Home » Western Region » Kumukhendie: Why this indigenous tree, also known as Lusasari, was bad news in Luhya culture
poster with image of skull titled kumukhendie tree - a tale of misfortune and a tree

Kumukhendie: Why this indigenous tree, also known as Lusasari, was bad news in Luhya culture

Kumukhendie tree (Bukusu) or Lusasari (Maragoli) is tropical flora of East Africa. As with any indeginouse tree, the cultural value of kumukhendie varies with the tribal group. For the Luhya of Kenya, in particular in the Bukusu belief system, this tree, whose scientific name is Allophylus ferr, was a much feared one. Find out why

Quick facts on kumukhendie tree

Scientific NameAllophylus ferr [family SAPINDACEAE]
Common Names
Local NamesLusasari (Maragoli), Mugimbe (Kikuyu), Borwet ap chepkeleliet (Kipsigis),
Key characteristics
Distribution Kumukhendie is found in its natural habitat in most parts of East Africa. Scholars in the 50’s and 60’s documented forests/clusters of kumukhendie in the following areas:

In Tanzania, areas around the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This include Moshi, Mgorogoro and Iringa at the Mwanihana Forest Reserve.

In Kenya, in the areas around Mt. Elgon or (Mt. Masaba) in what was then known as Elgon district, today part of Bungoma County. In areas at the foot of Mt. Kenya at Nyambene in Meru and in North Kavirondo district, today Kakamega County at Kakamega forest.

In Uganda, on the slopes of Mt. Elgon at Kigezi in Maramagambo Forest; Mbale in Bugisuland, and in Kasa forest, Mityana area near Lake Wamala.

Kumukhendie’s cultural value among the Bukusu

Kumukhendie is not a popular tree among the Bukusu because of the body of myths associated with it.

For instance, it is believed that if a branch from this tree is used to point at a person, that person is sure to be met with calamity.

In modern times, such misfortune can include involvement in a road traffic accident that is fatal if not debilitating.

Back in the days of Bakuka, some of the feared calamities included: being struck by lightning; a bull turning against its owner and mowing them to death; unexplained deaths or other forms of unnatural death.

The kumukhendie or lusasari tree held such mystical power that it was believed that canning another with its stick, esimbo ekhendie, would lead to their death.

The same calamitous fate applied to using esimbo ekhendie to look after animals. Anyone foolhardy enough to attempt that would surely lose their herd courtesy of kumukhendie.

Together, the mythical and mystical powers of kumukhendie tree saw to it that it would be cut down whenever it was sighted growing in a homestead.

This drastic conservative measure was precautionary as nobody wanted to take chances with this tree with mystical powers.

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