Something of Value Ignored in Our Midst

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Something of Value Ignored in Our Midst

Korupgei ak sirutietab Prof. Ochieng' agobo bukuit ne kisir Dr. Kipkoeech Araap Sambu ko chu koinutikab Cheptaleel (God) eng' Kalenjin:
1. Asiis 2. Cheptaleel 3. Chepokipkooiyo 4. Chepomirchiio 5. Chemalus 6.Chepokimabai 7. Weerit Neoo 8.Cheboo 9' Chepkeelyen Sogool 10.Chepwooboit 11. Chepkochor 12. Tororot 13.Lilat 14. Chepo ngolo 15. Chebo Namuni 16. Chemalus

By Philip Ochieng
Nairobi
Because I no longer live or work in Nairobi - having retired from daily journalism- I don't visit the bookshops as often as I should. No wonder it took an American to draw my attention to a book of historic importance in those shops .

The American had read a piece of mine in The EastAfrican in which I attempted to link Maasai religion to that of ancient Sumeria via the Nilotes (Cush and Egypt) and Canaan. Yet I never cited Kipkoeech araap Sambu's overwhelming evidence. Why? Simply because I had never heard of him.

Here I do not set out to review The Kalenjin People's Egypt Origin Legend Revisited: Was Isis Asiis? I am interested more in the circumstances of its publication. Why was a book of such significance to Africa published quietly in an African city and sneaked into its bookshops without a single word of publicity?

Kipkoeech's is probably the most comprehensive rejoinder by an African to Europe's historiographical habit of depicting Africans as having always been receivers of ideas and technologies from Europe or - as David Hume, Georg Hegel and Hugh Trevor-Roper have alleged - as incapable of making any history on their own.

With tendrils which bind together all the five continents, Kipkoeech's book shows unassailably that the Nile valley was the source of practically all of Eurafrasia's religio-moral thought-systems, including especially the theistic Judaeo-Christo-Islamic super-system.

Sub-titled A Study in Comparative Religion, it is a straight jab at, for instance, John Man, the Englishman who, in a book called Alpha Beta, perpetuates the age-old European and completely false claim that all of the world's intellectual vocabulary - including the names of our academic subjects - are to be traced only back to the Hellenic Greeks.

Yet Robert Graves, for instance, can show him - in The Greek Myths - that even the word "Greek" (Graikoi) - meaning "Worshippers of the Grey Goddess" - is purely Nilotic in origin. This worship of the creator Goddess is the nub of Kipkoeech's story.

Whether you call her Asiis (Kalenjin) or Aset (the Sudanic Luo) or Ast (the pharaonic Copts), she is the essence of the Nilotic monotheon - whose plethora of divine manifestations appear to the uninitiated as "many gods" and "many goddesses".

This is what has led Europe to the profoundly mistaken idea that African religion was decidedly polytheistic and to the claim that "monotheism" was a Jewish invention. On the contrary, it was the Nilote Akhenaten - known in Exodus as "Moses" - who gave his Aten (Aton, Adon, Adonis, Adonai) monotheon to his Israelite slaves.

There was only one Deity, Asiis, whose name the Hellenes corrupted into Isis. The Canaanites called her Astarte or Asherah, the Israelites Astoreth or Esther, the Akkadians Ishtar, the Vedic Indians Iswara or Usha and the Gauls Oestre or Easter.

Spreading out of the Nile, she dominated religious thinking from the Limpopo to the Dnieper, from the Hwang-ho to the Shannon, from the Irrawady to the Senegal and, beyond the great sea, to the Arkansas and the Orinoco. As the "Morning Star" (Venus), Ast was also the origin of such celestial words as "aster", "Sterne", "etoile" and "star" itself.

Kipkoeech traces a thousand other "Greek" terms to purely Nilo-Hamitic origins. One of the most interesting is"Logos", which is clearly derived from the Kalenjin "Logooi" - "the Word" which, as St John affirms, "was with God" and which, in Nilotic lore, was what the creator Deity uttered to call forth the universe.

