Luhya
Encyclopedia
The Luhya are a Bantu ethnic group
in Kenya
. They also live in Uganda
and Tanzania
albeit a minor populace. They number about 6.1 million people, being about 16% of Kenya's total population of 38.5 million.
Luhya refers to both the people and their language. There are 16 (and by other accounts, 17, when the Suba are included) tribes that make up the Luhya. Each with a distinct dialect. The word Luhya or Luyia in some of the dialects means "clan", and Abaluhya thus means "people of the clan". Other translations are "those of the same hearth."
The sixteen tribes are the Bukusu (Ava-Bukusu), Idakho
(Av-Idakho), Isukha (Av-Isukha), Kabras (Ava-Kabras), Khayo (Ava-Khayo), Kisa
(Aba-Kisa), Marachi (Ava-Marachi), Maragoli (Ava-Logoli), Marama
(Aba-Marama), Nyala (Ava-Nyala), Nyole
(Ava-Nyole), Samia
(Ava-Samia), Tachoni (Ava-Tachoni), Tiriki (Ava-Tiriki), Tsotso (Ava-Tsotso), Wanga
(Ava-Wanga). They are closely related to the Masaba (or Gisu), whose language is mutually intelligible with Luhya. The Bukusu and the Maragoli are the two largest Luhya tribes.
The principal traditional settlement area of the Luhya was in what is now the Western province
of Kenya
. A substantial number of them permanently settled in the Kitale
and Kapsabet areas of the Rift Valley province.
The western province is the most densely populated part of Kenya. The Kisii
are considered to be closely related to the Luhya, and more specifically, to the Nyole and Maragoli, having split from them approximately 500 years ago. The Kisii are geographically separated from Luhya's by the Kano plains, and the Nandi escarpment and their settlement is in south-western part of Kenya. The relationship between the Luhya and the Kisii is deduced from their connected oral history as well as linguistic similarities. The languages are still almost mutually intelligible even though the two groups have lived in locales hundreds of kilometres apart for several centuries.
Migration to their present Luhyaland (a term of endearment referring to the Luhya's primary place of settlement in Kenya after the Bantu expansion
) dates back to as early as the 1450s. However, some Luhya tribes have traditions of descent from "Egypt", which is taken to mean the Nile Valley, around Sudan or Ethiopia.
Immigrants into present-day Luhyaland trace their ancestry with several Bantu groups, such as the Tutsi
(who called their king 'Mwami,' just as the Maragoli do) and to other Nilotic
peoples like the Kalenjin, Luo
, and Maasai.
By 1850, migration into Luhyaland was largely complete, and only minor internal movements occurred after that due to disease, droughts, domestic conflicts and the effects of British colonialism.
out of Western-Central Africa around 1000 BC.
The most powerful centralized kingdom in what is now Kenya before the advent of European Christian
missionaries and the British
colonization of Kenya was founded by the Wanga, a Luhya tribe who claim Ancient Egyptian heritage.
The Wanga
would sometimes hire Maasai and Kalenjin mercenaries to fight for them. The Wanga incorporated most of the Luhya tribes as well as territories to the east, southeast, west and southwest occupied by the Luo
, Kipsigis, Nandi
, and Masai.
Before the advent of colonialism, the Luhya, just as most other ethnic groups in Africa, defined their boundaries based on occupation of territory by a community of peoples with similar language, cultural traditions or under leadership of a particular ruler or king.
Their territory neighboured the Baganda, Basoga and Bagisu of present day Uganda, and the Luo, Kisii, (Gusii) Teso, and Nandi of Present day Kenya. The territory occupied by the 'Bantu' around Lake Victoria
and to the north of Lake Victoria was known as Kavirondo
. When the British came into the area, they coined the term Bantu Kavirondo to refer to the Luhya and other Bantu communities in the area while Nilotic Kavirondo was used to refer to the Luo.
The Wanga were ruled by King Mumia, at the time. His kingdom was akin to that of the Baganda
. It was the most powerful and centralized kingdom among the Luhya. Other leaders among the Luhya were known as Baami (singular Mwami), a title translating to 'Kings' or 'Lords.' Nabongo was the Wanga title for king.
The British explorer Henry Morton Stanley
made a voyage around Lake Victoria and Joseph Thomson (explorer)
the Scottish geologist passed through Luhya territory around 1883. Thomson met king Mumia and influenced British relations with the Luhya king in the region. The construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway beginning from 1898, further opened opportunities for European interaction with the Luhya and other communities in the western part of Kenya. King Mumia's dominion extended to other Luhya subgroups such as the Kabras and the Tsotso.
