Culture Comparative Final Essay

with the Boran culture for the past 20 years. This conflict originated when Rendille men took their herd to graze in Boran territory, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. Since then, the inter-cultural conflict has claimed the lives of 1050 people. As described by Davis, the Rendille are nomads constantly in search of food and water for their survival.

The importance of camels in their culture is highlighted by the fact that they can travel long distances in the desert where little water is available. Camels only require water every 10-14 days, making them a vital resource for survival (Davis). Additionally, the Rendille people extract camel blood from the camel's face and drink its milk, enabling them to thrive in the challenging deserts of Kenya. The Ariaal community, like their counterparts, live in harmony and have relationships with various cultures such as the Samburu and the Rendille.

The Ariaal and Rendille tribes have established a settlement that provides them easy access to water, ensuring their survival. They rely heavily on their camels for sustenance, with their diet consisting of camel's milk and wild herbs. Additionally, both tribes raise cattle, which brings further resources and meat to their community. Despite sharing the same language and customs, the Ariaal differ from the Rendille in that they are not nomadic. Interestingly, both tribes center their culture around camels and cattle. They even name their sons and days of the year based on specific camel behaviors, highlighting the significant bond they have with these animals. The camel is not just viewed as a regular animal but is believed to possess a soul and personality by both tribes. In fact, the

Rendille choose their settlement based on how a bull camel approaches the proposed location. This sets their culture apart from other nomadic cultures who prioritize resources when selecting a settlement. The tribes place great importance on labeling their camels and cattle to distinguish them from others, highlighting their uniqueness. When men meet along the trail, they prioritize discussing the well-being of their herds before inquiring about each other's families.According to Davis (148), men rely on herds when it comes to marriage as it symbolizes their wealth and status. The loss of cows not only affects their sense of life but also renders their rituals and ceremonies meaningless, as stated: "If we lose our cows, we lose our faith in life itself. All our rituals and ceremonies lose their meaning without the animals."

Both the Rendille and the Ariaal cultures have a unique but logical spiritual connection with the camel and its herd, playing a significant role in their society. These two cultures are comparable and were birthed from each other. In Kenya, there are several camel-dependent cultures with similarities, but none have as close a relationship as the Rendille and the Ariaal.

The strong bond between the Rendille and Ariall cultures is similar to a father and son relationship, where both parties care for and look after each other's well-being. This bond will help them overcome the challenges brought by globalization, allowing them to thrive as cultures.

Bibliography:
-Breuing, Peter. "Inter-Ethnic Relationships." Weblog post. Anthropology and Common Cultures. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.
-Kenya's Ariaal Nomads Are Perfect for Anthropology / They're Isolated and Willing to Be Observed - SFGate. Featured Articles From The SFGate. 18 Dec. 2005.

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-Lacey, Marc. "Remote and Poked, Anthropology's Dream Tribe - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News ; Multimedia. 18 Dec. 2005. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.
-"Cultural Profile of the Rendille People of Kenya." Strategy Leader Resource Kit. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.
-Davis, Wade. Light at the Edge of the World: a Journey through the Realm of Vanishing Cultures. Vancouver: Douglas ; McIntyre, 2007. Print.