What is khukhombia kumukango? The making of a man among Babukusu, details on a Bukusu traditional circumcision tradition

Poster with wooden ladles titled khukhombia kumukango

A narration and the symbolic meaning of the Bukusu traditional circumcision tradition khukhombia kumukango. An experience designed to stir the lion within. Senje hides herself a few meters from the etiang’i in the path of the initiate. Etiang’i is the pot into which the initiate pours water that they have fetched from the river, early … Read more

How to say beautiful in Maragoli language: The complete starter pack – from smooth operator vibes that back in the day confused our mothers, to killer pickup lines that still break ice in modern dating

poster with a african girl titled how to say beautiful in Maragoli

How to say beautiful in Maragoli language. 25+ different ways to describe all kinds of beauty in all ways: playful, flirty, honorable and even sensual words and phrases. The most widely used and possibly universally understood description of a beautiful woman in Luhya is “omukhasi eshiombo”. I say this whilst hiding. This is because the … Read more

Khukololosia embulu: The conspiracy between our mothers and their sisters, our aunts, to straighten alligators

Khukololosia embulu is a Bukusu saying that simply means straightening the alligator. There was once a time when I overheard my mum talk to her sister about one of us. Intially, I was not sure who it was, but it was about my aunt missing out on opportunity khukololosia embulu. Now what had this certain … Read more

What is gorogoro? The indefatigable tool making life possible since time immemorial – find its meaning in Luhya, possible origins and an unveil of the hidden and contemporary uses of the word

poster with image of old rusty tins titled gorogoro is life itself- the story of a humble tin and how central it is to life in mulembe

In most Western Kenya food markets, dry cereals such as beans and maize are sold in gorogoros. When you buy a gorogoro of anything, it is taken that you have acquired two kilograms of the said commodity. But the importance of ekorokoro goes beyond trade. Gorogoro is life itself! What is gorogoro? Whenever I find … Read more

Learn Lubukusu online: The Mulembe Nation list of 33+ common kinship terms, words for relatives and family members in Bukusu language

poster with man sleeping on couch with words words for relatives and family members in Bukusu

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

Never substituted, always present: The irreplaceable senje in Luhya culture – 6 uncomfortable truths

Poster importance of senje in luhya culture

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