaman) is a borrowing from Kikuyu. See: a-yám ‘To marry’.

en-kígérúnotó ɔɔ́ inkíyìàà Nom sg: en-kigerúnotó ɔ́ɔ̀ inkíyìàà. Acc pl: in-kigerunót ɔɔ́ inkíyìàà. Nom pl: in-kígerunót ɔ́ɔ̀ inkíyìàà. n. Minor ceremony for boys and girls in which their earlobes are cut. See: a-igér ‘To brand designs’; en-kíòòk ‘Ear’.

ɛn-kɨlâ ɔɔ́ ndéérrî n.prop. Special ceremonial skin rob made from colobus monkey hide.

ɛn-kɨ́páátá Nom sg: ɛn-kɨpaatá. Acc pl: ɨn-kɨpaát. Nom pl: ɨn-kɨ́pààt. n. 1 • Dance before a raid.

2 • A pre-circumcision ceremony for senior boys. Órè táatá ɛnâ tókì najî ɛnkɨ́páátá náà entókì naɨtɔ́dɔlʉ olpólósíé lɔɔ́lpòròrì. And now this thing called the initial ceremony shows the boundry between age groups. The ɛnkɨ́pááta ceremony is organized by the fathers of a new age set. First, boys travel throughout the section's region for about four months calling for the new age set. A collection of 30-40 houses is built for initiating boys. The houses are located in one large homestead chosen by the ol-oibónì where the boys will be initiated. Before the ceremony, the boys' chief, ɔl-ɔpɔlɔ́sɨ̀ ɔr-kɨ́tɛ́ŋ, must be chosen. This position is considered unfortunate. The new chief is to carry all of his age group's sins. The day before the ceremony, boys must sleep outside in the forest. When early dawn approaches, the boys run to the homestead and enter with an attitude of a raider. During the ceremony, boys dress in loose clothing and dance non-stop throughout the day. This ceremony is the transition into a new age set, after which the boys are ready to be circumcised. (From: www.maasai-infoline.org Kakuta).

3 • Ceremony that involves dancing, to mark the transition between wariorhood and young elderhood. See: a-ɨpák ‘To dance, dance before a raid’.

kipirat n. Minor ceremony performed for boys and girls prior to initiation, in which leg fire marks are made.

ɨl-kɨ́pɨrát n. Informal ritual performed for boys and girls prior to initiation, in which leg fire marks are made.

ol-kípókét Nom sg: ol-kipokét. Acc pl: il-kípókètà. Nom pl: il-kipókètà. [North] Acc sg: l-kúpókét. n. Lamb slaughtered for purifying or cleansing a house after a woman gives birth. This is the first ceremony performed on the day of a child's birth. A kid, with fleece of a uniform color, is killed beside the house. The mother drinks some of the blood, while other women feast on the meat (no men eat of this animal). Some of the blood mixed with contents of the animal's stomach is spread around the perimeter of the ɛnkáŋ and on the top right-hand corner of the mother's house. The bones and the grass upon which the kid was slaughtered are collected and burnt outside the house for fear of witchcraft. (S). See: móòr ‘Lamb slaughtered for cleansing’.

ɛn-kɨ́rɔ́rɛ́t n. 1 • Talking-one, thing used for talking. Nɛ́dʉmʉnɨ́ ɛnáíshó najî ɛnkɨ́rɔ́rɛ́t. They get beer called that talking-one. Órè ɛnâ kɨ́rɔ́rɛ́t nááâ ɛnáíshó aké ɛyaʉ́nɨ. And this talking-one is that beer is just brought.

