- Dead Husbands, Cheating Wives, Eating Rats and Secret Concoctions: When A Woman Cheats – The Anatomy Of Luhya Myths on Infidelity
- Is it True That a Woman Who Has Been Unfaithful is not Allowed to Nurse, or Mourn in Close Proximity to Her Husband In The Event He Dies?
- Kamanyasi Chronicles
- How Religion Compounds Luhya Myths About Infidelity
- Luhya Myths On Infidelity When Divorced or Separated
- Wait! Do Men Get Let Off? How Luhya Myths On Infidelity Castrate Patriarchy
- Do Luhya Myths On Infidelity Apply To non Luhyas?
- Of Other Meat and Luhya Myths On Infidelity
- The Ultimate Cheaters Cheat Sheet – How To Get Away With Eating Rats
- Luhya Myths On Infidelity Where Children Are Involved
- Khuuna Kumusakhu: Caught In The Act, What’s The Worst That Could Happen?
- The Culture Of Fines And Luhya Myths On Infidelity
- 5 unique first date ideas in Bungoma under 1500 bob
- The Kwa Dina Overpass Plugs in much needed juice to a once vibrant neighborhood in Webuye town
In luhya culture, children are greatly valued. Consequently, the underlying theme in most stipulates of luyha traditions and folklore, is the engineering of a society with mulembe. Meaning, a society that protects and nourishes children. As these luhya myths on infidelity where children are involved demonstrate, child protection services didn’t start with the white man.
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THE SCIENCE BEHIND LUHYA MYTHS ON INFIDELITY WHERE CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED
The scientific method, is rightfully credited to English polymath Francis Bacon. However, the canonical form of science and technology is a child of many fathers including — we argue –luhya folklore. For example, the precise natural course of disease described in the Maragoli saying inyundu erondera ikiheregete, leaves little to imagination the disease, epidemic and time being described.
However, smallpox (inyundu) is yesterday’s problem. Furthermore, measles (ikiheregete) has largely been controlled by immunization. Therefore, it might be argued that even though it’s fitting for this Maragoli proverb to explain that period of human existence, the question for luhya folklore in general, is whether it can explain 21st century health phenomena.
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An Understanding Of The Concept Of Infant mortality From Luhya Folklore
Within the body of luhya myths on infidelity where children are involved, we find likely answers. In particular, the provision that men who have been eating rats, shouldn’t nurse their children. Especially if the children are less than a year old. Maybe this provision intimates our forefathers understanding of the concept of infant mortality. How is that so? You might wonder.
We first met this myth in part six on how luhya myths on infidelity castrate patriarchy. If you are yet, to read that chapter of the series, it charted an epidemiological pattern of disease. In it, we revealed how our forefathers made a link between a father’s indiscretions, venereal disease, vertical transmission of disease via breast feeding and childhood illnesses.
We have to appreciate our forefathers understanding of infancy as a period of heightened health risk. Our ancestors understood that morbidity and mortality was high in this age group. Therefore, as remedy they ‘inserted’ a negative rule in their body of knowledge.
This negative rule of not nursing your child after escapades with other women might have resulted in a positive effect. Perhaps more male involvement in child upbringing? In the those days polygamous unions, probably not. But in today’s largely monogamous unions, some value can be derived here. Especially in regions devastated by HIV/AIDs.
THE CURSE OF SILUKHI
In part eight of this informative series, we learned about the general stipulates on meats and luhya myths on infidelity. Today, we get to the specifics, starting off with silukhi. Silukhi is a fine paid by a man caught cheating with another man’s wife.
As part of retribution for adulterous acts, a live bull is directly gifted to the aggrieved husband. Furthermore, a ram is also slaughtered for the village to feast on. The adulterous woman, her husband and her children ought not partake of the meat from, silukhi. If they do, death is the reward for their disobedience of this luhya myth on infidelity where children are involved.
