The Bayemba, Muyemba – male and Namuyemba – female, are a major clan of the Bukusu nation, of the Luhya of western Kenya. Thanks to their descendance from the great Bukusu leader Chief Sudi Namachanja (Basudi) and their close relations with the Gishu (Bamasaba) of Uganda, they are among the Bukusu clans who pride in being the ‘original Mbukusu’. Under the leadership of freedom fighter Wakoli Ohkwa Mukisu, alongside other Bukusu clans and the Tachoni, they fought in the Bukusu resistance war. Culturally, bayemba stand out for their musambwa (they are the blacksmiths) and their unique traditions during circumcision. Learn about how they perform khuchukhila ceremony of traditional ceremony.
Culturally, lirumbi is more than a tool of a trade. This is true in part because among the Luhya, trades such as blacksmithing, medicine men and mukhebi (traditional circumcisers) are considered sacred. They are passed on along bloodlines, their secrets imbedded in the DNA of the custodians. We spoke to one such custodian, a retired … Read more
Olusiola or kumusola or uluwovu is a tree native to the lands of the people of Mulembe. In Luhya folklore, one of the patriarchs of the Bukusu nation, Maina wa Nalukale blessed his descendants as he inherited them the land occupy today: ‘May you flourish like the kumusola tree,’ he said. And flourish they did, … Read more
Changa style ndolekho is not a challenge to pronounce lightly. You better be prepared, you have to know how to strut your stuff on the dance floor. Most importantly, you must be prepared to leave it all there. Whenever, in the ceremony known as khuchukhila, a omusinde form Bayemba clan pours water that he’s fetched … Read more
This section of Part 1 of our three part series that honors the memory of the heroes of the Chetambe war, remembers freedom fighter Wakoli khwa Mukisu. Wakoli is a shujaa who modern Kenya criminally chooses to forget. He was the mastermind of the first phase of the BaBukusu resistance that culminated in victory for … Read more
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 … Read more
