AGE SET ORGANIZATION
An age-set is a group people whose age falls within a certain limit.
Age-set system was the division of members of the societies according to age groups and sex.
This was the kind of socio-political organization based on age and sex. In order for one to fit in the society one was required to fulfill certain obligations. In societies where the age-set system was practiced, every male belonged to an age-set which entered either at birth or after initiation. One remained in his age-set for the rest of his life. Married women joined their husband’s age-sets.
Although many pre-colonial African societies practiced this system, it was more dominant among the pastoral societies such as the Maasai and the Karamajong. However, a few agricultural communities also had age-sets, for example, the Kalenjin of Kenya.
Reasons for why age-set organization was popular among the pastoralists;
1. The pastoral way of life required alertness at all times because the livestock could be attacked by wild animals or raided by enemy communities.
2. the age-set system provided the warriors to protect the livestock.
3. Their pastoralist lifestyle also required continuous search for pasture and water for the livestock.
4. this called for constant manpower.
5. Young men were required to raid and acquire more livestock from neighbouring communities in order to boost the wealth of the community.
Social organization.
• The Maasai had a clearly defined age-set system. There were two major groups of Maasai;
• The pastoral Maasai (Purko)
• The agricultural Maasai (Kwavi or Iloikop)
• The community had some religious leader who included diviners and medicine people. In the 19th century, the Maasai created the office of OLOIBONI. This leader presided over religious ceremonies, blessed morans who were going to war and prayed for rain in times of drought.
• The Maasai worshipped God (Enkai). They also had many social ceremonies for occasions such as birth, naming, circumcision and death.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.
• The Maasai circumcised both boys and girls at puberty. After this, the boys (young men) formed an age-set. Among the Maasai, the age-set system laid the basis for the political organization of the community.
• A Maasai went through five major stages of life. Each stage had its status and responsibilities in the community as outlined below;
1. Children group aged 0-8years were regarded as non-producers group. They were not directly involved in production. They assisted in household chores such as cleaning the homestead and food preparation.
2. Youth group between the ages of 8-18 years, their main responsibility was to graze animals, trading young animals and milking cattle they were assisted by women.
3. Moran group aged between 18-35 years old, these were soldiers of the society. They lived in special homesteads away from the rest of the community for about 10 years. The main responsibilities of the Moran were as follows;
• To protect the whole society as trained soldiers.
• To protect livestock against dangerous animals and raiders
• To increase the number of animals through raiding their neighbors
• To travel with their herds in search for water and pastures.
4. A military leader known as OLAIGUANI led the warriors. After becoming senior warriors, they went through the eunoto ceremony and became junior elders.
5. The junior elders (35-45 years old) made day-to-day decisions in the community. They gave directions to the warriors on what was to be done.
6. Senior elders (Laibons), aged between 45-60 and above this is the most senior age-set in Maasai society. This age-set were allowed to perform religious duties. They also made rulings during disputes. Senior elders made political decisions on behalf of the community, for example, whom to raid and when.
By the 19th century, the Maasai adopted a new kind of leadership under the OLOIBONI.
The Oloiboni was both a religious and political leader.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELDERS (LAIBONS)
1. To control livestock and all the properties on behalf of their communities.
2. To enable norms and ethics to govern the society.
3. They were top overseers of all the spiritual and political matters of the community.
4. They were responsible for counseling other members of the society.
5. To settle disputes among the society members.
6. They were regarded as retired producers of the society but their ideas and skills were highly appreciated.
ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION
The Maasai were mainly nomadic pastoralists. They kept large herds of cattle, goats and sheep. As the season changed, they moved from place to place in search of pasture and water.
They also gathered vegetables, roots and fruits from forests. The Kwavi Maasai grew some crops such as millet and sorghum.
The morans raided neighbouring communities in order to get more cattle. Maasai people also traded with their neighbours. For example, they exchanged cattle for items from the Pare.
The Maasai also practiced several crafts. These included hut constructions, which was mainly done by women, leatherworking and ironworking. The blacksmiths produced iron articles such as hoes, spears, arrowheads, ornaments and swords.
REASONS FOR THE RISE AGE-SET ORGANIZATIONS
1. The type of economic activity carried out by the society, like pastoralism, demanded continuous care and greater attention.
2. Animals in pastoral societies made the people to search for water and pastures. The members of the society needed a stronger age group or the Moran to walk longer distances to look for pastures and water.
3. The need to take care for children from zero to eight years old.
4. Women had to remain at home to look after children and milk cattle.
5. Members of the society needed some leaders to govern them and their wealth.
6. This is seen among the Maasai who released the elders such as the Laibons from direct production in order to control the livestock and preside over religious ceremonies.
7. The need of forming a powerful army to protect the societies against their enemies.
8. It was very important to divide the society into a stronger age group such as Moran among the Maasai for defense purpose.
9. Age-set organizations emerged because of rapid population growth in the societies.
As in case of Nyakyusa in South West Tanganyika.
