When someone says ‘”vuche” or “vuchee”, you simply answer back “vuche” or “vuchee”. It is a simple greeting to master. However, this Maragoli greeting – ‘bushiere’ in some Luhya dialects – means more than just “good morning”. Join us as we find out the deep meaning of vuche
Vuche (or vuchee), the morning greeting is given to all. A wife says it to her husband just as she says it her children. The children say it to each other, their parents, elders and strangers equally with no limits. In this way, “vuche” or “vuchee” is unlike some African greetings which can only be said in certain situations to specific people. For example, the Kamba greeting of the the Kamba people of south eastern region of Kenya “wacha” can only be said by an elder to a younger person and never the other way.
Read: How to say good morning in Bukusu.
Meaning of vuche or vuchee
Vuche is a greeting that is an important sign of well being and sets the tone for the day. In this way, vuche means more than good morning. This is because in saying it, you pass on to the other person a message full of good health and contentment. By saying vuche, what you are saying is:
“It is my sincere wish you have spent a good night and all is right with your world.”
Therefore, it is not just bad manners not to say vuche to your loved ones and those who you meet in the morning. Neglecting to pass this greeting sends a strong message of disapproval with life, or possibly signifies illness.
Therefore, in Maragoli culture, failure to say vuche is not simply a disapproval of the person (maybe a way to get back at someone you are angry with or as cold treatment to a loved one for whatever reason), but is seen as an expression of disgust towards life it self – a situation quite devoid of the spirit of mulembe. It says that you are dead inside, so much so, that even the renewal of life that comes with the gift from Wele of a new day moves nothing in you.
About the Maragoli
The Maragoli or Mulogoli is a Bantu tribe that’s one of the larger houses of the Luhya supra-community that’s presently mainly domiciled in Western Kenya. Maragoli language or Lulogooli, Logoli is the tongue of Maragoli. Join us and learn how to speak Maragoli language. Start of with our free lessons in Maragoli language. Build your vocabulary with our stories from Maragoli culture whose narrative harnesses the richness of L’logoli in telling our origin, beliefs and way of life. Hop on our continuous search for the meaning of different Maragoli proverbs and sayings. Test yourself with our dalliance at the intersections, such as in our ongoing Kinyarwanda-Lulogooli and Lingala- Luhya discourse. Let’s get you started with Kimaragoli, with our mega post: Learn Maragoli Online: The Mulembe Nation list of 60+ common Maragoli words, their translation and meaning.
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Additional Reading
- Abwunza, J. M. (1991). Logoli Women of Western Kenya Speak: Needs and Means. Ph.D. dissertation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada / University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/41781/Abwunza_Logoli%20Women%20of%20western%20Kenya%20speak.pdf?
