Sinani

Chingayu: Meet the African Sesame also known as Imbasa – A delicacy the Luhya traditionally enjoyed as a marshmallow, its role in prophesying the white man’s invasion and the folktale of a boy who used it to scare ogres

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poster featuring image of chingayu also known as imbasi with the articles introductory paragraph

Chingayu it is among the Bukusu and Tachoni. Among the Maragoli and Wanga, it is known as Imbasi. We continue our journey through plants with cultural value among the Luhya with the story of this food plant told in three stories. One from my childhood; another by way of a prophesy from the times of … Read more

Wining The Fight Against Endwasi: Traditional Tree Herbs Used By Abaluhya Community to Treat Gonorrhea

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The Americans blame the Europeans, especially the French for bringing gonorrhea to their shores. You see what we used to call endwasi the white man called it ‘the clap’. Clap from the French word for brothel ‘clapier‘. Some say endwasi was called the clap because of the ‘pain’ – clapping sensation one suddenly felt on … Read more

Omundu Strong! Or Is It? Decoding Masculinity Among The Luhya: Unearthing Under Appreciated Male Traits From Gendering of Kumfutumwe and Sinani Indigenous Trees

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poster titled 'mwanaume ni' depicting musculature of man typifying omundu strong

What can we Learn about gender among the Luhya from the Kumufutu and Lunani indigenous trees? What do we learn about the revered archetypal man from Mulembe, the so called ‘omundu strong’! Sinani Tree Teaches Us That A Man Is Only As Strong As His Networks Sinani tree contrasts with contemporary perceptions on the nature … Read more

Mrs. Lunani and Mr. Sinani Gropes, Thorny Affair And What It Says Of Their Cultural Significance To The Luhya

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Among the Luhya, lunani and sinani are the male and female species of the same tree. Lunani and Sinani trees have somewhat similar characteristics and it is not easy to tell them apart. These trees of cultural value to the Luhya are both shrubs whose vines greatly intertwine with surrounding plants, such that they appear as climbers or scramblers.

Both indigenous trees can thrive on their own, but do better in the presence of big trees where they can intertwine themselves. The trees have brown stems with small thorns. Out of stems grow small branches that support compound leaves with many tiny leaflets. One branch, for example, can host 20 pairs of leaves.

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