A newly married woman in my language, Lubukusu, is known as omwea. Any of us can imagine just what it took for her to set up a nest for herself in the communal living homestead of our forebearers. Growing up, my mother was always preparing us girls for a future with a no nonsense mother … Read more
Four things. One: omusinde. Two: a proud father. Three: kamalwa khuyusia, ancestors’ timely but unwelcome lessons, the elusive nature of trust and kamalwa kakatikhe. This is the story of a boy whose big day, well, let’s just say it burst. The Bukusu people have a number of sayings about beer. Regulars here have already benefited … Read more
In this article, we’re going to look at the kinship terms and family words needed to refer to relatives and family members in Bukusu language. Post highlights Immediate relatives and family members. Extended relatives in Bukusu. In-law relatives and family members in Bukusu. Immediate relatives and family members in Bukusu In this section, we’ll cover … Read more
Your paternal aunt, senge in Lulogooli, or senje most other ways, is irreplaceable among the people of Mulembe. Six uncomfortable truths on the importance of senje in Luhya culture. There are fewer hallowed relations to be in life such as a senje in Luhya culture. When life is being good to you — weddings and … Read more
Among my people, to be a man, you have to be honorable and ask for a girls hand in marriage the right way. For the Bukusu, this includes writing a letter of intent and when granted, expertly navigating your first meeting with her family known as the show up or introduction. Today I want to … Read more
If you thought that blind dates are a modern phenomenon, the following story on a hilarious Luhya version of Tinder will re-frame your perceptions. This story isn’t about arranged customary marriages from the days of Jairus, my grandfather, and Nakhatama, my grandmother. Our story today is set in peri-independence Kenya. To put it another way, … Read more
This is why you can’t herd a few goats and claim to have paid Bukusu dowry Gaining the status of in-law to a Luhya family is one of the best decisions one can make. For us, an in-law is the most sacred, most important relation one can have. Especially so if your in-laws are Bukusu. … Read more
