Omwami Mwene 
Olusiola or kumusola or uluwovu is a tree native to the lands of the people of Mulembe. In Luhya folklore, one of the patriarchs of the Bukusu nation, Maina wa Nalukale blessed his descendants as he inherited them the land occupy today: ‘May you flourish like the kumusola tree,’ he said. And flourish they did, … Read more
Joseph Kubende was a Kenyan gifted Bukusu language orator, published author and political operative. Who is Joseph Kubende Joseph loved to call himself Kubende Wa’Wekhomba. In his health, Wa’Wekhomba loved to dance kamabeka and sing to the public. He had a voice full of life which he was not ashamed to make use of, be … Read more
How to say I love you in Maragoli. Yanza is the Maragoli word for Love. To say I love you in Maragoli, you add ‘nda’ and the prefix ‘ku’ (verb) to say: Nda kuyanza. One can add the word iligali, pronounced i-ri-guh-ri, so that they say: ‘ nda kuyanza iligali’ to mean that they love … Read more
Retired Captain of the Kenya Airforce turned philanthropist, politician and son of my mother. This quote, posted on his Facebook page, was his last. This is Mccleans Iganza Sloya on culture. Who is Mccleans Iganza Sloya? Sloya was a rising star in Vihiga politics and a frontrunner for the Sabatia parliamentary seat come the 2022 … Read more
There’s no single word to say I miss you in Bukusu language, Lubukusu. That said, the following phrases maybe of help. The Bukusu word liofu, like it’s variant mahoru in Lulogooli is more about longing than missing. In Maragoli language, Lulogooli or Kimaragoli, one uses the word mahoru. Therefore, you can simply say Mbe na … Read more
So how do you tell a Luhya in a pack? One way is that he maybe the obviously ‘omundu strong‘ personality. Maybe its the one oozing mulembe from every pore: stoic, holding their peace and advocating for understanding when all about them are losing theirs. Then there is this way, from their tabias. Not all … Read more
Over days and weeks the initiate, omusinde, through song and dance, calls his kith and kin to witness his becoming of a man. But some two days before the big day, his bravery is tested. As a sign of the man he will become, the initiate is required to put out an act of courage, … Read more
Meet the Bukusu proverb ‘slippery ground has no king’. In Lubukusu Burerere sebuli ne omwami ta. You can also say Bumuimiu seburia omwami. Meaning and use of this Bukusu proverb Some situations or circumstances or happenstance is life have no regard for social status or self bravado. You could use this proverb to warn someone … Read more
Want to learn a bit of Luhya? This is how to say where are you going in Luhya language. We start off with the Maragoli and Bukusu dialects. In the Luhya language of Maragoli/ Lulogoli / Kimaragoli Uziza hai? Uzia hai? Informal Uhenzi hai? An English equivalent is: “Where are you headed?” Meaning of words … Read more
This is the story of the lost children of Maragoli. A story told to myself, in passing, by my beloved late paternal uncle Herman. Unfortunately, baba Herman’s passing on in late 2020 at the ripe old age of 88 denied me a chance to be versed as-it-was on this little talked about, but significant chunk … Read more
