KIPSIGIS HERITAGE AND THE ORIGIN OF CLANS By Bill Rutto and Kipng'etich Maritim

This book is a brief account of the history and traditional institutions of the Kipsigis people and the community's clan system. The Kipsigis are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people of Eastern Africa that comprises (besides the Kipsigis) the Nadi, Tugen, Keiyo, Marakwet, Cherang'any(also known as Sengwer), Pokot, Okiek, Terik and the Sabot )further sub-divided into the Kony, Sabuni, Bok and the Bongomek). In Uganda, the Sebei, Mbai, and Sor live in the Kapchorwa (literally, ' home of friends'), Bukwa and Kween districts of the western slopes of Mt. Elgon. The Mbulu district of the norther Tanzania is home to the Barabaig, while the more linguistically distant Majang' and the Inganassa are dominated in part of Ethiopia and South Sudan, respectively.

In a fast changing society of the 21st century, many of Africa's old traditional cultures and practices have been abandoned or forgotten altogether. Therefore, it is safe to say, not many people know much about these cultures and practices, let alone claim to have practised them. It is thus exciting that in this book the reader comes face-to-face with these traditional cultures and practices in a highly readable form as presented. 

Another important aspect of this book is the seventy-seven clans listed herein where an attempt has been made to trace the origin of each one of them, while at the same time capturing anecdotes, tales, legends, romances, myths and chants associated with each clan. Today's, as was the case in the past, the Kipsigis system plays an important role in ht e community's kinship identity and the regulation of a number of social institutions, including all-important institution of marriage.