Lung'afa: Hello Family, to those interested in today's Keiyo outreach, here is a summary. A comprehensive writing will come in time and from the video talks collected.
Saniak/Saniago (as a defined people/clan) arrived at Mount Elgon long time ago from Misri having followed the Nile.
From Elgon, they arrived at Kitut (Abardare hills) where a major dispersal took place. Some went to Pokot. Others to Keiyo and some remained there. There is little hint whether some went to Bongomek.
The Keiyo advance had 3 sons. The last got tired en route and remained at Kabulwa. The second and first pitched at Kibargwe hills and after a while the elder one spotted Cheptibo hill and moved there.
The clan is one of the major clans among the Keiyo, Kalenjin, highland nilotes.
Those who are not fully Saniak are called Segamek. A bee. To mean half blood or begotten by another clan. Not fathered by Saniak. They live among them and do not intermarry. They are known as 'the different Saniak'.
Earlier on they were known to be unwelcoming, keeping strangers away. With a taboo to have any foreign smoke near them. And they near another's. This made them to keep touch with far away relatives to avoid seeking help from other clans.
Their totem is a monkey. Inspired by the animals love for height rest, sway and balance on trees. They are peace lovers too, not combative and opt for diplomacy than fight. Kamnaria is a face description of a monkey. Black round face. Saniak Kamnaria is monkey face in description to similarity with a human's.
Once there was great hunger that made them seek food in Nandi. Their sisters mainly married to Nandi.
By neighbors, Saniaks are proud and harsh. During the DC era, it was advised to employ Saniaks because of their outstanding grace. Messengers, builders, teachers and all.
Saniak clan does not extend past Ainaomoi in Baringo nor the hills of Kibargwe where Biwott's grandfather settled. But it resides in Pokot and Marakwet communities.
To further on, an advance to Cherengani hills would shed more light on directions of dispersal. Marakwet and Pokot roots would be easier to trace from there... But for Western Kenya route??
Thanks
Mudengani Kisia: 👏👏😊Exemplary, good job done, waiting for the details. Now the route to western? Which way
Luvai: Great work, Lung'afa! Regrettably, not in a position to support right now but will do so later.
Baba Ndanyi: Patty that's excellent work, when I worked with kplc we used to visit that area so often, during kivyator's time, what surprised me most ni 'zinyumba ndogori', typically visible and very many; the information on this topic is worth serious thought, that Biwot was Saniak is in the public domain. Patrick may have to go back to dig deeper in this history and possibly we write and publish a book on the same.
Lung'afa: What would be your reaction if you were proved beyond doubt that you are only a Maragoli speaker but your earliest ancestors were nilotes?
- Just saying.
Baba Ndanyi: It wouldn't bother me much, I didn't cause the crossover, besides, the guy who crossed over had his specific reasons for doing so!!😎😎😎
Erick Author: I would be shaken to the core of my being!! It's like being uprooted and transplanted allover. My identity and heritage is of great significance to me. I don't want to(sorry) be like those kids whose mothers change their names and tribes to fit different spouses as they marry and remarry.
Peter Kirima: I knew this long ago. From the shape of my incisor tooth, nose, hair, body structure... I perceive a Nilotic/semetic mixture. The Misri, ancient Nubia connection is unavoidable🤔
Erick Author: As for me I'm of typical Bantu, peasant farming stock. Umurogoori, umusaaniaga, mwifa mukuzungu Mudiidi. Period. Agandi ndihula ku nivwaacha.
Lung'afa: Semitic nature is seen in the hair curl. Softness of it too among the Saniaks. And the lightness of skin. I have images to share.
@Erick Author, your views are also right. You are a writer. You can assume imagination. But here it seems mkuki kwa binadamu mchungu...
- We are yet to write our own history.
Peter Kirima: Take some time to think about this..... Saniaga is not mentioned as one of the four sons of umurogooli. We are a clan scattered across but found among large clan of maragoli and rift Valley communities. How did we arrive/get to our present land? That should be the question. Umusaniaga ni umurogooli dave. Yatura echova. ambo ni kivara... anu kore ndii.
