Beyond totems, such as animals that are said to be clan animals, Bukusu clans can be differentiated by their quirks. The following stereotypes on Bukusu clans are intended to make us laugh at ourselves. What follows is a hilarious punt at opening the closets that hold the things that, like in any big family, we secretly gossip about each other.
It would be a very difficult and encompassing task to enumerate all Bukusu clans. First, over the years, thanks to migration and other population dynamics, the composition of Bukusu clans has remarkably changed. Secondly, our history as a people of different Oluyias has scarcely been systematically traced. Thirdly, our multi-ethnic roots make for a complicated genealogy.
However, urban legends sometimes do out-punch conventional scholarly work. Through the following stereotypes on Bukusu clans, we can learn about our oluyias and discover something about our individual ourselves. These exercise is not intended to ridicule, prejudice, discriminate or harm groups or individuals in any way.
Subscribe to Mulembe Weekly
Get culture, language, stories and discussions in your inbox every Friday 5 PM East Africa Time
BASONGE
Their men are said to be hot gossipers.
BAALA
The Baala are said to be all enthusiasts of “all natural” bedroom action. Thus, European ideals of sensuality and sexuality find no safe landing among the people of this Bukusu clan. One such way this is manifest is that they never shave their private parts.
BAMEME
The Bameme ladies are learned. However for one reason or another, they chose to work as house-helps.
BATIILU
Labelled by their brethren as the laziest Bukusus.
BAKIMWEYI
Of the Bukusu clans, these ones have the highest fertility or is it libido? Chances are that there are underlying socio-economic constructs behind this stereotype about them. Nonetheless, the Bakimweyi have a reputation of starting their families quite young.
THE BAENGELE, a people burdened by the most infamous stereotypes on Bukusu clans and people
This Bukusu clan was made infamous by their admirable fidelity to Bukusu traditions during the mourning and burial of their infamous son Kijana Wamalwa. That said, that which made the Baengele famous to non-luhyas was a non issue to us. This is because all the Baengele did was follow the way of our fathers. Further, in the sibling rivalry among Bukusu clans the Baengele carry a more memorable reputation; the tease that their men and women look alike.
BACHEMWILE
Said to be greedy.
BAKHOMA
Going by the stereotypes about them, the Bakhoma might be having genes that make their pheromones particularly potent. For it is said that you can’t be mistaken when a member of Bakhoma is within your vicinity as their body odor fills the air.
BABULO
Intelligence.
BALONJA
Majority of this Bukusu clan domiciled in Bumula constituency, whose famous sons include former Bumula Member of Parliament Morris Makhanu and legendary high principal George Wesonga; are known to be very patient people.
BAMUKOYA
If one desires to marry up, they should hunt down members of the Bamukoya clan who have a repute of being wealthy. To identify some of them is easy as male children from Bamukoya have unique Luhya names such as Mukoya.
BABUYA
The men from this Bukusu clan will do anything to marry more than one wife.
BAKIYABI
The Bakiyabi claim that they are all good looking.
BAAFU
Have the unfortunate reputation of being skilled thieves.
BATECHO
Their foremost son is none other than the first governor of Bungoma, Ken Lusaka. These lovely people of mulembe are said to be the ugliest Bukusu. Moreover the Batecho are said to be the braggarts of Bukusu clans. It is possible that it is this braggadocio that earns them this moniker as not being on the fairer side when it comes to looks. A polite reminder: Please don’t shot the messenger.
BAKUNGA
Bakunga ladies are said to very good but unfortunately also very nagging wives.
BAKITANGA
The Bakitanga are said to have been left behind by Western civilization.
BALUNDA
The Balunda are said to be deeply religious. Former cabinet minister and Webuye member of Parliament Musikari Kombo is their foremost son. Given this reputation, one can wildly extrapolate the agony that this respected Mulembe elder underwent during that infamous election petition of 1994. Indeed politics is a dirty game.
