Dorobo Peoples - Classifications

Classifications

In the past it has been assumed that all Dorobo were of Southern Nilotic origin; accordingly, the term Dorobo was thought to denote several closely related ethnic groups.

Although many of them happen to be Nilotic, Dorobo as used by the Maa simply refers to neighbouring hunter-gatherers regardless of their origin — the Yaaku for example (present-day Mukogodo-Maasai) are an Eastern Cushitic people, the Aasax are of Southern Cushitic origin, while the Akie (Mosiro) are Eastern Nilotes. Some of the people described in early accounts of the 'El Dorobo' are imaginary, or fictional accounts of 20th century savages such as "races of bearded men" as described by Charles Hobley.

Groups that have been referred to as Dorobo include:

• Kaplelach Okiek and Kipchornwonek Okiek (Nilotic; Rift Valley Province, Kenya)
• Sengwer
• Mukogodo-Maasai (the former Yaaku, sometimes Aramanik) (East Cushitic; Laikipia District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya)
• Aasax (South Cushitic; northern Tanzania)
• Akie (sometimes Mosíro, which is an Akie clan name) (Nilotic, northern Tanzania)
• Mediak (Kalenjin, northern Tanzania)
• Kisankasa (Kalenjin, northern Tanzania)
• Aramanik (Kalenjin, Tanzania)
• Mosiro (Kalenjin, Tanzania)
• Omotik