Culture Change and Continuity: the Case of Abaidakho Initiation Rites of Passage, 1918 - 2010
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Date
2023Author
Lianguluti, Gilbert I
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
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This study examined the history of the Abaidakho initiation rites of passage from 1918
to 2010. The year 1918 is a historical year that marked the end of World War I, which
had far-reaching repercussions in Africa. After the war, the victors consolidated their
authority on colonial territories which had a big influence on African way of life. Also,
returning ex-soldiers introduced enormous social changes that not only affected
traditional way of life, but also caused tension with traditional culture by introducing
new forces of European way of life into African communities. The African Porters who
took part in the war for instance returned and they encouraged adoption of new practices
and attitudes. In the year 2010, Kenya adopted a new constitution. Utilizing the human
agency perspective, the project focused on the change and continuity of the Abaidakho
initiation rites of passage. The study focused on the indigenous initiation rites of
passage of the Abaidakho people, the changes experienced with time and aspects of
initiation rites that have remained persistent. The study delved into issues such as,
which initiation rites of passage of the Abaidakho people have changed? Do we have
some aspects that have remained consistent in the practice of the rites? What impact
has the changes in the initiation rites of passage had on the Abaidakho people? In
addressing these questions, the study utilized the continuity theory, which holds that,
the elder adults will always make contemporary decision or act based on their previous
experiences and in connection with their current environment. This implies that the
Abaidakho initiation rites of passage have been hybridized in an effort to link the past
and the future in order to keep a consistence practice. The study established that the
Abaidakho people and their cultural practice of initiation rites of passage encountered
contact with colonial administrators, missionaries, and European settlers who rushed to
Kakamega after the discovery of gold in 1933. In the post-independence period,
Catholic missionaries at Mukumu and the Friends from Kaimosi continued to influence
the Abaidakho people. Other groups that continued to interact with the Abaidakho were
government workers, traders who moved in the area and had effect and influence on
the cultural practice of initiation rites of passage of the Abaidakho. The study utilized
both primary and secondary sources: primary data helped to seal the missing gaps and
provided a comprehensive understanding of the hybridized initiation rites of passage of
the Abaidakho. The outbreaks of diseases like HIV/AIDS impacted the cultural
practices of the Abaidakho initiation rites of passage. This was a leading force in the
change of attitude towards the practice among the Abaidakho.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Arts [650]
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