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.
Have you ever come across a pot with two mouths? I usually see them at market places. One time while travelling in a matatu, I casually asked a passenger sited next to me the uses of a striking two mouth earthenware pot that he delicately held on his laps. Mr. Waswa, let’s call him that, … Read more
Meaning of Bukusu proverb kukhoya kwabirira emukali; a proverb of great comfort when life deals us bad luck. One morning, just this May, my family woke up to sad news. The night to that subuyi had been wet from a heavy downpour, the type my people call embembesi. Our compound rests on a flat land … Read more
This is a story of my close confidant Musa. My Musa is employed as a farm hand in one of my friend’s farms. Once, he suffered a misfortune and how he handled it introduced me to a Bukusu proverb on picking up the pieces ‘omubayi abechanga ne kumubano’; more importantly it taught me about resilience. First, … Read more
Changa style ndolekho is not a challenge to pronounce lightly. You better be prepared, you have to know how to strut your stuff on the dance floor. Most importantly, you must be prepared to leave it all there. Whenever, in the ceremony known as khuchukhila, a omusinde form Bayemba clan pours water that he’s fetched … Read more
Four things. One: omusinde. Two: a proud father. Three: kamalwa khuyusia, ancestors’ timely but unwelcome lessons, the elusive nature of trust and kamalwa kakatikhe. This is the story of a boy whose big day, well, let’s just say it burst. The Bukusu people have a number of sayings about beer. Regulars here have already benefited … Read more
Among the Luhya the traditional beer, kamalwa, is made from spontaneously fermented maize flour. The fermented flour is sun dried then fried in a pan until it assumes a coarse powder form. When in this state, it is known as kamalwa kamakhalange or simply kamakhalange. Also: Makhalanje, tsimbale, mkarango. My people simply cannot resist kamalwa … Read more
Were you circumcised in the traditional way? This is a common, albeit rude, question that Gents face whenever they identify themselves as Bukusu. So popular is the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony that it is sure to dominate conversations. If for one reason or another your knowledge on your peoples ways isn’t up to scratch, that’s … Read more
Gather around it’s time for another story. The curious story of Manyonge and on taking chances that leads us to the meaning of the popular Bukusu proverb: Lelo nyo kanyolile kakanyola embichi musipwoni. Bill Grates organized an enormous session to recruit a new chairman for Microsoft Europe. 5000 candidates assembled in a large room. One … Read more
My first formal sex education lesson occurred after one of my cousins had been circumcised when I participated in a ceremony called khutiukha. The Bukusu, my people, are not shamed by sex. Sex education for us begins early. But it doesn’t happen in the drab fashion of today: formal classrooms with uneasy teachers doling out … Read more
As I equivocally stated before, we the people of mulembe are a people of love. The spirit of mulembe is that of warmth. That of love. Of companionship. That of a man loving his woman. And of women finding joy in keeping their beds warm; making sure her man is tethered to her sheets. Therefore, … Read more
