The Bukusu love doves. We love the dove’s gentle demeanor and calm spirit, attributes which are universally accepted as the bird’s embodiment of mulembe. Further, doves are not only edible birds, but their meat is indeed very tasty. In Lubukusu, the dove is known as kamausi. There are domestic and wild doves. Today our attention is … Read more
This is the story of a respected member of our household growing up. Were it not for lukhendu, we wouldn’t have turned out this good. Quite a bit, I have written here about my childhood. Thus, regular readers will know that I spent my formative years deep in the village under the strict eyes of … 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 stalk me. Be it important or not so important, solemn or festive life events, it almost always get washed out. Here is the story of … 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 the village was sweet to the bone. Especially come every August of even years. The arrival of this special 8th month ushered the circumcision year … 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 mboga for the best prices on kienyeji vegetables, would our grandfathers be proud? How was it like for them in their days? Was there male … Read more
A certain Stanford commencement speech will forever be a bible chapter for rebels of certain type. Those who dare to ‘think different’ as preached by the 1997 to 2002 Apple, Inc advertising slogan. It was at the end of this emotional, inspiring speech that Steve Jobs urged the class of 2005 to ‘stay hungry, stay … 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 in no way offering medical advice. Nor is this article intended to substitute medical expertise. Part of our task (that we do with love, commitment … Read more
Chingayu it is among the Bukusu and Tachoni. Among the Maragoli and Wanga, it is known as Imbasi. We continue our journey through plants with cultural value among the Luhya with the story of this food plant told in three stories. One from my childhood; another by way of a prophesy from the times of … 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 letter of intent and when granted, expertly navigating your first meeting with her family known as the show up or introduction. Today I want to … Read more
If you thought that blind dates are a modern phenomenon, the following story on a hilarious Luhya version of Tinder will re-frame your perceptions. This story isn’t about arranged customary marriages from the days of Jairus, my grandfather, and Nakhatama, my grandmother. Our story today is set in peri-independence Kenya. To put it another way, … Read more