But let me not tell it all. You must read it personally. But, again, the question is: How could the publisher send such a book to the shops without informing Kenyans, other Africans and, indeed, the whole world?

Does it make even commercial sense? Kenya and Africa do not have any deep reading culture. In the newspaper trade, we have to use all sorts of tactics - we call them "gimmicks" - to coax and cajole people into reading our titles.

Almost no Kenyan ever makes it a habit to visit the bookshops. Had I not drawn the editor's attention to Kipkoeech's book, the Sunday Nation would never have done the much it did to publicise it. A book like that demands heavy publicity in the run-up to its publication.

Moreover, since it is a book with important global ramifications, I would suggest to Longhorn to publish it anew in league with a number of international houses with global circulation networks and to organise lengthy reviews in the transnational newspapers to draw the world's attention to it.

And, in the same process, the book should be given a new, more punchy - a far less wordy - title. It also suffers from certain dictional, grammatical and syntactical problems which a good editor should clean up. Otherwise, I fully recommend the book to Kenyans, Africans and other citizens of the world.

[source:http://allafrica.com/stories/200708060486.html]

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Interesting observation
written by arapkubai, August 24, 2007

i have enjoyed reading thru da article n discovering how da west tries 2 give every credit 2 themselves.imagine a word like logos:it must surely hav a kalenjin origin.otherwise other words 4 GOD in sebei/sabaot are yiindet(creator),magoryondet(the wealthy).

Is God a She In Kalanjin ? A Gotabgaa De
written by adminstrator, August 25, 2007

Hi Gotabgaa,
I have just been thinking about the terms we use in reference to God in
Nandi. We often use such words as "Chebo Nomuni", "Chep Kelien
Sogol", "Cheptaleel", etc. Now that the "chep-" names in our community
(especially among the Nandi and Kipsigis) are usually ascribed to the
female species of human kind, does it mean that our forefathers
conceptualised God as being a "She"?
Araap Mulwo,
Durban
-------------------------------------------------

Gotabgaa,
The reason why God was refered with a name synonimous with a female is (on my opinion) the fact that He(God)is the giver of life,the one we pray to when we are in need,the one that nurtures.When you think about it those are the same attributes of a female in a community. So to me God was regarded and is still regarded as OMNI-DEITY who we cant explain but we try to equate it with what the person we know(She) can do or is capable of doing.The Nandi usually tell there young initiates to respect their MOMS because they are the ones who TAKE CARE of them.But God is regarded so powerful that it doesnt occur to us that we are using a female name.
Anee Kiprono Arap Kapsogoon(Talai)
--------------------------------------------------------------
There are three genders in our language. A fourth one is supposedly there but it is controversial. The early European linguists and anthropologists recognised it: this is "ol" of place, "olto", place (and even time or season). But let us leave it there, am not myself convinced that it is a gender case.

The three are 1) "tie" which is often heard in speech as che- and ta- and is our feminine prefix, basically from tie (girl/lady). Examples: Chebeet, ( from tie-ap-beet) , taptuei (tie-ap-tui- ei). 2) kip is the masculine prefix. In some cases it begins with /p/ as in Psirmoi, Psenjen. (The true element that marks the masculine gender is the /p/ but for now just leave it at kip- then 3) the neuter gender form which represents all others of indeterminate philosophical nature such as: koot, keetit, koreet, emeet, ndareet etc.

Most communities worldwide view the Godhead in the feminine form. The Judaeo-Christian view of the Godhead in the masculine form owes it much to post-mosaic anti-Egypt theological understanding which was later strengthened by Roman era misogyny (hate for women). Otherwise if you read Jeremiah 7:17-20 and 44:17-19 you will see that the Israelites in pre-mosaic (before Moses) times worshipped the Queen of Heaven (who was Isis or Asiis) i.e. Godhead in the feminine form. In the cited chapters they are shown relapsing - backsliding - following problems in post-mosaic times. The Kalenjiin have kept the same since. But it is not to say that Deity is the daughter of so and so, the Godhead is asexual, indeed conceptual and abstract, unconfine-able to form or gender. Our people understand that very clearly as I established during my field research all over Kalenjiinland. The Indians and most other communities also recognise the Godhead in the feminine form. Please continue the debate...

