Join us as we learn the names of trees in Luhya. Today we get to know facts, cultural importance and uses of kumurembe (from the word mulembe) through stories, taboos, beliefs and science.
Quick facts about kumurembe
Kumurembe is a mythological tree with supranatural powers of healing the bodies of men, their hearts and souls. Join us as we learn about this much revered tree.
Scientific name
Type and how it looks like
It is a deciduous tree with a short trunk, thick spreading branches and a rounded crown. Its leaves are compound with three leaflets.
Common names
Other names in Luhya
Omutembe
Interesting facts and importance of kumurembe in Luhya culture
- Curiously, the tree is known as mulembe across all Luhya tribes. Possibly because of the role it plays in preserving the social fabric. Where kumurembe stands serves as a site of cultural courts used to hear cases and sentence those found guilty.
- It is the tree where suspects of grave crimes such as incest, murder and witchcraft were interrogated under by elders. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to find yourself in a situation that demanded being interrogated under the mulembe tree. Because it was equivalent to entering the outer circle of Dante Alighieri’s nine levels of hell.
- Beyond this the Luhya believed that kumurembe was useful in treating measles (keheregete in Kimaragoli). The viral disease was believed to be cured through the performance of some rituals by it. Basically, whomever was unwell was required to go round the tree while chanting.
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