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Home / Communities / Wayuu Community / Community Profile
Having migrated to different parts of the country and intermarried with other communities, wayuu lost their identity and language, only a handful can speak the native wayuu dialect while majority of them speak the Oromo language, the dominant ethnic group they live with in Ethiopia and Kenya. They have attached themselves to Borani clans and other tribes and in the process they have been assimilated by them. They also participate in the ceremony of Borani like in marriage, naming ceremonies and sacrifices. For example, shedding a leg by a wayuu clansmen to wash in the ceremony and wear a head band.
The wayuu have several clans, namely Gafuula, Warkura, Sagan, Chalis, Basille, Tiyello, Shaltoo, Tumal, Shanima, Kothele, Ucholla, Aoyal, Gabaala, Ejam and Nagaddaa with the overall leader called Abba Gada is an overall leader of the community, he rules as both spiritual and cultural and political leader. He is assisted by his Headquarters and administrators his authority to all wayuu both in Kenya and Ethiopia. wayuu Community from all over the area and maintain along ties with this area. All their important shrines and their political headquarters are based here.
wayuu had five (5) distinctive Yaa hunting groups located in different location including Ethiopia. These five (5) Yaa have different cultural rituals and well organized cultural, leadership that has been in existence since time immemorial. The equivalent of a governor in a region while Abba Gada is an evident of a king who administers his authority to all wayuu, whether they are in Ethiopia, Kenya or in the entire world. He rules with a council of ministers called Maajji and retired Abba Gaafas as his chief advisors to run the society.
Consequently, when members of the wayuu community do apply for jobs from either Isiolo or Tana River Counties, they are not able to get employment because they are not listed among the 43 tribes and regulation of the community.
In the world view, wayuu Community of Ethiopia and Kenya were also recognized, in an annual Indigenous Peoples Fellowship Program of 2016, organized by office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland. The fellowship was for all the world's Indigenous Peoples where wayuu Community was registered as one entity/community as the UN body and UN body (OHCHR).
All the above Yaa are situated in Ethiopia except Yaa Aabbo Bondle which is in Sololo, Kenya. These Yaa are primordially designed and located for religious and cultural, rituals that to be performed and practiced. These Yaa are in a sacred and holy place for worship.
However, wayuu's memories and solidarity on the 2019 Census Report and subsequent recognition as an ethnic community in Kenya with code 048 on 30th September, 2018, to bridge the marginalization gap. The purpose of this code was to get equal share of country's resources and job opportunities in the two County Governments.