2 • Beer employed during marriage negotiations. See: a-ɨrɔ́(r) ‘To talk’.

en-kiyamá n. Wedding.

n-koperrerrí [North] Nom pl: n-kóperrerrí. n.pl. [North] Ceremonial branches hanged on the entrance of the house where newly-initiated boys and/or girls live. See: ɔ́l-átîm ‘Branches planted on the entrance to the house of the newly-initiated boys and/or girls’; ɛn-kɨ́pɛ́rrɛ́rr ‘Ceremonial branch’.

ol-ker loo nkujit Variant: o-loo-nkujit. Name given to a ram which is slaughtered before the birth of a child.

lásîm [North] n. [North] Gift for the circumciser or remover of incisor teeth.

ɨ-mánkèk Nom sg: ɛ-mankekí. Sg: ɛ-mánkékí. Nom pl: ɨ-mankék. n. Maasai bride's dress.

móòr [North] Nom sg: moór. Acc pl: móorrí. Nom pl: moorrí. n. [North] Lamb slaughtered for cleansing a house after a woman gives birth. See: ol-kípókét ‘Lamb slaughtered for cleansing’.

l-múgèt lɔɔ́ lbáà [North] [North] Nom sg: l-múgêt lɔ́ɔ̀ lbáà. [North] Acc pl: l-múgetí lɔɔ́ lbáà. [North] Nom pl: l-múgetí lɔ́ɔ̀ lbáà. n. [North] Ceremony of the arrows, which takes place about a month after a circumcision ceremony.

l-muget loolbaa [North] n. [North] Ceremony of the arrows, which takes place about a month after a circumcision ceremony.

l-múgìèt [North] n. [North] Ceremony; celebration.

l-múgìèt lɔɔ́ nkùèny Graduation ceremony from boyhood to warriorhood.

l-múgìèt lɛ́ nkàrnà Ceremony when warriors elect a leader, laúnònì and they were all given a name as an age-set.

l-múgìèt lɔ́ lɔɨŋɔ́nɨ̀ Graduation ceremony from warriorhood to adulthood.

l-múgìèt lɔɔ́ kʉlɛ́ Ceremony for milk.

a-mʉrát v. To circumcise (boy or girl). Ɛmʉrátɨ̀ ɔlayíónì tááisérè. The boy will be circumcised tomorrow. (Pk). Dúóó táatá ɛjɨŋɨ́ ɛnkâŋ ɔ́lɛ̀ Parmuát peê ɛ́mʉ́rátɨ̂ ɔlayíónì tááisérè. Today is the day the distinguished guests go to Ole Parmuat's home, because tomorrow is when a boy will be circumcised. (Pk). Nɛ́bʉ́lʉ́ kʉlɔ̂ áyiok pókíra oóŋuan o mɛtʉ́mʉratɨ, nɛ́barnɨ, nɨ́ákʉ́ ɨlmʉ́rran. These four boys grew up until they were circumcised, then they were shaved, then they became warriors. Nɛ́mʉkɨ ɨnapá áíshíó, nɛ́mʉ̀ràtɨ̀ entíto. Those beers are brewed, and the girl is circumcised. Éíshópítò ɔltásât encóríbá ɛnyɛ́ amʉ̂ ɛ́tʉ́mʉ́rátá ɔlayíónì. The old man has worn his ceremonial skin because his son has been circumcised. (Pk). Kɛ́jɔ́n ɛlɛ̂ áyíóní ɛ́tɔ́n mɛ́mʉ́rátayú. This boy is still immature he cannot be circumcised. (Pk).

ɛ-mʉ́rátà Nom sg: ɛ-mʉratâ??. Acc pl: ɛ-mʉ́rátàrɛ̀. Nom pl: ɛ-mʉratárɛ̀. n. 1 • Circumcision; excision. This initiation is performed at the time of puberty, and elevates the individual from childhood to adulthood. Kɛ́átáɨ́ intaléŋò tɛndá âŋ ɛmʉ́rátàrɛ̀ ɔɔ́ nkɛ́rà. There are solemn ceremonies in that home for the circumcisions of children. (Pk). Boys will prove to the community that they are ready to be initiated by exhibiting signs of grown men, such as carrying heavy spears, herding large herds of livestock, bringing cattle home at dusk, and travelling alone at night to visit friends. A boy must herd cattle for seven full days prior to ɛmʉ́rátà, and is circumcised on the eighth day. Both boys and girls receive a cold shower to cleanse themselves of past sins, and then are initiated early in the dawn before sunrise by a qualified individual (a woman in the case of girls, and a man in the case of boys). Boys are respected for bravery during the operation, demonstrated by not flinching in the least. Following this ceremony and a healing period of three to four months, newly initiated men receive the status of a warrior, and women are ready for marriage.