Araap Sambu
-----------------------------------------------------
Mulwo,
Quite valid concerns if we perceive Cheptaleel as 'daughter' of Kipleel. However, I tend to hold the position that Cheptaleel is possibly a corruption (maybe phonetic) of 'Cheptaliil' which means the 'Taliil, Holy, Glittering, Glistening' daughter (Cheepto ne taliil) and carries the modern theological concept of 'white as snow'. If you like, the 'Chep-' is simply an acknowledgement that God, being prolific and productive is symbolised by 'that who bears the seed', which excludes the male gender. Cheptaleel may therefore signify God's beauty, majesty, cleanliness and intolerance to sin and corruption!

Cheebo Namuni or literally translated 'daughter of Namuni' introduces a 'fatherhead' to the deity. I am at a loss as to who Namuni IS except that we need to understand when this name was 'chanted'. I propose that Cheebo Namuni was pronounced by one seeking 'protection and defence' and therefore the attributes of a guardian was assigned this 'goddess'. I hypothesise that Her father, Namuni, who 'holds' or 'Ne Namu" was such a fierce warrior that nobody could dare face Him. Only His daughter may intercede on one's behalf, however. I perceive a lose relationship between Namuni and what Kipkoeech teaches in his addictive book as 'Khnemu', which is possibly the Kalenjin understanding of one 'in charge'. This is also possibly a way of mollifying the omnipotence of the powerful 'God' by ascribing the attributes of a daughter who will 'sympathise with others' just like 'she too qualifies for sympathy from her all powerful father'. Maybe!

By the way, I am simply offering proposals in areas that I have the most unqualified knowledge. If they sound outlandish, remember I am just that.....outlandish.

By the way Kipkoeech Sambu, I saw a reference to 'Tatenen' and wondered whether it meant 'Tuneen' and hence firm and unshaken, or more preposterously 'Tap Tuneen'?
Kap Mateechlong'in
---------------------------------------------------
Seronei,
And you still see yours as a hypothetical position?

So what do you have to say about Cheptaleel? what does it mean? Who
was Nomuni (or is it Namuni)? Did we have God the Mother and God the
daugther (or the father and the son)?

Araap Mulwo,
Durban
-------------------------------------------------------------------
julius bii wrote:
>
> Chepkeelyen Sogool is another name used for Asiis. The following is
what I heard from varius people. Keelyen, the indefinite plural of
keeldo (foot), and Sogool (nine) are the words from which this name
is formed and literally refers to nine legs or feet.
> Asiis did not need anything added to Him, so it was the logical
number to be associated with divinity ( Koech says). Nine is the
highest single number, so this connects with many legs. The name
gives the idea of plenty, or the all-sufficient one.Sun rays in the
morning-light reaches everywhere to signify God's grace ( power and
strength) which is available for all mankind.
> The sufficiency of God is recorded in Psalm 66:7, 103:19, and
Rev.19:6 " He rules for ever by His power. his eyes watches the
nations"

--------------------------------------------------------------------
raap Mulwo,
While you seek an asnwer to the Chepkelien sogool, allow me to hypothesise that it refers to celestial majesty and is possibly a reference to the family of nine planets. Ignore that Pluto has been downgraded, leaving only eight planets in place. To me I see it like the way we should begin looking at all the numbers.

1. Three is the number of a woman, (kiyaasei somok yo kakisich tie, tarusieekab chepyoosok koyoondoi chrous somok, etc). This is also related to the Biblical ceremonies revolving around the birth of a girl-child. Did I here that in Mosaic Israel, the mother of a girl could stay away for three months from the synagogue/temple, the girl could be named after three days?. I noted that Moses was hidden away for three months (three months appears 17 times in the Bible, whereas three years appears 45 times as opposed to three and two for four months and years, respectively). Could possibly reinforce that the virtues of mercy, benevolence are a woman's strength? On the other hand:

2. Four, eight and twelve are the numbers of man or the male gender. Is it true that a mother stayed away from the temple for four months if she gave birth to a boy? Whereas in Menjo University men did things in foursome, sang four, eight or twelve choruses and of course when a boy was born this was discernible from the four ululations (yaaset) that the birth party belted out to inform the father of the arrival of a rival! On the eighth day, a newborn boy was circumcised and named (Cf Luke1 v 59; 2 v 21).

