16/04/2024
ILCHAMUS, BARINGO SOUTH: Man from Sweden Becomes an Ilchamus Moran
When he flew to Kenya in 2011, as a volunteer with a local NGO, being an Ilchamus moran was perhaps the last thing in the mind of Max Roing, who is Swedish.
But three years later, Max 34, completely fell in love with the rich culture of the minority people on the shores of lake Baringo.
As if that is not enough, the soft-spoken Max was among 5,000 Ilchamus youth of Baringo County, who graduated to manhood last week after traditional circumcision in 2014.
"I came to Kenya as a tourist and also to help in environmental conservation through planting trees in Kajiado County," Mr Roing told said after the graduation.
He has now embraced his new culture, including the dress code complete with a dark pink shuka, a sword strapped to his brown belt, black sandals and decorative beaded attire. The rite of passage has enabled him to enter the current age-group, Ilmeng'ati.
"My name is Max Lemeyan Le Kachuma from the Ilchamus tribe and a clan called Iltoimai," he confidently introduces himself as he sips sour milk from a cup.
He then unwraps a polythene with round, yellow substances. He picks handful and pours some onto his milk.
Max has since married from the Samburu community in a Maa traditional wedding ceremony and lives in Samburu and Baringo Counties.
Adapted from DN, 2020
