Ilpedess Clan (Maasai)
Ilpedess is a clan of the Ildamat sub-tribe of the Maasai people in Kenya. The clan is primarily found in Narok County (Narok East, Ildamat Ward) and Kajiado County. Members of the Ilpedess clan are traditionally engaged in mixed farming, including crop cultivation, goat keeping, sheep herding, and cattle rearing.
History
The Ilpedess clan traces its origins to a period of conflict in Maasai history, during which a group of Maasai fled their homeland as refugees. The elder Ole Kobaai, originally from the Ilpatimaro clan, received the refugees and named them Ilpedess to integrate them into the local community. This naming also enabled intermarriage between the refugees and the host community.
Symbol and Identity
The clan’s totem is the monkey, which in Maasai culture can symbolize adaptability, cleverness, and social bonds. Like other Maasai clans, Ilpedess follows exogamy, meaning members are not permitted to marry within the clan.
Cultural Practices
The Ilpedess clan maintains traditional Maasai customs, while also participating in modern livelihoods such as agriculture. Oral traditions about the clan’s founding and history are preserved by elders, including accounts passed down from Ole Kobaai.
Present Day
Today, members of the Ilpedess clan are found mainly in Narok East and Kajiado, with some having migrated to urban areas in search of education and employment. The clan remains a recognized social unit within the Ildamat sub-tribe of the Maasai.
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