Sakuye
Encyclopedia
The Sakuye or Saguye are a semi-nomad
ic people living in Marsabit
and Isiolo
districts, Eastern Province
, Kenya
. The 1979 Kenyan census reported this group had 1,824 persons, but Günther Schlee believes this number "is definitely too low. The 1969 census gave 4,369 as their number, and the apparent decrease is not due to biological factors. Because of their language and their inter-locking settlements, many Sakuye must have given 'Boran' when asked for their 'tribe'. The Sakuye have been weakened by recent events, and to identify oneself as a Sakuye no longer sounds attractive." According to Ethnologue
, Sakuye is a dialect of the Borana language
, though it has some significant differences. Their name come from the old name for Marsabit, Saaku. When a group of Rendille
moved north from Marsabit, their Borana neighbors referred to them as the "Saakuye".
in the early twentieth century.
Following Kenyan independence, the Sakuye joined the Somalis in Kenya
in their attempt to secede and join the Somali Republic.
Most of their livestock was killed by government forces during the Shifta War
(1963-7), reducing many Sakuye to poverty.
In the 1970s, a group of Sakuye moved to the Dabel hills, which lie below the Ethiopian plateau. The traditional camel
-oriented rituals, with a nominal Muslim affiliation, became much less important after the destruction of the herds and the Sakuye became Husayniyya, followers of the Sufi order founded by Sheikh Hussein whose tomb lies in the village named for him
in Bale, Ethiopia
. Today the Sakuye population is divided between those in Dabel and those in Isiolo.
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic people living in Marsabit
Marsabit District
Marsabit District is an administrative district in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Marsabit. The district has a population of 121,478 The district is located in northern Kenya. It borders the eastern shore of Lake Turkana....
and Isiolo
Isiolo District
Isiolo District is an administrative district inEastern Province of Kenya. Its population is 100.861 , and its capital is Isiolo town. Isiolo District is to be the first district to be developed as part of the Kenya Vision 2030 program....
districts, Eastern Province
Eastern Province (Kenya)
The Eastern Province of Kenya is one of seven regions of the country. Its northern boundary is with Ethiopia; the North Eastern Province and Coast Province lie to the east and south; and the remainder of Kenya's provinces, including Central Province, run along its western border. The provincial...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. The 1979 Kenyan census reported this group had 1,824 persons, but Günther Schlee believes this number "is definitely too low. The 1969 census gave 4,369 as their number, and the apparent decrease is not due to biological factors. Because of their language and their inter-locking settlements, many Sakuye must have given 'Boran' when asked for their 'tribe'. The Sakuye have been weakened by recent events, and to identify oneself as a Sakuye no longer sounds attractive." According to Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
, Sakuye is a dialect of the Borana language
Borana language
Borana is a variety of Oromo spoken in Southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya by the Borana people. Günther Schlee also notes that it is the native language of a number of related peoples, such as the Sakuye....
, though it has some significant differences. Their name come from the old name for Marsabit, Saaku. When a group of Rendille
Rendille
The Rendille are a Cushitic speaking ethnic group inhabiting the Kaisut Desert, which is in the North Eastern part of Kenya. They also inhibit the south eastern and southern regions of Mt...
moved north from Marsabit, their Borana neighbors referred to them as the "Saakuye".
History
The Sakuye adopted IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the early twentieth century.
Following Kenyan independence, the Sakuye joined the Somalis in Kenya
Somalis in Kenya
Somalis in Kenya are citizens and residents of Kenya who are of Somali descent. Somalis are one of the largest Cushitic-speaking ethnic minority groups in the country. They first started arriving in the area in the 19th century. Following the civil war in Somalia that broke out in 1991, many...
in their attempt to secede and join the Somali Republic.
Most of their livestock was killed by government forces during the Shifta War
Shifta War
The Shifta War was a secessionist conflict in which ethnic Somalis in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya attempted to join with their fellow Somalis in a Greater Somalia...
(1963-7), reducing many Sakuye to poverty.
In the 1970s, a group of Sakuye moved to the Dabel hills, which lie below the Ethiopian plateau. The traditional camel
Camel
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
-oriented rituals, with a nominal Muslim affiliation, became much less important after the destruction of the herds and the Sakuye became Husayniyya, followers of the Sufi order founded by Sheikh Hussein whose tomb lies in the village named for him
Sheikh Hussein
Sheikh Hussein is a village in south-eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Bale Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a longitude and latitude of with an elevation of 1386 meters above sea level...
in Bale, Ethiopia
Bale Province, Ethiopia
Bale is the name of two former polities located in the southeastern part of modern Ethiopia.- The medieval dependency of Bale :...
. Today the Sakuye population is divided between those in Dabel and those in Isiolo.