2 • Age set, age group. ɨltʉŋaná lɛ́ mʉ́rátà âŋ people of our age group.

ɛ-nɛɛni ɨn-kʉ́jɨ́t n.prop. Place name on the top of the Naarɔɔsura Escarpment with great significance for the Maasai. LING: This place is also known as e-naɛni ɨn-kʉ́j(r)t and ɛn-dikir naɛni ɨn-kʉ́j(r)t, even though the second term properly refers to the whole escarpment, not just the place at the top of it. This place is just off the main road from Naarɔɔsura to Morijo Loita, Kenya. For more information about the cultural significance of this place, SEE MOL 96 062!! See: a-ɛ́n ‘To tie’; ɔl-kʉ́jɨ́tá ‘Grass’; en-díkírr naɛni ɨnkʉ́jɨ́t ‘Naarɔɔsura Escarpment’.

ol-ŋesher n. The final event in the Maasai junior elder initiation, which is the final event within moran-hood. The ol-ŋesher ceremony unites the "left-hand" and "right-hand" sides of an age set. The ol-ŋesher ceremony is necessarily initiated by the Kisongo Maasai in the south. Following this ceremony, a man becomes a senior elder and gains full responsibility for his own family. He may now move away from his father's homestead and form his own (though his father remains an advisor in decision making). During the ol-ŋesher ceremony, the man is honored with an elder's chair. In the early morning of the day of the event, the man will sit on the chair and be shaved by his wife. If he has more than one wife, it is the oldest wife's responsibility to shave the husband. This chair becomes a man's "friend" until it is broken. If a man dies before the chair breaks, his oldest son will adopt the chair. See: e-únótó ‘Junior elder initiation ceremony’.

ol-oibónì Nom sg: ol-óíbònì. Variant: ol-óíbóní. Acc pl: il-oibónòk. Nom pl: il-óíbònòk. Variant: ɔibónɨ̀; aibónì. n. 1 • Ritual expert, medicine man, prophet, diviner who has the highest rank in Maasai society. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɨlmʉ́rrán oloibónì mɛtámayɨanɨ. The warriors have gone to the fortune-teller to be blessed. Eibónítò olóíbònì ɔlárràbàl. The diviner is divining the war. (W). An oloibónì is a man of about fifty years of age who has the highest rank in society because he is believed to have supernatural powers to heal, bless, undo witchcraft, and to mediate between God and man. The main functions of an ol-oibónì are: 1. Making predictions; 2. Advising and blessing warriors with regards to the success of their battles; 3. Concocting and undoing curses: If someone is cursed, ol-oibónì can figure out who made the curse, and what action the person should take to undo it, or he can give out medicine to cure the curse; 4. Searching for the cause of diseases that are especially challenging. He ascribes his position from his deceased father and will maintain it until he passes it on to his eldest son just before his death. The Maasai may have only one or two oloibónì at a time, and every section of the Maasai will visit him at certain days of the month. Ol-oibónì is no longer very powerful, but in previous years he was the most prominent person in Maasai society. Still nowadays, warriors will not go to war without first consulting with ol-oibónì. Also, other people will go to see ol-oibónì: If someone cannot understand the cause for something that has happened, or wants to know what might happen in the future, he will go to ol-oibónì, who will give him magic/explanation, or ɛn-áíbón. Ol-oibónì can explain why there is a problem, or who placed a curse on the individual (ɛn-áíbón). He can also possibly explain why another person placed a curse on that individual, and what the person should do to get the curser to undo his curse. He is also known to curse if consulted to do so. He will only be able to perform his duties under the influence of alcohol. His consultation fee is always paid in form of cows (usually 49). In traditional Maasai society there have been and still are famous ink-oibónòk, as for instance Sekenan, who lived near Magadi. Il-oibónòk use en-kidoŋ (calabashes) to carry small objects used in divination.

