Question

Describe the social organisation of the borana during the pre-colonial period

Answer 1

The social organization of the Borana during the pre-colonial period focused on kinship and communal roles, with men primarily handling livestock and trade, and women managing agriculture and family care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The social organization of the Borana during the pre-colonial period was intricately linked to their livelihoods and kinship systems. Although not explicitly described in the provided reference information, which focuses broadly on the Bantu peoples, the Borana, part of the larger Oromo people, had their distinct societal structure. Typical of many African societies before colonial influence, their organization would have been largely centered around kinship lines and communal responsibilities. Men and women had delineated roles, with men typically involved in livestock herding and trade, while women managed agriculture, food preparation, and childcare duties. The Borana, similar to other African communities of the period, would have existed within a network of small-scale trade, primarily subsisting on a mix of agriculture, herding, and ironworking, reflective of the broader Bantu migrations and subsequent settled societies.

Societal leadership among the Borana, and other pre-colonial African societies such as the Bantu, often lacked a centralized authority, favoring a more distributed hierarchical system. Within this framework, authority figures, such as chiefs or elders, would have overseen local governance, dispute resolution, and management of resources. The existence of influential and complex societies like Great Zimbabwe indicates that, over time, more centralized administrative structures did develop among the Bantu, suggesting similar evolutions could have occurred within the Borana's hierarchical system.

Answer 2

The Borana are a pastoralist community that inhabits the southern part of Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and parts of Somalia. During the pre-colonial period, the Borana had a social organization that was based on a clan system, with each clan headed by a senior male leader known as an Abba Gada. The Borana society was organized into two distinct age sets: the Ummale and the Galgal.

The Ummale were responsible for political and military affairs, while the Galgal were responsible for social and religious matters. The Borana also had a complex system of governance that was based on a lunar calendar, which regulated their activities and ceremonies. The lunar calendar was used to determine when to plant and harvest crops, when to migrate with their livestock, and when to conduct religious ceremonies.

The Borana had a strong sense of community and solidarity. They lived in extended family groups known as the Gada system. This system was responsible for organizing and regulating social and political life, and was based on a system of generational change. Every eight years, a new generation of leaders was inaugurated into power, with each generation serving for a period of eight years.

The Borana practiced a monotheistic religion known as Waaqeffannaa, which was centered on the worship of one god, Waaq. The Borana believed that Waaq created the universe and everything in it, including human beings and animals. They also believed that Waaq was responsible for regulating the seasons and the cycles of life.

In summary, during the pre-colonial period, the Borana had a social organization that was based on a clan system, with each clan headed by a senior male leader. They also had a complex system of governance that was based on a lunar calendar, and a strong sense of community and solidarity. The Borana practiced a monotheistic religion centered on the worship of one god, Waaq.