Red-Spotted Ox: a Pokot Life

Red Spotted Ox is the fascinating autobiography of an East African pastoralist, as told to Pat Robbins in the early 1970s.

Domonguria lived near the Kenya - Uganda border during a time of rapid cultural change. In this book, he describes Pokot traditions and history, while also recounting his fights with lions and enemies, initiation rites, raids, scandals, romances, sorcery and celebrations. Through one man's unique perspective, his autobiography documents a rich cultural heritage - its rituals, songs, legends, values, and it challenges to survive. "It worries me that many... have begun to reject the words of our elders. They neglect customs that have been handed down to us since ancient times... It is time for our Pokot traditions and history to be written, so that our school children can read about their own heritage, and others can appreciate our culture." - Domonguria