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Luhya traditional circumcision

Meet The song of the Bukusu circumcision 2022: Enjaka khunywa makalama (Wajackoyah)

Luhya Culture, Luhya traditional circumcision, Bukusu Culture /

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 […]

Meet The song of the Bukusu circumcision 2022: Enjaka khunywa makalama (Wajackoyah) Read More »

oster titled 'likhoni luliki lukembe' with image of a bull's testicles

FAQ: What is Likhoni or luliki in Bukusu circumcision?

Luhya traditional circumcision /

Answers to frequently asked questions on likhoni or luliki in Bukusu circumcision. Use the comments section to post more questions which we will endeavor to answer as accurate as possible. For more terms, phrases, traditions on the traditional Bukusu circumcision ceremony, browse our glossary titled Speak With Authority on Bukusu Traditional Circumcision Ceremony; or comb

FAQ: What is Likhoni or luliki in Bukusu circumcision? Read More »

poster titled songs of sikhebo with image of boys in traditional regalia and fuscha tone

Tunes of life: Sikhebo songs before and after COVID-19

Music in Mulembe - A portal to the world of African Luhya music, Luhya traditional circumcision /

Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all? The language of music is the fairest and the most unifying of all. As with sikhebo songs, which even as they morph with the times, continue to relate social gossip, news and political commentary whose net effect is to bring us together in

Tunes of life: Sikhebo songs before and after COVID-19 Read More »

poster of khulanga the bukusu circumcision tradition with image of two boys in traditional regalia dancing and blowing whistles

Meet khulanga, a tradition at the heart of the Bukusu circumcision ceremony

Luhya traditional circumcision /

The Bukusu circumcision ceremony is important to the health of the community of Babukusu, the largest of the 18 houses of mulembe, because it brings together kith and kin in celebration of life, progress and continuity. The tradition of khulanga, makes this possible. To date, the Bukusu of Kenya hold their customs and traditions sacred.

Meet khulanga, a tradition at the heart of the Bukusu circumcision ceremony Read More »

ripe banana symbolizing the circumcised male organ

Meet nalulwe, the herb traditionally used to treat a newly circumcised penis of omufulu after traditional circumcision

Luhya traditional circumcision /

The year 2020 was the year of the traditional circumcision among the Bukusu. In spite of earlier public health concerns over COVID-19, this important pillar of Luhya society came to pass albeit with less fanfare than usual amidst controversy. Our coverage on this cultural wonder continues with a deep dive unmasking nalulwe, a plant that

Meet nalulwe, the herb traditionally used to treat a newly circumcised penis of omufulu after traditional circumcision Read More »

Poster with wooden ladles titled khukhombia kumukango

What is khukhombia kumukango? The making of a man among Babukusu, details on a Bukusu traditional circumcision tradition

Bukusu Culture, Luhya traditional circumcision /

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

What is khukhombia kumukango? The making of a man among Babukusu, details on a Bukusu traditional circumcision tradition Read More »

eggplant and two citrus arranged to simulate the male organs fruits upon a lilac background

The exceptional treatment of special basinde: Oh yes, not all initiates preparing to face kumubano kwo mukhebi are equal

Luhya traditional circumcision /

The Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony that takes place every even year, is the most attended event in Western Kenya’s rich cultural tourism experience. Whilst most local and foreign visitors get to experience, participate and lose themselves in ‘above board’ events like dancing through the streets with basinde during khuminya or changa style dance, few get

The exceptional treatment of special basinde: Oh yes, not all initiates preparing to face kumubano kwo mukhebi are equal Read More »

poster appreciating our maternal uncles with images of archetypal khocha, kotsa and chomba

The meaning of khocha in Luhya: 7 life events in Luhya culture that are hallowed by the presence of the irreplaceable khocha/ koza/ kotsa/ kocha/ chomba

Luhya traditional circumcision, Luhya Culture /

Khocha is a male sibling to your mother. Broadly speaking, in the way African relations are expansive, chomba in Bukusu slang; or kocha, koza or kotsa in lulogooli is any of your mother’s relations that she calls brother. This includes her cousins of whichever degree. Among the Luhya, alongside senje, kotsa is the most cordial

The meaning of khocha in Luhya: 7 life events in Luhya culture that are hallowed by the presence of the irreplaceable khocha/ koza/ kotsa/ kocha/ chomba Read More »

All about ‘changa style ndolekho’, the penultimate dance of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony

Luhya traditional circumcision, Bukusu Culture, Luhya Culture /

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

All about ‘changa style ndolekho’, the penultimate dance of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony Read More »

poster with image of broken plate titled burst beer broken dreama kamalawa kakatikhe

The pitiful story of omusinde whose beer delayed khuyusia, how not to suffer kamalwa kakatikhe

Bukusu Culture, Luhya Culture, Learn Luhya, Learn Lubukusu - Bukusu Language, Luhya traditional circumcision /

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

The pitiful story of omusinde whose beer delayed khuyusia, how not to suffer kamalwa kakatikhe Read More »