Editing Kipsigis people (section)

=== Culture ===
The Kipsigis observe a belief system maintained by all other Kalenjin people. The system observes polytheistic theism with the deities '''''Asiis''''' (a [[solar deity]]) and '''''Tororot''''' are each considered major deities. Some studies suggest that '''''Tororot''''' was the initial kalenjin deity but interactions in Kerio valley led to assimilation of the priestly Kibasisek clan whose peculiarity is having the Sun as their tortem; they were much sought after to perform marriage rituals and other religious activities. While multiple other deities exist independently to one another. In the Kipsigis' monotheistic belief system, Asis is instead considered the single supreme deity and the other deities are considered Asis' attributes, rather than independent entities. The Kipsigis allude to cultural values including superstition, spiritualism, and a sacred and cyclical nature of life. They believe all elements of the natural world are connected, that good deeds never go unnoticed, and that bad deeds lead to consequences in various forms. The Kipsigis view "happiness" as a lack of negative experiences, indicating a quiet and calm state. This convention under the [[culture and positive psychology]] studies when contrasted to other indigenous communities gives researchers an obstacle in obtaining a qualitative or quantitative measure of happiness.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Rebecca L. |date=2009 |title=The quiet clam is quite calm: Transposed-letter neighborhood effects on eye movements during reading |journal=Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=943–969 |doi=10.1037/a0015572 |pmid=19586263}}</ref>

The Kipsigis people's oral tradition is observed to have a rich background in songs. Many of their oral traditions feature a creature known as '''Chemosi','' usually referred to in western texts and culture as the [[Nandi bear]]; a monstrous ape-like basic-intelligence creature which also feature among other communities of Kenya, Uganda and parts of Congo.
[[File:Traditional Kipsigis gourd hanged on a wall..jpg|thumb|185x185px|The milk gourd, a cultural symbol of the Kipsigis]]
A western adventurer [[Edgar Beecher Bronson]] claims to have seen a creature that he notes the Lumbwa people referred to as '''[[Dingonek]]'''. He describes it as a water creature whose features include an armadillo-like, leopard-patterned, hippo-sized back and a leopard's head with two large protruding fangs. He reports that the Lumbwa and the Wadoko peoples spoke of such a creature in the Maggori River then provides an account of his sighting of the said creature. His is the only account of such a creature.

'''Food and Drinks'''

The meals mainly consist of a cooked thick paste of elusine flour, vegetables or meat, a blend of milk and cow blood, or milk. The Kipsigis ferment milk in gourds with powdered popcorn flower tree cinders. The sour milk is known as Mursiik. The tribe also brewed nubian gin and it was reserved for men and women in and past middle age.

''Mushrooms''

The Kipsigis are known to gather ''[[Termitomyces tylerianus]]'', ''[[Termitomyces umkowaan]]'' and ''[[Termitomyces microcarpus]] (puunereek).''

==== Astronomy and calendar ====

The [[Milky Way]] is known as ''Poit'ap kechei'' (literally ''sea of stars''), the morning star – Tapoiyot, the midnight star – Kokeliet, and [[Orion's Belt]] – Kakipsomok. The Milky Way was traditionally perceived as a lake in which children are bathing and playing. Furthermore, the movement of stars was sometimes linked to earthly concerns. For example, the appearance or non-appearance of the [[Pleiades]] indicated whether or not to expect a good or a bad harvest. Sometimes superstitions were held regarding certain events. A [[22° halo|halo]] was traditionally said to represent a cattle stockade. At least as of the early 20th century, a [[Parhelic circle|break]] occurring on the east side was considered to be unlucky while one on the west side was seen to be lucky. A [[comet]] was at the same time regarded as the precursor of a great misfortune.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hollis|first=A.C|title=The Nandi – Their language and folklore|date=1909|publisher=The Clarendon Press|isbn=9781444605150|location=Oxford|page=100}}</ref>

The Kipsigis call a month 'Arawet', which is also the term for our satellite, the moon. A year is called 'Kenyit' which can be derived from the phrase 'Ki-nyit' meaning 'to accomplish, to fill in'. A year was marked by the order of months and more importantly by ceremonial and religious celebration of the yearly harvest which was held at the various shrines. This event being analogous to a practice observed by most of the other Africans has inspired the [[Kwanzaa|Kwanza festivities]] celebrated by predominantly by people of [[African Americans|African descent]] in the United States. Kenyit started in February. It had two seasons known as ''olto'' (pl. ''oltosiek'') and was divided into twelve months, ''arawet'' (pl. ''arawek'').<ref name="Hollis A.C 1909, p. 94">Hollis A.C, The Nandi – Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 94</ref> In place of a decade is the order of ''Ibinda'' which is usually between 10 and 17 years. In place of a century is the completion of the age set which takes between 100 and 120 years.

The first season of the year, olt-ap-iwot (iwotet), was the wet season and ran from March to August. The dry season, olt-ap-keme (kemeut), ran from September to February.<ref name="Hollis A.C 1909, p. 94" /> The kipsunde and kipsunde oieng harvest ceremonies were held in September and October respectively to mark the change in Seasons.<ref>Hollis A.C, The Nandi – Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 46</ref>

===== Months (arawek) and Seasons =====
{| class="mw-collapsible"
!
!Name
!Meaning
!Corresponds
|-
!1st Month
|Kiptamo
|''Hot in the fields''
|February
|-
!2nd Month
|Iwat-kut
|''Rain in showers''
|March
|-
!3rd Month
|Wake/ Iwootkuut
|  –
|April<ref name="Hollis A.C 1909, p. 94" />
|-
!4th Month
|Ngei
|''Heart pushed on one side by hunger''
|May
|-
!5th Month
|Rob-tui
|''Black rain or black clouds''
|June
|-
!6th Month
|Puret
|''Mist''
|July
|-
!7th Month
|Epeso
|  –
|August
|-
!8th Month
|Kipsunde
|''Offering to God in the cornfields''
|September
|-
!9th Month
|Kipsunde oieng*
|''Second offering to God''
|October
|-
!10th Month
|Mulkul
|''Strong wind''
|November
|-
!11th Month
|Mulkulik oieng
|''Second strong wind''
|December
|-
!12th Month
|Ngotioto
|''Month of pin-cushion plant''
|January<ref>Hollis A.C, The Nandi – Their Language and Folklore. The Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1909, p. 95</ref>
|}