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Sudi wa Namachanja: Inside the mind of Sudi wa Namachanja

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POWER SHIFT IN BUKUSU LEADERSHIP Before analyzing the rise of Sudi, it is important to mention his arch-rival and supposedly-community leader Wandabwa, son of Namunyulubunda. But to understand Wandabwa well, we have to time-travel back as far as 900 A.D (The Year of Our Lord). As far as memories can grasp, Walumoli the son of Sioka (Omubuya) was the pioneer community leader. Walumoli together with his son Wabutubile takes the community from the plains of Silikwa to Ekukumayi through Sengeli, Namanajalala, and Namarare. His leadership is succeeded by Sioka a prominent Omulako. Later leadership drops among the Bakhurarwa taken by Matukutuku who was a great ancestor of Mango, circumcision reformist. When Matukutuku dies at Esilangilile, power returns to the house of Omubuya as Sanjamolu leads the community up until Bukaya. Batukwiika Bakitang’a then succeeds the community leadership as Maina (II) son of Nalukale, the famed leader arises to power. After decades in rein, he passes Ekutusi a
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Sudi wa Namachanja: Political Opportunist, Cunning Cartel leader, &Philanthropic Bukusu Chief||TRACING NAMACHANJA'S LINEAGE

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Today we sojourn to the land of Ebukhone... Omukhone – Omwalie Omusilambongo,Owambukha Njoya Khumufunje wakwa engelekha khuluusi [Omukhone express allegiance to Bamwalie, does not dine on antelope meat, he came to current Bukusuland by making a rope bridge....and landed to the other side on a thread]. We visit the homestead of Otunga, a successful Omukhone with vast crops and unnumbered livestock. There is an emotionally disturbed barren wife. It is on a cold rainy when the barren wife of Otunga heads to junk heap to throw ashes. She notices a shivering boy, naked and destitute. Pity engulfs her and she quickly relays the news to Otunga who joyfully agrees to adopt the son as his own. The pity looking was Ekobi, son of Lusaala (Omutura). Running away from hunger, he lands in Wakoko’s territory in Otunga’s lukoba. Dearly loved, Ekobi grows to be quick and agile. He was a superb herder, helping in the fields and chasing birds that might destroy crops. He lightens up lukoba, more especial
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JOURNEY FROM ESIBAKALA: BUKUSUMIGRATION PART 1

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WHO WAS MUNDU? On page 4 of the East African Red Book (1925),sits a column by William Schoff, a Greek writer (also author of Periplus of Erythraean Red Sea). In his sojourn to the southern parts of Egypt, in 60AD, he writes about ‘The Market Town of Mundus’. Prof Bethwel Ogot (History of Southern Luo Vol 1, 1967) and P.W Makila (An Outline of Babukusu of Western Kenya, 1976) strongly suggest, the market was one of earliest gathering of descendants of Mundu. Mundu was the great ancestor of Babukusu, from whom there have arisen more than 200 clans and sub-clans in the Bukusu sub-nation. Contrary to popular belief, Mundu was not directly created by God and put in earth like the Biblical Adam. Such a claim is grossly erroneous, misleading and wrongly founded. While little is known about Mundu, it is evident that he spoke a Bantu language and together with his wives, sons and daughters, lived among other non-Bantu communities. It means that Mundu was not the first person on eart
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Babukusu Lock Horns with Iteso: Strategic and Cunning Warrior-leader Mukisu Lufwalula

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Inja Mulole! Inja Mulole! Inja Mulole! Nakholo nasena kameno kewe Mukibachenje, Icha Mulole! [Come and see how the wag-tail bird brushes its teeth in Kibachenje River] It is after seven years after the death of Wamalwa Kijana, an Omuengele and Bukusu enigma that a renowned Bukusu singer, Isaac Kisache wa Mwasame, in 2011 produces one of his hit songs, ‘Icha Mulole’ (https://www.youtube.com/watchv=WvATOYfdEhY ). Part of the lyrics goes: Icha mulole Wamalwa nasena kameno kewe TransNzioa,  Icha mulole!  [Come and see Wamalwa as he brushes teeth in TransNzioa]. Little is known that he derived the lyrics from an old Bukusu war-song where the Babukusu went into war with the Bamia (Iteso) not only beating them at their own tactics but driving them as far as Etororo in the Buganda Kingdom. As the sowing season of 1830 approached, the household of Wekuke witnessed a cry of a newborn born. It was a maiden cry that signified new joy! Out of the womb of an Omulwonja woman, came Mukisu,
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Wachiye wa Naumbwa: Rare Magic, Prophecy and Charisma

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Exciting tale of a man that could blind the eyes of enemy raiders, entertain two audiences at the same time, heal the sick through drum beats, tap termites from bare rock and sit on sharp end of his spear! A story is told of an Omutukwiika Omukwanga child born in 1810 and circumcised in 1832 under the Bakananachi age-set. Wachiye’s father was called Lwasaka and Naumbwa was the name of his mother. Wachiye grows up displaying a unique art and powers of prophecy and mind-blowing tricks that earned him great fame. In a brief reflection of his background, Batukwiika Bakwaangwa were fourth generation (siimila)) descendants of Mbiriira a key Bukusu leader in the 1700s. The other clusters are Batukwiika Basakha and Batukwiika Bakitang’a). Like Bayemba, Bayitu and Bachemayi, Batukwiika are empowered to give public lectures (Khuswala Kumuse). And just like Bakolati, Baala, Bamutilu and Baengele, the Batukwiika traditionally formed the ruling class wearing Ekutusi (Elder’s Robe). The
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Uniting Luyhia land: Echoes of Mukitewa Nameme’s War Drum

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As the tilling season of 1822 approached, there arose into popularity, a young man, son of Mukite,great grandson of Wafulumbe from Batilu tribe of Babukusu. He walked far and wide beating a massive Buganda dream. The drum beats awakened the Bukusu land to unite to a purpose and live as one people, undivided. He was 1790- born orphan whose parents were felled by Bamia Bapala during the second dispersion war at Embayi and Mwalie. He had spent his childhood as a refugee in Ebukabalasi. The tribesman would launch a solo campaign of bringing the lost sons and daughters that had dispersed amidst a successive wave of tribal wars that had created massive rift among the People of the Thigh of the Elephant. Remembered as a courageous patriotic and wise community leader, Mukite wa Nameme upon consulting an old Bukusu seer would rally people to as far as Mundoli, Samia, Marachi and Bunyala reminding them to return to Bukusu land and pronounce end of tribal wars. He was a daring young m
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The Fall of Wa Chonge Part II

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Around 1879, Situma khwa wa Wachiye had forewarned the Bukusu community that engaging Chonge was too premature. He was far-connected. They, on the other hand, would be ill-prepared and would suffer huge casualties. Overambitious military elites had overrun Situma’s words, terming him only a frightened, worth dressing in luilikhe, woman’s skin cloak. The old seer, in desperation, enjoined in the battle but fate had its way; skulls ran River Khamukoya red…just like the Oracle had spoken. After a handful harvesting seasons had passed after the Bukusu merciless massacre in the hilltop homestead of Chonge, omurwa Omulaku, there was a pressing need to deal with him once and for all. The previous attack had nevertheless, been so demoralizing. Homesteads had feared giving young men for war. Wa Chonge’s military prowess was unmatched and sooner or later, he was due to attacking the community. It was that precise moment when a young man from Babuulo clan, expressed interest to comman
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