Clans (Oreet)
The Nandi peoples have totems or oreet each identified by an 'animal' or tiondo, which no clan member could eat. The identification by Oreet helped prevent inbreeding since marriage within Oreet was largely not permitted. More details are published at Matelong Family Web. Clan symbols (tiondo) range from birds, wild animals, frog and snake to bees. Although the sun is not an animal, 'she' has oreet and is called 'tiondo' in the same sense as a lion. It is claimed that Kong'ony (crested crane) was the first animal allocated a family. Hence Moi (Kong'ony) is regarded as the 'leader' and in child stories this is shown as the source of babies in a family. The jackal (Kimageet, oreet of Tungo, korap oor) is claimed to have been the last tiondo to be allocated and comes along with several rules of favour (ostensibly to hide the fact that it was the last). Hence, even though the Nandi claim 'Cheptaab oreet age ne wendi oreet age' literally 'a daughter from one clan goes to another clan and belongs in the new clan', to mean a woman has no clan, the Tungo girls are permitted to retain their clan identity.
- Kipkenda Maimi
- Segemiat (bee)
- Kiboiis
- Lelwoot
- Solopchoot (coackroach)
- Mooi
- Kong'oony (Crested Crane)
- Soeet (Buffalo)
- Kergeng, Cheptirkiichet (Dik-dik)
- Kipkamoriet
- Kogos, Chepkogosiot (Eagle)
- Kipsirgoi
- Toreet (palee kut ak kutung')
- Kipamui
- Kergeng (Antelope)
- Sogoom
- Chepsirereet (Eagle)
- Talai
- Ng'etuny, Lion (Kuutwo, Talai Orkoi)
- Ng'etuny, Lion (Talai Nandi)
- Kipoongoi (che kwees tibiik)
- Taiyweet
- Kibiegen (kap rat setio let)
- Moseet (Monkey)
- Muriat (rat)
- Kipaa (koros)
- Ndareet (Snake)
- Tisiet (Baboon)
- Toiyoi (moriso)
- Ropta (rain)
- Birechik (Safari Ants)
- Kap Oiit
- Beliot, kiramkeel koe mooi (Elephant)
- Kipleng'wet (rabbit)
- Kipasiiso (Kap koluu)
- Asista (Sun)
- Kuchwa
- Mororochet (frog)
- Tungo (korap oor)
- Kimageetiet (Hyena)
- Kiptabkei
- Chereret (vervet monkey)
Read more about this topic: Nandi People