In the late 1800s, when European nations began their Scramble for Africa
, they mapped African boundaries to suit their interests in the continent. With the lion's share of colonies going to the British, in 1895, the region of East Africa was declared to be a British Protectorate. It was further divided into British East Africa, (present day Kenya) and the Uganda Protectorate (present day Uganda).
As all the land in Kenya, west of Naivasha
was mapped within the Uganda Protectorate, the Luhya people and other Kenyan communities were included in the Ugandan territory. In 1902, the boundaries were remapped and the Luhya kingdoms and their neighbouring communities which were on the eastern part of Uganda, were annexed to Kenya.
the Luhya had contact with was probably Henry Morton Stanley
as he voyaged around Lake Victoria
. In 1883, Joseph Thomson
was the first European known to pass through Luhya territory on foot, and was influential in opening the region to Europeans after his meeting with King Mumia of the Wanga
Kingdom
.
The Wanga kingdom was very similar to the Baganda
kingdom and other monarchies in Uganda
, a unique form of government among the Luhya. Mumia was the last king
of the Wanga, and because of ethnocentric (racist) British beliefs, was called a chief
.
The Bukusu
strongly resisted British
incursions into their territory in the 1890s. In 1895, they fought the British from a stronghold near Bungoma
on the lower slopes of Mount Elgon
called "Chetambe's Fort". The British had machine guns and massacred over a hundred Bukusu
warrior
s in the stronghold, who were armed with spear
s, hide shields, bows
and quivers of arrows
.
In the 1940s and 1950s the Bukusu
resisted the British under the leadership of Elijah Masinde
, a religious sect leader and prophet who demanded return of their lands. Masinde was imprisoned during the Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s, but was released to his home area at independence
in 1963.
The Kabras and the Wanga collaborated peacefully with the British. Most Luhyas from the Kabras subgroup joined the colonial-era police forces. Nabongo Mumia, was forced to sign treaties with the British after being defeated, this allowed the colonial authorities to subject his people to British rule.
Significant numbers of the Luhya fought for the British in the Second World War, many as conscripts in the Kenya African Rifles, (KAR). As with many African societies, the Luhya also named their children after significant events. Consequently, many Luhya people born around the time of the Second World War were named "Keyah", a transliteration of "KAR", the acronym for the King's African Rifles
.
Other famous chiefs during the colonial time included Ndombi wa Namusia, Sudi Namachanja, and Namutala.
http://google.com/search?q=cache:V_RAv7SAzXAJ:www.abeingo.org/HTML_files/wanga.html+nabongo+mumia&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=ca&client=firefox-a
1. The Bukusu speak Lubukusu and occupy Bungoma and Mount Elgon districts. The clans of the Bukusu include the Batura, Bamalaba, Bamwale, Bakikayi, Basirikwa, Baechale, Baechalo, Bakibeti, Bakhisa, Bamwayi Bamwaya, Bang'oma, Basakali, Bakiabi, Baliuli, Bamuki, Bakhona, Bakoi, Bameme, Basombi, Bakwangwa, Babutu (descendants of Mubutu also found in Congo), Bakhoone, Baengele (originally Banyala), Balonja, Batukwika, Baboya, Baala, Balako, Basaba, Babuya, Barefu, Bamusomi, Batecho, Baafu, Babichachi, Bamula, Balunda, Babulo, Bafumo, Bayemba, Baemba, Bayaya, Baleyi, Baembo, Bamukongi, Babeti, Baunga, Bakuta, Balisa, Balukulu, Balwonja, Bamalicha, Bamukoya, Bamuna, Bamutiru, Bayonga, Bamang'ali, Basefu, Basegese, Basenya, Basime, Basimisi, Basibanjo, Basonge, Batakhwe, Batecho, Bachemayi, Bachemwile, Bauma, Baumbu, Bakhoma, Bakhonjo, Bakhwami, Bakhulaluwa, Baundo, Bachemuluku, Bafisi, Bakobolo, Bamatiri, Bamakhuli, Bameywa, Bahongo, Basamo, Basang'alo, Basianaga, Basioya, Bachambayi, Bangachi, Babiya, Baande, Bakhone, Bakimwei, Batilu, Bakhurarwa, Bakamukong'i, Baluleti, Babasaba, Bakikai, Bhakitang'a, Bhatemlani, Bhasakha, Bhatasama, Bhakiyabi and possibly others.