3. Nine seems to me to be a Universe or Celestial number of order, which is less than ten, the number of God! Just look at it this way, the nine 'legs' plus the 'body' equals to a number- ten, which signifies completeness for God! Also, our people had remarkable knowledge of celestial arrangements in that kecheiik (planets) are distinctly different from Taboik (including the sun, which are stars). Kaamuste ra kiptabooi, means I left home in the starry night, before day-break! Pay attention to what our people say to warn somebody from intercepting some order, 'Ma kindooe sogool tai' and even more sterner a warning 'Ki yaasei Kip Taman ak Sogool'. So, does nine mean anything other than these?
Neng'wong' guut!
Kap Mateechlong'in
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wise-men and lady sages of this forum:

A number of people have asked me to say something about Chepkeelyen Sogool (Asiis as the "Lady of 9 Legs"). The African has for thousands of years revered figure nine. The oldest sited is the Egyptian Ennead divinity systems. "Gods" were arranged in nines called in English Ennead. I don't know whether they had counted the nine (now known to be 8) planets, for they knew the difference between stars and planets and they pioneered astrology as we know it today. Those of you who went to traditional meenyjos will attest to the teachings about planets, moon and stars there. Yours was perhaps a watered down brief training compared to the same in pre-formal school times when men spent 1 year in meenyjo and women 3 years. Their syllabus was richer and fuller then.

They knew that the rays (legs) of the sun were uncountable but since nine signified plenty, they seem to have referred to them as nine in number - meaning blessed, I think. Akhenaton, the Egyptian Pharaoh often given the credit of founding monotheism worshipped through the disk and rays of the sun and he was often depicted receiving 9 rays from the sun at sunrise.

The Maasai also respect figure 9. A Maasai old man told me that they long realised humans had nine orifices (holes) in their body: the "holes" come by way of: the two ears, the two nostrils, the two eyes, the mouth, the anus and the genitalia: are those nine. So for a human being to be complete and wholesome he/she had to have those nine holes. So 9 signified completeness. It was also the desired number of children per woman to our ancestors as well as to the Agikuyu who couldn't even say "ten" where important things were concerned because that number had surpassed the holy figure 9! So they called ten "kenda muhioru", i.e. "nine-full".

Magindoeen sogooldai, my friend Kap Matelong'iin, means you should not do anything ahead of its time or out of turn. Don't go too fast, investigate first. Our soldiers of yore, when matching to war walked behind nine non-fighting scouts called sogooldaiik. They acted as decoys as well as a sentinels and spies. They were nine because nine signified that the entire community was represented in that particular enterprise of war. 9 signifies wholeness. You put to risk the lives of your soldiers if you allowed them to march ahead of the sogooldaiik and into un-surveyed territory.

Araap Sambu
-----------------------------------------
Mulwo,
Quite valid concerns if we perceive Cheptaleel as 'daughter' of Kipleel. However, I tend to hold the position that Cheptaleel is possibly a corruption (maybe phonetic) of 'Cheptaliil' which means the 'Taliil, Holy, Glittering, Glistening' daughter (Cheepto ne taliil) and carries the modern theological concept of 'white as snow'. If you like, the 'Chep-' is simply an acknowledgement that God, being prolific and productive is symbolised by 'that who bears the seed', which excludes the male gender. Cheptaleel may therefore signify God's beauty, majesty, cleanliness and intolerance to sin and corruption!