enk-oibónì Prophetess. Li oibónì! O ritual expert! See: a-ibón ‘To exercise the office of ritual expert’; en-kídòŋ ‘Calabash’; ɔl-abáànì ‘Healer’; ol-kuyantiki ‘Self-proclaimed healer’.

a-ók kʉlɛ́ v.phrase. To drink milk, referring specifically to a minor ceremony following the eúnótó celebration, after which a man is free to marry. Kéló ɔlmʉrraní aók kʉlɛ́ tɛnɛ́ɨ́dɨpáyù eunotó. A warrior will go to drink milk after the Eunoto ceremony.

e-ókótó ɛ-kʉ́lɛ̀ n. Milk ceremony.

l-orórà [North] Nom sg: l-órorá. Acc pl: l-ororaní. Nom pl: l-óroraní. [Chamus] Acc sg: ɔrʉ́rà. n. 1 • [North] Village.

2 • [North] Large manyata constructed by the clan, mostly for the circumcision of boys, but also for other ceremonies. Etowúákɨ̀ lɔrɔ́rá tɛ̀ márlàl. A manyata has been constructed at Marlal.

3 • Home for special ceremony.

l-ɔrɔ́ra lɛ́ nkárná A manyata for the name.

l-ɔrɔ́ra lɛ́ lɔɨŋɔ́nɨ̀ A manyata for the bull. See: ɛnk-áŋ ‘Home, kraal’; ɛ-mányátá ‘Warrior's village’.

e-ríkúnotó n. Marriage. eríkúnotó ɔ́ lpayíán é nkitók the marriage of a man to a woman. See: a-rík ‘To lead’.

rúkórét [North] Nom sg: rukorét. Acc pl: rúkórètà. Nom pl: rukórètà. n. [North] Ox for slaughtering at the day of initiation of the girl to be married off. Certain criteria must be met, such as color and shape of horns. Képírr alɛ́ rukorét olêŋ. This wedding-ox is very fat. (SN). Kɛ́tálákɨ̀ rúkórét (lɛ́ nkɨyamá). The wedding-ox has been missed. (i.e. An appropriate one cannot be located so will have to be found at another place). (SN). This ox is donated by the husband-to-be at the day of initiation. It is part of the bride-wealth that the groom's family must bring. See: ɔl-mɔ́ŋó; ɔl-kɨ́tɛ́ŋ ‘Ox’.

rruashíé [North] n. [North] Slaughtered billy goat for cleansing the home after the death of an elder. See: ol-kípókét ‘Slaughtered ram for cleansing the home’.

o-síkìrìà Nom sg: o-síkìrìà. Acc pl: i-sirkôn. Nom pl: i-sírkòn. [Purko] Nom sg: o-síkírìà. [North] Acc sg: síkíríánì. 1 • Donkey. Nkíné natorúá síkíríà aná. This is the goat that the donkey kicked. (SN). Níkìpùò áàdùŋùdùŋ ɨlɛ́nyɔ́k lɔɔ́ ɨlkɨdɔŋɔ́ lɔɔ́ isirkôn. We will go cut into pieces hair from the donkey's tails.

e-síkìrìà Female donkey. See: e-ŋirô ‘Donkey’; ɔl-ámʉ̀yɛ̀ ‘Male donkey’; en-kurrarrú ‘Young donkey’.

