Traditional and contemporary Bukusu culture covered in refreshing detail and breadth; along rites of passage, stages of life and events such as: birth, naming, circumcision, marriage, burial and death.
An election, a season and a song: The story behind enjaka khunywa makalama, the song of the 2022 Bukusu traditional circumcision season. Every two years, to the Luhya of western Kenya, comes circumcision year. And every circumcision year, a new circumcision song emerges that serves to notate the times and is the soundtrack of the … Read more
One of the most important rules in Bukusu culture is you’re not to greet your parents-in-law by the hand. The ways of our forebearers strictly forbids it. Learn why The rules Women married to a home, the daughters-in-law are forbidden from shaking hands with their fathers-in-law, uncles-in-law or any male first relation to their husbands … Read more
I will tell you a story of a girl by the name Kesekwa and her dream. A crazy dream that explains menses and pregnancy in Luhya dream interpretation. Kesekwa’s Dream Kesekwa had one of those scrambled eggs dreams that we all have. First, she was at her khukhu enjoying a meal of lisebebe and bwoba … 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
We explore the meaning of the Bukusu saying sikolonjo sialinda ekunda. In the process, we shed light on aspects of the traditional Bukusu land tenure system, pottery and circumcision. Sikolonjo sialinda ekunda in English “Potsherds look after (take care of) the land.” It was during sisingilo of Bachuma II, between 1972 to 1986, when the … Read more
What is the cultural significance of sikolonjo (potsherds) in Luhya culture? We take journey form the times before to more recent days in the life of Babukusu and Mulogooli people of the Luhya. Growing up, my mother had some reluctance us visiting our paternal grandmother and spending days there. Before you make conclusions, it had … Read more
A narration and the symbolic meaning of the Bukusu traditional circumcision tradition khukhombia kumukango. An experience designed to stir the lion within. Senje hides herself a few meters from the etiang’i in the path of the initiate. Etiang’i is the pot into which the initiate pours water that they have fetched from the river, early … Read more
Poverty will make you dance at your in-laws. The meaning of the Bukusu proverb ‘kumutambo kukila wakhina ebukhwe’ through the unfortunate story of Maelo. A story is told of one Maelo who visited his daughter. His daughter was married in a well off family. Food was served. Maelo with his friends dined. Alcohol was also … Read more
A sad tale chronicling unfortunate events that saw children suffer the curse of a father and what had to be done to reverse it as dictated by Bukusu culture