Cheebo Namuni or literally translated 'daughter of Namuni' introduces a 'fatherhead' to the deity. I am at a loss as to who Namuni IS except that we need to understand when this name was 'chanted'. I propose that Cheebo Namuni was pronounced by one seeking 'protection and defence' and therefore the attributes of a guardian was assigned this 'goddess'. I hypothesise that Her father, Namuni, who 'holds' or 'Ne Namu" was such a fierce warrior that nobody could dare face Him. Only His daughter may intercede on one's behalf, however. I perceive a lose relationship between Namuni and what Kipkoeech teaches in his addictive book as 'Khnemu', which is possibly the Kalenjin understanding of one 'in charge'. This is also possibly a way of mollifying the omnipotence of the powerful 'God' by ascribing the attributes of a daughter who will 'sympathise with others' just like 'she too qualifies for sympathy from her all powerful father'. Maybe!

By the way, I am simply offering proposals in areas that I have the most unqualified knowledge. If they sound outlandish, remember I am just that.....outlandish .

By the way Kipkoeech Sambu, I saw a reference to 'Tatenen' and wondered whether it meant 'Tuneen' and hence firm and unshaken, or more preposterously 'Tap Tuneen'?
Kap Mateechlong' in

...
written by adminstrator, August 25, 2007

Arap Mulwo,
Why are you trying to smoke me out? OK, let me familiarize you again with my dialect. Let us count!
Akongo, odeny, somok, angwan, mut
Mut ngo akongo, mut ngo odeny, mut ngo somok, mut ngo angwan, taman
11taman ngo akongo, 18 taman ngo mut ngo somok,
tamanut odeny or tiptem, sosom, artam, kanam,
pokol, pokoloi odeny, pokoloi somok, pokoloi angwan, pokoloi mut
1000 nying'utian(dirt)
So the highest number is 1000 which may be significant in that 1 day to God(Tororot) is like 1000 years. But 5mut (Roman numbers?)is the highest single number and I could quote severals fives in the Bible too. I really don't put much significance on numbers even though 7 and 3 seem to have a lot of significance.
Tomi ngolion?
Nya-koripok Tororot
Wero Achipa
---------------------------------------------------------------
Wero Achipa,
It seems in trying to address the SOGOOL and Other numbers, several responses seem to fit the jig-saw fitting as regards to each digit and its significance.

Well, I think 7 is a seal of GOD from the Bibilical point of view and to the best of my knowledge, it is mentioned 128 times in the Bible.

Here are few example:

1. AARON Â» Summoned to Sinai with Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders (Exodus 19:24;24:1,9,10) (7 x 10)
2. BURIAL Â» Burial of Gog (multitude) requiring seven months (Ezekiel 39:12,13)
3. DISCIPLE Â» The seventy (better mss. have "seventy-two") followers of Jesus are sent forth (Luke 10:1) (7 x10)
4. ETHANIM Â» (The seventh month (October))
5. GAD Â» Jacob's seventh son (Genesis 30:11;35:26; Exodus 1:4)
6. GERAH Â» A weight equal to thirteen and seven-tenths grains, Paris
7. GIDEON Â» Had seventy sons (Judges 8:30) (7 x10)
8. HALF-HOMER Â» A measure of about seven or eight gallons
9. HIN Â» A measure for liquids, and containing one-sixth or one-seventh of a bath. Jewish authorities disagree as to the exact capacity. Probably equivalent to about one gallon one quart, or one gallon and a half-quart (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 19:36;23:13)
10. HOLIDAY Â» One year in seven (Leviticus 25:2-7)
11. ISRAEL Â» Zimri, seven days
12. ISRAEL Â» Jehoahaz, seventeen years
13. JACOB Â» Lives in Egypt for seventeen years (Genesis 47:28)
14. JEHOIACHIN Â» Confined in prison for thirty-seven years (2 Kings 25:27)
15. JEHOIADA Â» A priest who led three-thousand seven-hundred priests armed for war (1 Chronicles 12:27)
16. JURY Â» Of seventy men, elders (senators) (Numbers 11:16,17,24,25)
17. KOZ Â» Head of the seventh division priests (1 Chronicles 24:10)
18. LAMECH Â» Son of Methuselah, and father of Noah, lived for seven-hundred and seventy-seven years (Genesis 5:25-31; 1 Chronicles 1:3)
19. LAND Â» To rest every seventh year for the benefit of the poor people (Exodus 23:11)
20. LOAVES Â» Miracle of the seven (Matthew 15:34-38;16:10)
21. MEDAD Â» One of the seventy elders who did not go to the tabernacle with Moses, but prophesied in the camp (Numbers 11:26-29)
22. MEMUCAN Â» One of the seven princes of Ahasuerus who counsels the king to divorce Queen Vashti (Esther 1:14-21)
23. MOURNING Â» The Egyptians mourned for Jacob for seventy days (Genesis 50:1-3)
24. PAUL Â» Waits at Tyre for seven days; is brought on his way by the disciples to the outskirts of the city; kneels down and prays; boards the ship; comes to Ptolemais; greets the brethren, and stays for one day (Acts 21:4-7)
25. PAUL Â» The ship encounters a storm; Paul encourages and comforts the officers and crew; the soldiers advise putting the prisoners to death; the centurion interferes, and all on board (consisting of two-hundred and seventy-six persons) survive (Acts 27:14-44)