Japheth Imbwana: I rest my case here with these confusing Aral narratives about Saniaga family
Lung'afa: Guga, do not rest. We are all in an oral dilemma. The old and the young. For lack of clear ancestral lineage. Much as we are many in Vihiga County we hold no homage to any special place there. Not even local orals say a thing.
Luckily we have Saniak/Saniagos yonder where some information is still intact. That in our following we may at least quech our thirst for search of origins which may not assure satisfaction sometimes.
It is also with great apology for any discontent that such talks may bring about.
Peter Kirima: Don't get confused. Do your research. Thats why the Agikuyu are ahead of us. They know their history. Be an active researcher or fund research projects like one carried by Lung'afa. There should be a mixture of Bantu somewhere however, the paternal Y chromosome from fathers doesn't change for generations. It is from this point that you are who you are......
Vincent Iramuka: The Baganda of Central UG and to an extent the Kikuyu grew in numbers and strength by assimilating many individuals and groups that were willing to take up their culture. The "tribe" in africa is never really about undisputed blood relation but rather similar cultural beliefs and practices. I have no doubt about us Saniagas not being an offshoot of "mulogooli". But I have no discomfort in identifying as a maragoli. Its more about Identity and not genetics I think. While genetic studies might show I am related to Murkomen more than my next door neighbour in Lunyerere, I still Identify more with my neighbour
Lumadi Jenyeka: Doesn't our maternal ancestry matter too?In that case I'd adopt my maternal Mumavi roots
Lung'afa: People are relocating to neighbors and mothers side in gallons 🥳🥳😂😂. As for me I will go to Makueni and tell my grandma I am confused with my father's side. 😂😂😂.
May we stand firm and take in what may come. Even with a tear. For history, as we can imagine is multi-forked and our ancestors could be something we least would fathom.
- Saniaga Kamnara, British.
Neccy Flossy: They say 'Kalyiesa' mukali wa Murogooli yali mukana umwaku nang'ana umundu umwarabu. Jee, inyala kuva yali mkana mu Saniak/Saniago (kamnara)/Saniaga na yali mwana mmbisandu nagenda no muyanyi waavo Saniak? Jee Khalyesa yaza mu Murogooli no mwana muyayi walangwa Saniak? Becoz as Peter Kirima said, Saniaga is not mentioned as one of the childrrn of Mulogooli but rather appear from nowhere as 'um'menya'? No wonder in Baringo Saniago/saniak clan are considered as land grubbers? Am just thinking aloud as per Patty's recent research because not much is said of our Mother Kalyiesa nor Kavogoi apart from her description only that she was an Arab (most likely the Highlands Nilotics)! Or post probably he was an Ethiopian breed! My thoughts.
Lung'afa: Saniaga is a mother clan to many of Maragoli clans.
We can assume an early settling in Maragoli to answer the fact that we are so well spread. Each Saniaga having enormous parcels of lands and an area to hunt/graze with the likes of Ambale.
Then the incoming of 'Valogooli' to fit in the spaces between and marry among Saniaga closed the spaces further. These 'others' had several identities as known now.
To ascertain this we only need to date. By knowing who settled where when. And my guessing will give Saniaga an early settling time.
Neccy Flossy: I have heard from reliable sources that to avoid koreta (to marry) mu ichiko, just look for a home of uMusaniaga - no questions asked, no ichiko children that is why saniaga girls can marry into any of the Mulogooli clans without kutinyiriza but no mujiru Saniaga to saniaga. Mmmmmh
Vincent Iramuka: Its an interesting idea. However, be careful to approach the inquiry with an open mind
Lung'afa: 😁😁. Everything that is interesting is propelled well with an open mind. The power of curiosity.
Peter Kirima: According to me the original spelling and pronunciation of the name Khaliyesa was Khalisa. In Arab it means that which is pure.
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