As a Christian who does not believe in witchcraft, sorcery and charms; and as a person who has undergone modern education as I sat in this court listening to the allegations of the oath, I found them most repulsive, repugnant and against my personal morals and norms
Musikari Kombo’s plea during that 1994 petition that nullified his 1992 electoral victory.
Read also: About Balunda clan of the Bukusu: Their powers over rain, getting buried seated and more
BAWAILA
The Bawaila are reputed to live longest among Bukusu clans.
BALAKO
This Bukusu clan are a notch higher than Babuya clan when it comes to womanizing. When you spot or hear of a man from Balako clan speaking to your woman, be afraid. Even if your marriage is “mature” having undergone such traditions as khuboa chinyinja, brother, be very afraid.
BAKHWAMI
If you have something that you need to be protected, the Bakhwami make the best guards aka watchmen/watchwomen aka sojas.
BAYUNDO
The Bayundo epitomize the Maragoli saying “imburi yu mudaka yivura amalongo dave“, as they are said to be one with poverty, thus die poor.
BASONGE
We once did a piece here on the frustrations of small scale Bukusu farmers. Unfortunately, we failed to inquire our subject in that story which clan she belonged to or had married into. Going by these cliche’s chances are that she might have been from the Basonge clan or married into the. This is because the Basonge are said to be good farmers. Thus, if you marry a Basonge woman, she will make you rich as captured by the Bukusu saying: Embako sebea ta!
BAKIPEMULI
The Bakipemuli are the smooth talkers, the master con artists, of all Bukusu clans. The second governor Hon. Wangamati is a Bakipemuli a happenstance that goes on to illustrate how these stereotypes on Bukusu clans shouldn’t be used to prejudice or discriminate.
BAKHURARWA
Alongside the Baechalo, the Bakhurarwa are the trading clans of the Bukusu.
BAECHALO, THE MOST ENTERPRISING OF BUKUSU CLANS
They are the original business men of Bungoma town. The town fathers who own and run a section of Bungoma CBD right from the days when Mufutu neighborhood was just coming to be.
We can postulate that it could that the early success of this Bukusu clan earned them haters who labeled them witches and wizards as a way of putting them down. Famous sons of the Baechalo include Hon. Majimbo Okumu. Hon. Okumu is a doyen of Bungoma Town politics who currently serves as the leader of majority in the 2nd county assembly of Bungoma county.
BANASAKA
Going by modern legend, it is foolhardy to cross swords with the Banasaka. This is primarily because they are the grave diggers. Even if one earns the privilege of full death rituals and burial rites, it is all naught if there isn’t a grave to be interred in. Isn’t it?
BABICHACHI
The Babichachi are said to be an emotional bunch. What makes them emotional only their ancestors know. What they get emotional over is a question we are yet to answers.
BABUTU
The Ford Kenya party leader, Moses Masika Wetangula is the Babutu number 1.
BAKOKHO
The most famous Bakokho is none other than the mercurial Masinde Muliro.
BAYEMBA
The Bayemba who are found largely in the modern constituencies of Bumula and Kimilili, are said to love meat to a fault. Famous Bayemba sons include: Pascari Nabwana, the founding father of Kimilili town and Hon. Wakoli Bifwoli former Assistant Minister and two time Bumula member of parliament.
BASOMBI
The best way to describe the Basombi is that in the eyes of their Bukusu brethren, they are the first born sons, the omwana amberi. This stereotype that the Basombi wear with honor has a multifaceted origin. In part, we believe, it arose from the pioneering work of their most famous son Elijah Mwangale. Hon. Mwangale before his political fallout with Masinde Muliro worked hand-in-hand with the second liberation hero to facilitate the immigration of the Bukusu into Forkland, modern day Trans Nzoia county.
There you have it. The most common stereotypes on Bukusu clans. Remember, we list them here as a way to help us understand ourselves, at least from the perspective of how the world sees us. We will be building on this list as they come.
