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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The reckoning of time by the Borana Hayyantu |
Author: | Tablino, Paul |
Year: | 1994 |
Periodical: | Rassegna di studi etiopici |
Volume: | 38 |
Pages: | 191-205 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Kenya |
Subjects: | Boran time |
Abstract: | The Borana Hayyantu, that is the experts in the reckoning of time among the Borana people, use a cycle of 27 names to indicate the days of the month and a cycle of 12 names to indicate the months of the year. The stars and constellations that are considered important for establishing the correct month are called by the Hayyantu 'urjii d'aa', that is 'the stars in which the moon shows itself' or, in other words, the conjunction of the moon with certain stars. By looking at the stars the Hayyantu give a name to the moon and in this way they establish a correspondence between the moon and the seasons. The years are distinguished in terms of eight-year periods called 'gada' during which one particular person remains in power. This description of how the Borana Hayyantu calculate time was written in consultation with Jirmo Bagaja Sapansa, who is in contact with a number of Borana Hayyantu of Marsabit and Sololo in northern Kenya. App. (on the feasibility of a Borana calendar; Borana months and days related to the Gregorian year AD 1996; reckoning of time for the Gabra year 'Alsinina'), bibliogr. |