Before the Julian calendar was introduced in 45 BC, Africa people relied on indigenous knowledge to celebrate the new year beginnings. These traditions were often tied to agricultural cycles, astronomical events, or spiritual beliefs.
According to an indigenous knowledge expert, Philomen Aroni, various cultures recognized or celebrated the new year in various ways including commencement of rains, stars and even the flowering of revered trees like the Nandi Frame.
Giving an example of the Abagusii community where he comes from, Aroni said the first day of the year was never the first day of January as it is viewed today. For them, it varied depending on the bounty of the harvest, because poor harvests were never celebrated, on the understanding that they signaled danger for the community.
Giving an example of the current day Kabianga division, located in Kericho County, he said the Abagusii community named the place Kabianga, which means ‘things have refused’ because they lost people and livestock, from deaths caused by serious malaria attacks, and they ran away after concluding the place was cursed.
As for the Maasai community, Aroni said their New Year celebrations was based on the movement of the sun and availability of rain, which signaled enough pasture for their livestock, which is what has sustained them since time immemorial. Hence, they celebrated the start of the new year with the beginning of the rain season, which to them signified the renewal of life and the opportunity for new growth. The celebrations included elaborate rituals, such as dances and prayers to their gods for abundant rains and blessings.

As for the Luos, he said, their calendar was also tied to the agricultural cycle, when they celebrated the first harvest of crops. The rituals marked the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. This celebration was a time for thanksgiving, feasting and sharing with the community.
This, he noted, is unlike the current situation, where people celebrate without having achieved anything in the previous year. He termed such celebrations as hollow as people just keep vigil on 31st December awaiting a new year at midnight as they burst crackers, with nothing to show for the past year.
He noted that the Mijikenda people’s calendar was based on the movement of the stars and the phases of the moon. They celebrated the new year with the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster in the sky, which signaled the planting season. The celebration involved rituals to ensure a bountiful harvest and to honour their ancestors.
He also gave examples of communities from west Africa such as the Akan people of Ghana, whom he said celebrated the New Yam Festival, marking the harvest of the crop. The festival was a time for thanks giving, celebrations, and renewal.
He noted that Dogon people of Mali celebrated the Sigui Festival, a major cultural event that took place every 60 years. This festival was a time for renewal, reflection, and the passing down of traditional knowledge.
The Zulu people of South Africa celebrated the Reed Dance, a coming-of-age ceremony for young women. The festival was also a time for showing reverence to the queen mother as they celebrated the year which had nothing to do with the first day of January.
However, he said the amazing Ethiopians who were never colonized by anyone rejected the Julian calendar. Their new year falls on September 11th because they still follow the Gregorian calendar and their first day of the year is known as Enkutatash, which means ‘gifts of the jewels’. When the Queen of Sheba returned from Jerusalem after visiting King Solomon and getting pregnant.
Also, their new year coincides with the blossoming of yellow flowers and their celebrations include a meal of stew and injera, a flatbread, a honey wine and coffee. And when the sun goes down, they light a bonfire that stays aflame until the sun rises.
And, the 44th tribe of Kenya the Indians have kept their tradition of Diwali that means a season of lights that follows in the month of October, when they crack crackers and light up the stars.
Aroni, concluded that, the Julian calendar, has killed the main signifier of a year, which has always meant for Africans, an achievement of something and a renewal of the coming seasons. He wondered, what majority of Kenyans were celebrating nine days ago. Is it the bad economy, killing of Gen-Zs, the unresolved court cases that have outlived their time flame, the overindulgence of alcohol by both the educated or uneducated, or the profanity of our fishermen who have continued to poop in our only fresh water lake and turned it into an eye shore. Or numerous mabati churches that are more than schools and factories in some areas, and their deafening noises at night? Or was it the killer roads?
By Veronica Bosibori