2. The Samia speak Lusamia and occupy Busia District, Kenya. The clans of the Samia of include the Abatabona.
3. The Khayo speak Lukhayo and occupy Busia District, Kenya. Khayo clans include the Abaguuri.
4. The Marachi speak Lumarachi and occupy Butula District. Marachi clans include Ababere,Abafofoyo.
5. The Nyala speak Lunyala and occupy Busia District. Other Nyala (Abanyala ba Kakamega) occupy the north western part of Kakamega District. The Banyala of Kakamega are said to have migrated from Busia with a leader known as Mukhamba. They speak the same dialect as the Banyala of Busia, save for minor differences in pronunciation. The Banyala of Kakamega are also known as Abanyala ba Ndombi.
They reside in Navakholo Division North of Kakamega forest. Their one time powerful colonial chief was Ndombi wa Namusia whose family has held political power in the area since his days. He was succeeded by his son Andrea Ndombi.
Andrea was succeeded by Paulo Udoto, Mukopi, Wanjala, Barasa Ongeti, Matayo Oyalo and Muterwa in that order. The 36 clans of the Banyala include Abaafu, Ababenge, Abachimba, Abadavani, Abaengere, Abakangala, Abakhubichi, Abakoye, Abakwangwachi, Abalanda, Abalecha, Abalindo, Abamani, Abamisoho, Abamuchuu, Abamugi, Abamwaya, Abaokho, Abasaacha, Abasakwa, Abasaya, Abasenya, Abasia, Abasiloli, Basonge (also found among Kabras), Abasumba, Abasuu, Abatecho (also found among Bukusu), Abaucha, Abauma, Abaumwo, Abayaya, Abayirifuma (also found among Tachoni), Abayisa, Abayundo and Abasiondo. The Banyala do not intermarry with someone from the same clan.
6. The Kabras speak Lukabarasi and occupy the northern part of Kakamega district. The Kabras were originally Banyala. They reside principally in Malava, in Kabras Division of Kakamega district. The Kabras (or Kabarasi, Kavalasi and Kabalasi) are sandwiched by the Isukha, Banyala and the Tachoni.
The name "Kabras" comes from Avalasi which means 'Warriors' or 'Mighty Hunters.' They were fierce warriors who fought with the neighbouring Nandi for cattle and were known to be fearless. This explains why they are generally fewer in number compared to other Luhya tribes such as the Maragoli and Bukusu.
They claim to be descendants of Nangwiro associated with the Biblical Nimrod. The Kabras dialect sounds like the Tachoni dialect. Kabras clans include the Abamutama, Basonje, Abakhusia, Bamachina, Abashu, Abamutsembi, Baluu, Batobo, Bachetsi and Bamakangala. They were named after the heads of the families.
The Kabras were under the rulership of Nabongo Mumia of the Wanga and were represented by an elder in his Council of Elders. The last known elder was Soita Libukana Samaramarami of Lwichi village, Central Kabras, near Chegulo market. When the Quaker missionaries spread to Kabras they established the Friends Church
(Quakers) through a missionary by the name of Arthur Chilson, who had started the church in Kaimosi, in Tiriki. He earned a local name, Shikanga, and his children learned to speak Kabras as they lived and interacted with the local children.
7. The Tsotso speak Olutsotso and occupy the western part of Kakamega district. Tsotso clans include the Abangonya.
8. The Idakho speak Luidakho and occupy the southern part of Kakamega district. Their clans include the Abashimuli, Abashikulu, Abamasaba, Abashiangala, Abamusali, Abangolori, Abamahani, Abamuhali.
9. The Isukha speak Luisukha and occupy the eastern part of Kakamega district. Isukha clans include the Abamilonje.
10. The Maragoli speak Lulogooli and occupy Vihiga district. Maragoli clans include Avamumbaya, Avamuzuzu, Avasaali, Avakizungu, Avavurugi, Avakirima, Avamaabi, Avanoondi, Avalogovo, Avagonda, Avamutembe, Avasweta, Avamageza, Avagizenbwa, Avaliero, Avasaniaga, Avakebembe, Avayonga, Avagamuguywa, Avasaki, Avamasingira, Avamaseero.
11. The Nyole speak Olunyole and occupy Bunyore in Vihiga district. Nyole clans include Abakanga, Abayangu, Abasiekwe, Abatongoi, Abasikhale, Aberranyi, Abasakami, Abamuli, Abasyubi, Abasiralo, Abalonga, Abasiratsi. Abamang’ali, Abanangwe, Abasiloli, Ab’bayi, Abakhaya, Abamukunzi and Abamutete.
