Food Culture

Meet ligomia l’logooli kisigame, the traditional banana of the Maragoli

by
a hand of ligomia l'logooli kisigame, the original traditional banana of the Maragoli Luhya of Kenya

In Maragoli language, bananas (the fruit or food) is known as ligomia. Magomia is what we call the banana plantation itself. In our culture, a seasoned eye can look at the stem, leaves or poise of magomia and come to a conclusion to which ligomia it will bear. Ligomia can be: mulalu (good only for … Read more

Meet makhalaba the reluctant Luhya traditional vegetable: Of eating eggs and expecting chicken, taboos, books and a Maragoli saying

by
picture of a crop of bean plant

Makhalaba (Isukha) or magaraba (Lulogooli) is a Luhya traditional vegetable that is the leaves of the bean plant. The Bukusu call it likanda. It is a vegetable shrouded in taboos and sayings, making it a reluctant choice for a meal. Makhalaba is one of those meals that you prepare and cook only when it’s a … Read more