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Bayemba

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.

Blacksmith tools of the Luhya: Secrets of lirumbi, a muyemba blacksmith lets us in, just

Luhya traditional craftsmanship /

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 […]

Blacksmith tools of the Luhya: Secrets of lirumbi, a muyemba blacksmith lets us in, just Read More »

image of the kumusola/ uluwovu/ olusiola tree commonly known as the nile tulip tree and it's cultural value in luhya

Use of olusiola tree, Markhamia Lutea, in Luhya culture – from shrines to a brotherly warning

Luhya Culture /

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,

Use of olusiola tree, Markhamia Lutea, in Luhya culture – from shrines to a brotherly warning Read More »

All about ‘changa style ndolekho’, the penultimate dance of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony

Bukusu Culture, Luhya Culture, Luhya traditional circumcision /

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

All about ‘changa style ndolekho’, the penultimate dance of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony Read More »

poster with the words celebrating shujaa Wakoli khwa Mukisu on a blood red template

PART 1B: The Heroics Of Freedom Fighter Wakoli khwa Mukisu At The Battle Of Mukhweya – Remembering Chetambe War

Freedom Fighters, Shujaas and Modern Day Luhya Heroes, Prominent Luhyas /
This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series The Shujaas Of Chetambe- A story of the Bukusu resistance of 1895

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

PART 1B: The Heroics Of Freedom Fighter Wakoli khwa Mukisu At The Battle Of Mukhweya – Remembering Chetambe War Read More »

poster with topics that this poat on bukusu clans covers

A cheeky look at stereotypes on Bukusu clans: The mischief, good, bad and ugly – You can laugh along, just don’t kill the messenger

Luhya People, The Bukusu /

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

A cheeky look at stereotypes on Bukusu clans: The mischief, good, bad and ugly – You can laugh along, just don’t kill the messenger Read More »