The making of Ilchamus community kingpin

In this community, deep rooted culture dictates the way of the life, where there is an organized administrative unit to solve internal matters.

Each age set has got its president –launoni- who is carefully chosen from the group. He is of high integrity, good morals and honest. It is from this virtue that the chosen president is to be shaved using a razor blade and a mixture of water and milk, a symbol of blessing in the task to be mandated. 

On this occasion the first wife shaves half of the hair on his head while the other is to be shaved by the second wife. If non it will be shaved by sister in-law.

All this happens in a cowshed with the fire is lit. In the Ilchamus traditional, the fire has to burn for the next four days without going off lest the generation be cursed.

After this is done, it is time for the other age sets to sing and dance, ushering in their new crowned president to assume power.

The main function of the president in Ilchamus culture is to resolve dispute among the community, uphold unity and oversee every cultural practices in the society.

The Ilchamus system of presidency happens after 13 years for a given age set. According to community members, the system has helped them resolve their issues locally with few cases going to court as 90 % of disputes are resolved within the community.