12. The Tiriki speak Ludiliji and occupy Tiriki in Vihiga district. Tiriki clans include Balukhoba, Bajisinde, Baumbo, Bashisungu Bamabi, Bamiluha, Balukhombe, Badura, Bamuli, Barimuli, Baguga, Basianiga and Basuba.
13. The Wanga speak Oluwanga and occupy Butere/Mumias District. Wanga clans include the Abamurono and Abashitsetse.
14. The Marama speak Lumarama and occupy Butere district. Marama clans include Abamukhula, Abatere, Abashirotsa, Abatsetse,.
15. The Kisa speak Olushisa and occupy Butere/Mumias district. Kisa clans include Abashisa.
16. The Tachoni speak Lutachoni and occupy Lugari, Bungoma and Malava districts. Tachoni clans include Abachambai, Abamarakalu, Abasang'alo, Abangachi, Abasioya, Abaviya, Abatecho, Abaengele. The Saniaga clan found among the Maragoli
in Kenya and the Saniak in Tanzania
are said to have originally been Tachoni.
Other clans said to have been Tachoni are the Bangachi found among Bagishu of Uganda, and Balugulu, also found in Uganda
and the Bailifuma, found among the Banyala.
Although Trans Nzoia is in the Rift Valley province, substantial Luhya populations have settled in the Kitale area.
Given their high population numbers, a political candidate who enjoys Luhya support is almost always poised to win the country’s general elections, barring incidents of fraud. The community is thereafter “rewarded” politically, by one of their own being appointed vice president or to a high profile political office by the winning candidate.
In the 2002 general elections of Kenya, the Luhya proved this point when outgoing president Daniel Arap Moi
unexpectedly appointed Musalia Mudavadi
as Vice president in an attempt to lure Luhyas to vote for Uhuru Kenyatta
, his choice of successor with Musalia as running mate. The Luhyas remained adamant in their support for the opposition then led by Mwai Kibaki
who also had a Luhya, Michael Kijana Wamalwa as running mate.
The Luhyas dealt a severe blow to Moi’s candidate by voting en masse for Kibaki who thereafter won the election with Wamalwa as his vice president. Of the eleven vice presidents of Kenya since independence, three have been Luhyas.
Others who have held high profile political offices include, Musalia Mudavadi, current deputy Prime Minister formerly 7th Vice President (Sept. 2002 - Dec 2002), Michael Wamalwa Kijana, 8th Vice President of Kenya (January 2003 - August 2003, Moody Awori
, 9th Vice President of Kenya (September 2003 - January 2008), Amos Wako
, Longest serving Attorney General of Kenya - 19 years in office, Kenneth Marende
, Speaker of the National Assembly and Zachaias Chesoni, late former Chief Justice of Kenya.
was a common practice in the past but today, it is only practiced by few people, usually if the man marries under traditional African law or Muslim law. Civil marriages (conducted by government authorities) and Christian
marriages preclude the possibility of polygamy.
About 10 to 15 families traditionally made up a village, headed by a village headman (Omukasa). Oweliguru is a post colonial title for a village leader coined from the English word "Crew." Within a family,the man of the home was the ultimate authority, followed by his first-born son. In a polygamous family, the first wife held the most prestigious position among women.
The first-born son of the first wife was usually the main heir to his father, even if he happened to be younger than his half-brothers from his father's other wives. Daughters had no permanent position in Luhya families as they would eventually become other men's wives. They did not inherit property, and were excluded from decision-making meetings within the family. Today, girls are allowed to inherit property, in accordance with Kenyan law.
Children are named after the clan's ancestors, or after their grandparents, or after events or the weather. The paternal grandparents take precedence, so that the first-born son will usually be named after his paternal grandfather (Kuka or 'Guga' in Maragoli
) while the first-born daughter will be named after her paternal grandmother ('Kukhu' or 'Guku' in Maragoli
.)
Subsequent children may be named after maternal grandparents, after significant events, such as weather, seasons etc. The name Wafula, for example, is given to a boy born during the rainy season (ifula). Wanjala is given to one born during famine (injala).
Traditionally, they practiced arranged marriages. The parents of a boy would approach the parents of a girl to ask for her hand in marriage. If the girl agreed, negotiations for dowry
would begin. Typically, this would be 12 cattle and similar numbers of sheep or goats, to be paid by the groom's parents to the bride's family. Once the dowry was delivered, the girl was fetched by the groom's sisters to begin her new life as a wife.
