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.
Back when I was a small girl, the days when I was still dressed like eswa efure, a termite with without wings, life in the village had its joys and … Read more
Am that kind of person who whenever I go visiting long lost relatives, they always exclaim: ” Hata tujakuwa na mvua, umetuletea baraka!” Blessings or not, rain always seems to … Read more
We learn all that pertains khuminya; a rite that’s central to Luhya traditional circumcision ceremony through the lens of my childhood adventures. Back when we were growing up, life in … Read more
A recent tiring experience helping out a friend who’d become a new father got me wondering: Had we become ‘soft’? Sitting from where they sit seeing us haggling with mama … Read more
Wisdom from our forefathers on good living, perfect health and wellness gleaned from our ultimate list of Bukusu proverbs on health. Disclaimer: First things first. Please note that I am … Read more
Among my people, to be a man, you have to be honorable and ask for a girls hand in marriage the right way. For the Bukusu, this includes writing a … Read more
This is why you can’t herd a few goats and claim to have paid Bukusu dowry Gaining the status of in-law to a Luhya family is one of the best … Read more
What is khurunga kumurwe? The story of a young love cut short and a man determined to honor the love of his life one last time. Long time ago when … Read more
We explore the meaning of the Bukusu proverb ‘enyama yo mundu eli nga yemboko, okinyolela khusibumba‘ which translates to: the meat of a human being is not like that of … Read more
Wife inheritance was one of the key contributors to polygamy of the polygyny type (embalikha) among the Bukusu. The following cultural practice best described via the Bukusu words mukha rarao … Read more
