Publication:

The Evolution of Samburu Adornment

Self-adornment plays a significant role in individual and social life in most communities. The Samburu place great significance on adornment. Adornment among the Samburu ranges from painting, scarring, attire and ornaments. The paper investigates the origin of the Samburu community and evolution of the adornment pattern to present. The paper was informed by cultural theory. Culture includes knowledge, believes, art, law, morals, customs and other skills acquired by man as a member of society. Cultural history focuses on the changes and practices in human agency. Culture is transmitted across generations through the memory which is a faculty of the individual mind. Adornment is a societal practice and basically the skin serves as a visible way of defining individual identity and cultural differences. Data was collected by oral interviews, archival search, non-participant observation as well as thorough the examination of secondary sources from various libraries. The data was analysed using Ex Post Facto design. The study will contribute to the maintenance of the Samburu adornment in the Kenya‟s historiography. Further, the research findings will be useful to researchers who may wish to study aspects of adornments among other communities.