Instances of eloping were and are still common. Young men would elope with willing girls, with negotiations for dowry
to be conducted later. In such cases, the young man would also pay a fine to the parents of the girl. In rare cases abductions were normal but the young man had to pay a fine. As polygamy was allowed, a middle-aged man would typically have 2 to 3 wives.
When a man got very old and handed over the running of his homestead to his sons, the sons would sometimes find a young girl for the old man to marry. Such girls were normally those who could not find men to marry them, usually because they had children out of wedlock. Wife inheritance was and is also practiced.
A widow would normally be inherited by her husband's brother or cousin. In some cases, the eldest son would also inherit his father's widows (though not his own mother). Modern day Luhyas do not practice some of the traditional customs as most have adopted the Christian way of life. Many Luhyas also live in urban towns and cities for most of their lives and only return to settle in the rural areas after retirement or the death of parents in the rural areas.
They had extensive customs surrounding death
. There would be a great celebration at the home of the deceased, with mourning lasting up to forty days. If the deceased was a wealthy or influential man, a big tree would be uprooted and the deceased would be buried there, after the burial another tree Mutoto, Mukhuyu or Mukumu would be planted (This was a sacred tree and is found along most Luhya migration paths it could only be planted By a righteous Lady mostly Virgin or a Very Old Lady).
Nowadays, mourning takes shorter periods of time (about one week) and the celebrations are held at the time of burial. "Obukoko" and "Lisabo" are post burial ceremonies held to complete mourning rites.
Animal sacrifices were also traditionally practiced. There was great fear of the "Abalosi" or "Avaloji" (witches) and "Babini" (wizards). These were "night-runners" who prowled in the nude running from one house to another casting spells.
Most modern day Luhyas are Christians and for some, (if not all), the word for God
is Nyasaye or Nyasae.
The word Nyasae when translated into English roughly corresponds with 'Nya (of) and Asae/ Asaye/ Sae/ Saye/ (God). The Luhya traditionally worshipped an ancient god of the same name. When Christianity
was first introduced among the Luhya in the early 1900s by various Christian missionaries from Europe
and America, the Luhya took the name of their traditional god, Nyasae, forgot about that idol, and gave that name to the Living God of Christianity, the father of Abraham
, Isaac
and Jacob
, and whose son is Jesus Christ in the Bible.
The first Luhyas who were converted into Christianity
took words, names, their perceptions of what Christian missionaries told them about the Living God, (the Creator), and other aspects of the religious traditions that they were born into, and applied them to Christ
and God
.
The Friends Church (Quakers), opened a mission at Kaimosi and the Church of God based in Anderson, Indiana took over the mission in Bunyore
. During the same period the Catholic order Mill Hill Brothers came to the area of Mumias.
The Church of God of Anderson, Indiana
, USA, arrived in 1905 and began work at Kima in Bunyore
. Other Christian groups such as the Anglicans (CMS) came in 1906. In 1924 the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
began their work in Nyan'gori. The Salvation Army came to Malakisi in 1936. The Baptists came to western Kenya in the early 1960s.
The first Bible translation in a Luyia language was produced by Nicholas Stamp in the Wanga language. Osundwa says he did this translation in Mumias, the former capital of the Wanga kingdom of Mumia. There has been a strong Christian witness among the Luhya in the twentieth century.
A religious sect known as Dini ya Msambwa was founded by Elijah Masinde in 1948. They worship "Were," the Bukusu
god of Mt. Elgon, while at the same time using portions of the Bible to teach their converts. They also practice traditional arts termes witchcraft. This movement originally arose as part of an anti-colonial resistance.
Various sources estimate that 75-90% profess Christianity.
and Saamia, male circumcision was practised. A few sub-ethnic groups practiced clitoridectomy
, but even in those, it was only limited to a few instances and was not as widespread as it was among the Agikuyu. The Maragoli
did not practice it at all. Outlawing of the practice by the government led to the end of the practice, even though a few instances still occur among the Tachoni.
Traditionally, circumcision
was a period of training for adult responsibilities for the youth. Among those in Kakamega
, circumcision was carried out every four or five years, depending on the clan. This resulted into various age sets notably, Kolongolo, Kananachi, Kikwameti, Kinyikeu, Nyange, Maina, and Sawa in that order.
