The Link between Oral Narratives and Sabaot Pre-colonial History in Western Kenya

Purpose: This paper demonstrates the critical role of Sabaot oral narratives as indispensable sources for reconstructing pre-colonial history. It examines how myths and epics encode complex historical information, including migration patterns, social stratification, and spatial cosmologies. Methodology: Using symbolic anthropology as a framework, the study analyzes two key narratives—the 17th-century Chepkoilel legend and the 19th-century Manyeror saga—through close reading and contextual analysis of existing oral literature collections, performances, and interviews with Sabaot elders. Findings: The Chepkoilel epic reveals the socio-political consequences of spiritual rivalry and land curses, documenting the power of the Woorkooy institution and its potential for abuse. The Manyeror narrative reflects tensions between traditional prophetic authority and colonial-era technological influence, serving as a cautionary tale about cultural upheaval. Originality/Value: The study concludes that oral narratives are not merely folk tales but are vital, dynamic repositories of historical knowledge that offer unique insights into the Sabaot worldview and pre-colonial societal dynamics, including social stratification (seretyo, woorkooy, kitony-kapkoros) and spatial cosmologies (kong'asis vs. tinkey). Keywords: Sabaot, oral narratives, pre-colonial history, symbolic anthropology, epic, Woorkooy, Mount Elgon, Kalenjin