7 Amazing Facts About The Dorobo Forest Tribe Of Kenya
You might not believe this: there is a forest tribe in Kenya in this century. The Dorobo – timid, shy, and lone people who live deep in the Mau and Mount Elgon forests—a tribe with a culture that is so rich yet unexplored.
Come Travel Kenya is set to get you into the depths of Mau Forest for an encounter with the Dorobo Forest Tribe of Kenya. Dorobo tribe is also popularly known as the Ogiek, or Okiek – meaning hunter in Kalenjin.
Before then, here are seven Mysterious facts about this tribe that will blow your mind away:
They still survive largely on hunting and gathering
Both men and women in this tribe are endowed with astute hunting, gathering, tracking and trapping techniques that help them to survive in the forest.
Though they sometimes have been forced to engage in traditional farming due to the encroachment of other tribes into the forest, the Dorobo still hunt for survival.
They have a unique technique of making bows and poisonous arrows that they use as hunting tools.
Who can imagine that in 2023, when the world is hurtling towards civilization, there is a whole tribe that has chosen to stay loyal to its survival roots to this very moment?
They only use herbal medicine
Dorobos believe in honey and herbs. Honey and herbs cure all their ailments. The men spend a lot of their time curving bee hives from hollow tree trunks. They also have underground bees that make what they call medicinal honey, which is not so sweet and less dense.
They mix honey with herbs to cure most of their ailments. Dorobos don’t believe in hospitals. The forest heals them just as they try healing it when other communities harm the forest. Their diet is also loaded with herbs that help in digestion. This is a smart way of keeping lifestyle diseases at bay.
They believe the forest is alive
Come Travel Kenya, upon interaction with these peculiar people, discovered that the Dorobo talks to the forest. They invoke the spirits of the forest for protection and cooperation. One confirmed to Come Travel Kenya that they believe that the forests are alive and the relationship between man and trees should be symbiotic. The animals are equally important. According to the Dorobo, when a tribe takes good care of the forest, the forest feeds the tribe forever. It is two-way.
Mankind should borrow this philosophy and embrace it. This belief has gone a long way in conserving the Mau Forest which is the natural habitat of the Dorobo people.
They have an array of peculiar gods
Which tribe doesn’t? Every indigenous tribe has its own set of gods and beliefs. The Dorobos have the most intense that Come Travel Kenya has encountered. Their rituals are spine-chilling.
This one can only be witnessed, describing in writing won’t give the deserving justice. Come, let us walk you into the Mau forest for an intense cultural and ritualistic encounter with the Dorobos.
Maasai believe Dorobos and the poorest people
Just because they don’t own cattle, the pastoralists, especially Maasai believe that Dorobos are the poorest people on earth. The name ‘Dorobo’, is derogatory, meaning extremely poor.
Come Travel Kenya discovered that Dorobos don’t value material possessions. They value survival. Originally, they lived a day at a time, fostering close relations and friendships.
The thick web of family and relations that they have created, enables them to keep to themselves and survive all right.
Dorobo People may be the original owners of Kenya.
Yep! There is no evidence showing they moved in from anywhere. Every other tribe in Kenya found the Dorobos hear. They are therefore the original owners of Kenya, yet they are so marginalized.
Other tribes kept clearing the forest and pushing them deeper into the forests. Since they can’t harm forests, they try to hide deeper into them. The government is still finding it difficult to resettle the Dorobo out of the forest.
It is like getting fish out of the sea. Can they survive outside the forest?
Maybe you should come find out. Come Travel Kenya will organize your trip.
