ENJU YA MULEMBE

According to Bukusu folklore, African Leopards are large-sized predictor cats who roam riverine forests and dense bushes often hunting antelopes, hares and livestock and even humans to quench their carnivorous desires. Over the years, they have weaponized their camouflage skills for survival making them excellent hunters under the cover of darkness. An African leopard is not only a fearsome beast but also intelligent and patient killer who is calculative, strong and fast enough. Adult leopards may live up to twenty one years of age mostly as a solitary animal. Modern animal behaviourists at the African Wildlife Foundation believe the African leopard is the most secretive and mysterious of the wild cats. Before the pinkman came up with names such as Chordata, Carnivora and Panther Pardus to describe the leopard, the Babukusu of Western Kenya had for more many decades lived (in nuisance) and studied this tactful enemy. In fact, the elite Bukusu warriors hunted these cats down...

“ I have already informed the naitirians (your war leaders ); the odds of this war are against you. While crossing  River Khamukoya at mwifubukho, keep on the  left side while approaching lukoba. Descend on the  enemy downhill from the north. Let the sun splash  rays on your backs, not your breasts. Do not accept  to dine on the enemy’s cow, however fat it  looks.” [Situma son of Wanaumbwa, Bukusu Prophet -1879] In South of Malakisi, in Sirisia Sub-County of Bungoma…in the green lands right at the foot toes of Mount. Masaaba... there lies a very industrious village of Tulienge. Etulienge is no ordinary village, it is a monumental one. Meet an old man or woman in the village and they would give you the shocking account of a Great War. About138 years ago, the village was a bloody battle ground between the Babukusu and Bamia [Iteso]. Of all the battles you have heard involving Babukusu, only a few matches that of Wa-Chonge. It can only be likened t...

Once upon a time, in Bukusu land, when the future was in a distant past… Long before the coming of the pink man became a memory people’s mind… Long before Wachiye wa Naumbwa, Mutonyi, Khakula, Sing'uru, Maina wa Nalukale or Mukite wa Nameme were born to consult the oracle and prophesize on our lands …. Long before Mango son of Bwayo from Ebukhurarwa wrestled with the giant killer snake in the dark caves of Mwiala…. Long before Ngutuku wa Watiila, Maelo wa Khaindi, Sikhokhone or Kaluuka wa Nabwonja poured their wisdom in leading the people in peace and war… – A great famine befell the land. Rains got scarcer and vegetation started drying up. Finding water became a problem and livestock also began to die. Increasingly, homesteads had less and less to eat and people lived in fear of death. And yet, the skies shone bright and no sacrifices by elders in Mountain tops charmed the gods. In the clan of Baechalo, there lived Kharuba whose household felt the pangs of the prolonge...

The people were seated and silently listening to the tribulations that had befallen Maina wa Nalukale. After he had spoken, few moments passed, elders consulting among themselves. The first elder to stand and add his voice was Nakitembwa, the Omukasa for the Masaaba. He condemned the act and retaliated that Namunguba should be killed. Secondly, Mingichi who was Omukasa for Barwa Bauchuchi agreed with Nakitembwa that he should be killed. From Bamia, Mirikwa their elders said the community should not kill Namunguba since a woman is like a flowing river, a common property to the society. Then it was the turn of Bukusu elders. Among them was Welembe Omuala by clan, Cherono, Omufuumi and the well-known Mungo’ma Omubichachi. After a brief joint consultation they said: “When a person grows old it is okay for him to give his youngest wives to his surviving son. All we can do is perform the silukhi so that Namunguba gets cleansed from the wayward behavior he has exhibited” Observabl...

EPISODE 1: MAINA THE GREATEST SEER OF ALLTIME This is a tale of a great tribesman among the Babukusu of Luhyia nation. It is a tale of the greatest seer hailing from the Batukwiika Bakitang’a. In a quick recap, Batukwiika are classified in three ‘gates’ (Bilibwa); Bakwangwa, Basakha and Bakitang’a. Just like almost every clan, Batukwiika have their own approach to self-introduction. And it goes: Omutukwiika Mbirira Machabe, Kutusi, omusilikwa, omurwa we Embayi, omunianiambi Omusila matakho, owakenda na chikhendu sikala. [Batukwiika were once led by Omukwangwa leader Mbirira; he is entitled to ekutusi (elders robe –signifying political power); he is well-built walking cheerfully; he came from Silikwa through Embayi carrying a long raffia palms symbolizing immense cattle wealth.] Maina son of Nalukale hailed from silibwa of Bakitang'a. It is not clearly when Maina was born. Nalukale was the name of his father and his mother was Omumasaaba (Omugisu whose ancestor was Mukis...

 Luhyas nowadays wear similar clothes just as other communities in Kenya but it is different during their cultural activities, ceremonies and events. The cultural activities such as ceremonies especially where dancing is involved, cultural attire are worn to show the great appreciation to the Luhya culture. Strings of beads are worn round the waists and necks and not to forget the tsindeke which are little bells worn around the wrist of the legs when dancing. Women wear special skirts made out of sisal which is called Liboya in the abaluhya language.

Luhyas have various foods and drinks they rake but the most popular one is the Ugali (Swahili) called Obusuma in Luhya language which is synonymously served with Ingokho (chicken). The traditional vegetables also served with obusuma include saga, Obwova (mushrooms), mrenda among others. The vegetables are cooked by spices such as the mselekha to make them soft and for quick cooking. Other food crops in the Luhya community include sorghum, fingermillet simsim, tsimbande (a variety of nuts), tsing’oli (a variety of peas), pumpkins, sweet potatoes, yams in their rich basket of food. The Luhyas are also more often seen chewing sugarcanes. Their drinks include sour fermented porridge called the Obusera and Busaa, traditional liquor which is served in traditional gourds cut into two halves for individuals. Busaa is also served inside a container during ceremonies from which it is drunk with aid of pipes with those involved seated around the container. The community is ...