The Abanyala in Navakholo initiate young boys every other year and notably on even years. The initiates are about 8 to 13 years old, and the ceremony was followed by a period of seclusion for the initiates. On their coming out of seclusion, there would be a feast in the village, followed by a period of counselling by a group of elders.
The newly initiated youths would then build bachelor-huts for each other, where they would stay until they were old enough to become warriors. This kind of initiation is no longer practiced among the Kakamega Luhya, with the exception of the Tiriki.
Nowadays, the initiates are usually circumcised in hospital, and there is no seclusion period. On healing, a party is held for the initiate — who then usually goes back to school to continue with his studies.
Among the Bukusu
, the Tachoni and (to a much lesser extent) the Nyala
and the Kabras, the traditional methods of initiation persist. Circumcision is held every even year in August and December (the latter only among the Tachoni and the Kabras), and the initiates are typically 11 to 15 years old.
, the Saamia are mainly fishermen and traders, with their main agricultural activity being the raising of cassava
. The Bukhusu and the Wanga are mainly cash crop farmers, raising sugar cane in Bungoma
and Mumias
areas respectively. The Bukhusu also farm wheat in the region around Kitale
.
The Isukha of Kakamega
area and the Maragoli of Vihiga raise tea
, while the rocky land of the Nyore is used to harvest stones and gravel for construction. In Bukura area, the Khisa are small scale and only subsistence maize farmers. They also rear cattle, sheep, goats and chicken on a small scale. The Kabras of Malava area raise mainly maize
at subsistence levels, with a few also farming sugar cane.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. They also live in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
albeit a minor populace. They number about 6.1 million people, being about 16% of Kenya's total population of 38.5 million.
Luhya refers to both the people and their language. There are 16 (and by other accounts, 17, when the Suba are included) tribes that make up the Luhya. Each with a distinct dialect. The word Luhya or Luyia in some of the dialects means "clan", and Abaluhya thus means "people of the clan". Other translations are "those of the same hearth."
The sixteen tribes are the Bukusu (Ava-Bukusu), Idakho
Idakho
THE IDAKHO PEOPLE' October 2008The Idakho, are a Luhya sub-group that reside primarily in the fertile Kakamega District, Western Kenya...
(Av-Idakho), Isukha (Av-Isukha), Kabras (Ava-Kabras), Khayo (Ava-Khayo), Kisa
Kisa tribe (Luhya)
The Kisa, also known as Abakisa or Abashisa, are one of the sixteen tribes of the Luhya nation of Kenya. They occupy Kisa location in Khwisero division of Butere-Mumias district. The Kisa are sandwiched between the Marama of Butere, the Idakho of Kakamega and the Nyore of Vihiga district...
(Aba-Kisa), Marachi (Ava-Marachi), Maragoli (Ava-Logoli), Marama
Marama tribe (Luhya)
The Marama, also known as Abamarama, are a Luhya tribe occupying Marama Location in Kakamega District of the western province of Kenya. The town of Butere is located in west Marama and is a significant trading centre in Kakamega....
(Aba-Marama), Nyala (Ava-Nyala), Nyole
Nyole tribe (Luhya)
The Nyole, also known as Nyore, are a tribe of the Luhya nation from Bunyore in Western Kenya. Native speakers of the Nyole dialect of Luhya refer to themselves as Abanyole.In Swahili, they are known as Wanyore...
(Ava-Nyole), Samia
Samia tribe (Luhya)
Samia speaking people live in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda. they are composed of several clans which include, but not limited to avahulo, avakangala, avangale, avanyanga,Avaburi, avahone, avamurembo etc. Their ancient economic activities include fishing [in Lake Victoria and other rivers like...
(Ava-Samia), Tachoni (Ava-Tachoni), Tiriki (Ava-Tiriki), Tsotso (Ava-Tsotso), Wanga
Wanga
The ojeda are a tribe of the Luhya people of Kenya. They mainly occupy Butere-Mumias and Kakamega Districts, two of the 8 districts of Kenya's Western Province....
(Ava-Wanga). They are closely related to the Masaba (or Gisu), whose language is mutually intelligible with Luhya. The Bukusu and the Maragoli are the two largest Luhya tribes.
The principal traditional settlement area of the Luhya was in what is now the Western province
Western Province (Kenya)
The Western Province of Kenya, bordering Uganda, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi. It is west of the Eastern Rift Valley and is inhabited mainly by the Luhya people. Quakerism is widely practised here. Kenya's second highest mountain, Mount Elgon is located in...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. A substantial number of them permanently settled in the Kitale
Kitale
Kitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherengani