Making and restoring an Ilchamus House – Ilchamus culture(NKaji o ilchamus)
Channel: ILLCHAMUs TV
Date: 2023-03-31

The Ilchamus house, generally one of many found within a homestead, has always changed with the times. These wattle-and-daub houses are an important part of Ilchamus identity and history, differing from neighbouring Kalenjin and other Maa communities, and they provide important spaces for women to socialise, do crafts like pottery, and keep traditions alive. Since the 1970s, the houses have become more elaborate with new decorations, like curtains, and features like mud and thatch cabinets. They are also slowly being replaced by brick-built houses by those who can afford them,  although the taboos and knowledge around house building is still alive and prized thanks to the knowledge imparted by mothers and fathers. In this short documentary, the Namayana women’s group of Kiserian are restoring the traditional house following the skills, techniques and knowledge they were taught by their elders. The house serves as their cultural centre.

We are grateful to the Namayana women’s group who so generously shared their knowledge and skills.

Filming and recording were done as part of the project Historical East African Archaeology and Theory funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (ID: HEAAT-884702), the Cambridge Humanities Research Grant, British Academy Small Grants, and the British Institute in Eastern Africa. The video and it’s parts are licenced under CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0”

NKAJI O ILCHAMUS.
nabo tiatua nkajijik kumo naatii atua nkang aachu manyatta o Ilchamus naa nkaji nailuto nemura te moidei, amu eiwatwatete nkangite o Ilchamus too larin tikitam oicha. Koree nkaji nailuto nemura te moidei naa netipat kitok te Lkwaak loolchamus amu ninye nalikioo iyioo neibalunyie nkatiniang kira Ilchamus neitapaach abaki iyioo o lkule oreren lajo ltuken anaa lmaasae o Samburu. Kore Kuna ajijik naa keyau lningo too ntomonok eretokino ailut nemur nkajijik enche neitibirr aitoki lmotioo neigerr nkutukie oo nkajijik, inia nkotei nabo nabikie Lkwaak lang ntarasi o ntarasi.  Ore aiteru te lari le nkalup nabo iip saal o ntomoni sapa (1970) neiteru Kuna ajijik aiwuatwuata o lkigerot opaachpaacha, engichi too ilchukei, Nepiki mesai naamura te moidei o nkule e semet. Koree sii lkulikae oipungo neponu achetu nkajijik nkule o soito oopejo kake Mara kumo loidim aatechet nenia ajijik, kake nache sapuk te Lkwaak o Ngeno neichoo iyioo ntoiwuo, (yieyio o papa). Etii ltururr loo ntomonok naajo ate Namayana naingwaa lkerenget le kiserian te tauwo naanyokita aarinyu Lkwaak loo Ilchamus te nchetere o nkajijik nailuto nemura te moidei nesiapi te lkujita. Enyokita nenia tomonok aasichore Ngeno o jartanicho naichoo ninche toiwuo enye naatulusori. Era sii nenia ajijik weji neitengelieki ilkwak loo Ilchamus.

 

Project team: Team lead: Nik Petek-Sargeant; Filming and audio recording: Glen Nakure, James Ng’etich, Wilson Tiren, Mercy Leapai Senteyon; Translation: Mercy Leapai Senteyon, Glen Nakure; Video editing: Patrick Nakure, Wanjage Wairimu; National Museums of Kenya representative: Lillian Amwanda.