26. PERGAMOS Â» One of the "seven congregations" in (Revelations 1:11;2:12-17)
27. PERIZZITES Â» One of the seven nations in the land of Canaan (Genesis 13:7)
28. PERSIA Â» An empire which extended from India to Ethiopia, comprising one-hundred and twenty-seven provinces (Esther 1:1; Daniel 6:1)
29. PHILADELPHIA Â» One of the seven congregations in (Revelations 1:11;3:7-13)
30. PHILIP Â» One of the seven servants (Greek: diakonos) (Acts 6:5)
31. RACHEL Â» Jacob serves Laban for an additional seven years to obtain her as his wife (Genesis 29:15-30)
32. SABBATIC YEAR Â» (A rest that reoccurs every seventh year)
33. SARDIS Â» One of the seven congregations in (Revelations 1:11;3:1-4)
34. SCORPION Â» Power over, given to the seventy disciples (the best mss. have "seventy-two") (Luke 10:19)
35. SERPENT Â» The seventy disciples (the best mss have "seventy-two") endued with power over (Luke 10:19)
36. SEVENTY Â» The senate of the Israilites composed of seventy elders (Exodus 24:1,9; Numbers 11:16,24,25)
37. SEVENTY Â» The seventy disciples sent forth by Jesus (though the best Greek mss. have "seventy-two") (Luke 10:1-17)
38. SEVENTY Â» The Jews in captivity in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11,12;29:10; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:12;7:5)
39. SMYRNA Â» One of the seven congregations in (Revelations 1:11;2:8)
40. SOLOMON Â» Has seven-hundred wives and three-hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3; with Deuteronomy 17:17)
41. STEPHEN Â» Appointed one of the committee of seven to oversee the daily ministration (Acts 6:3,5,6)
42. TABERNACLES, FEAST OF Â» The law read in connection with, every seventh year (Deuteronomy 31:10-12; Nehemiah 8:18)
43. TIMON Â» A member of the committee of seven men who were appointed to supervise the daily ministration (Acts 6:5)
44. YEAR Â» Land to rest for one, in seven (Leviticus 25:5)
45. ZETHAR Â» One of the seven chamberlains of the king of Persia (Esther 1:10)
46. ZOAN Â» Built seven years after Hebron in the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:22)
47. BLOOD Â» SACRIFICIAL Â» Sprinkled seven times before the curtain (Leviticus 4:5,6,17)
48. COVETOUSNESS Â» INSTANCES OF Â» In deceiving Jacob when he served him seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:15-30)
49. DAVID Â» King of Israel Â» Anointed king over all Israel, after reigning over Judah at Hebron for seven years and six months, and reigns thirty-three years (2 Samuel 2:11;5:5; 1 Chronicles 3:4;11:1-3;12:23-40;29:27)
50. DAVID Â» King of Israel Â» Consigns seven sons of Saul to the Gibeonites to be killed to atone for Saul's persecution of the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1-14)

Perhaps it is worth also reading this book which explains the mystery of numbers:

http://www.maa.org/reviews/mystery.html

Lang'at Kiptoo, Ph.D.
----- Original Message ----

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