Luhya Culture

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

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

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 … Read more

Meaning of Bukusu Proverb: Kumutambo kukila wakhina ebukhwe

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poster with a cartoon character woman in Indian traditional dress dancing titled 'kumutambo kukila wakhina ebukhwe''

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

4 uses of the special Bukusu pot kumuinda, the pot with two necks and mouths also known as namunwaebili or munwa mbili

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poster with two images of munwa mbili or namunwaembili or kumuinda side by side

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

All about kurugiza, house warming the Maragoli way: When your sister in law helps you to cook fulfilling an important Maragoli tradition that makes a home complete

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poster with image of a lit fire titled ku.kurugiza a Maragoli tradition

Kurugiza is a Maragaoli tradition that straddles the community’s building traditions and marriage traditions. It is an important part of our culture that serves to make a union complete. Literally, kurugiza means ‘to be made or be aided to cook’. Recently, before COVID-19 disrupted our cultures and way of life, I attended the burial of … Read more

The plain truth about Luhya men of a certain stock and the fruit of their loins: Meet the archetypal omundu strong

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The plain truth about Luhya men of a certain stock and their fruit of their loins. From dealing with ‘out growers’ to tips on how to please this archetype of Luhya man, so that his engine is oiled and loins roar. The other day an omwami known to me, a true omundu strong, posted a … Read more

Busaa drinking etiquette: 5 timeless rules to being the perfect guest from the ‘Book of Gentlemen’ written in the time of our grandfathers

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post titled don't pour the beer- busaa drinking etiquette from the Luhya

The dos and dont’s when you get invited to a busaa drinking party in which the Luhya traditional straw (lusekhe)is used to sip beer. Busaa is a Luhya traditional beer. It is made from spontaneously fermented roasted grain known as kamakhalange or tsimbare, and the Luhya traditional yeast known as limela (lubukusu) or mumeri/ mamela … Read more

Tooth extraction at home, tooth removal the Luhya way: Myths and practices of how growing up back in the village, our teeth were removed – no anesthesia only chicken crap.

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poster titled tooth removal the luhya way with image of molar tooth gripped by dentistry tool

Growing up, we never knew that dentists were there to remove teeth. All our milk teeth were extracted at home by the erstwhile, experienced family dentist: dad. But the experience of tooth removal didn’t end at his hands. The whole community, was involved one way or the other. Tooth removal the Luhya way: Myths and … Read more

A different kind of Madaraka Day as the pandemic strikes again this time denying this Mluhya a chance to be Luhya.

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Happy 57th Madaraka Day mulembe nation message

1st June of 2020 marked the 57th Madaraka Day commemorating the day in 1963 when Kenya attained independent self-governance after decades as a British Colony. Any other public holiday as this one would have been the perfect Madaraka Day for yours truly to do Luhya things, but not this one deep in the mare of the … Read more

Translation and meaning of engila sebolela okenda, a Bukusu proverb

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poster of bukusu proverb engila sebolela okenda, featuring image of forest path

Find the English translation and meaning of the Bukusu proverb engila sebolela okenda. English The road does not tell the traveler what lies ahead. What is the meaning of bukusu proverb engila sebolela okenda This Bukusu proverb is about the uncertainties of life. Truth is only arrived at by walking the journey to its full … Read more