2 • [North] Cow slaughtered after the head of the home (old man) dies. Usage: Metaphorical.

sɔrríó [North] n. [North] Sacrifice. This is a ceremony where a cow or goat is slaughtered, everyone eats the meat and is smeared with oil (except the warriors). No visitor is supposed to enter into this home until a period of 7 days elapses. See: ɔl-ásàr ‘Sacrifice’.

ɛn-taléŋoi Nom sg: ɛn-táleŋóí. Acc pl: ɨn-taléŋò. Nom pl: ɨn-tálèŋò. n. 1 • Magical charm, associated with bewitching someone. Ɛshɔmɔ́ doí apá ɔlásákútóní ayaʉ́ intaléŋò tò láíbònì naá lotú asakutushoré. The minor witch has gone to get the charms for witchcraft from a witchdoctor. (Pk).

2 • Solemn ceremony. Mɛyɨɛŋɨ́ áɨ́kata ɔlkɨ́tɛ́ŋ lɛ́mɛ́ sinyátì tɔɔ́ ntálèŋò. An ox which is not of one colour for a sacred purpose is never slaughtered in any ceremony. (Pk). Kɛ́átáɨ́ intaléŋò tɛndá âŋ ɛmʉ́rátàrɛ̀ ɔɔ́ nkɛ́rà. There are solemn ceremonies in that home for the circumcisions of children. (Pk). Kɛ́ŋaɨ lóewúó ɨntaléŋò inónok. Who came to your party? (W).

a-ɨtaleŋoyíé To give sth little.

ɛn-tásɨ̀m Nom sg: ɛn-tásɨ̂m. Acc pl: ɨn-tásìmì. Nom pl: ɨn-tásímì. [North] Acc pl: n-tasími. n. 1 • A charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers given to someone by | oloibónì as part of treatment.

2 • Sth. that is done for the sake of doing it, not important.

3 • [North] Celebration, festival, ceremony; ritual. See: a-ɨtasɨ́m ‘To try to do sth’.

in-torosí Nom pl: in-tórosí. n.pl. 1 • Group of women who gather and move from place to place performing ceremonial duties.

2 • [North] Singing competition between women from different clans.

3 • Singing and praying to God by women. See: n-kɨ́járɛ́ ‘Singing competition by warriors’.

e-únótó Nom sg: e-unotó. Acc pl: i-unót. Nom pl: i-unót. n. 1 • Planting.

2 • Installation ceremony for warriors as they pass from warriorhood to junior elders. Following the e-únótó ceremony the men may marry.(However, the warriors are still prohibited from eating without the company of other warriors, up until the time of the aók kʉlɛ́ (in some areas known as ɛnk-áŋ ɛ̀ kʉ́lɛ) ceremony. The purpose of this taboo is to teach young men to be self-reliant rather than to depend on their mothers who mostly prepare food for their husbands and young children.). Ɛɨdɨpákɨ̀ apá eúnótó ɔɔ́ lmʉ́rràn peê ɛakʉ́ ɨlpayianí. The installation ceremony of warriors to become junior elders has taken place. (Pk). The e-únótó ceremony takes place in a specially-chosen camp that includes a total of 49 houses. The 49th house is known as osinkira, the ol-oibónì's house. During the event, warriors daily entertain the ol-oibónì. Prior to the ceremony three important leaders are chosen. ol-aigúɛ́nànì (lɛ́ nkàshè) is honored with a specially-chosen cow. ɔl-ɔbɔrʉ́ ɛn-kɛɛnɛ́ is honored with a leather strap with a knot that symbolizes his age set. By the end of warriorhood, this knot will be untied to free the warriors from their isolated world and enable them to do things independently without other age mates. ol-otunó shoulders all of his age set's sins. During the e-únótó festival. During the event, an animal horn is set on fire and warriors are forced to take a piece out before it is completely burned. No one wants to take the piece out, because whoever takes the horn out of the fire will be misfortunate throughout his life. However, if everyone refuses to take the horn out of the fire, the entire age set will be cursed.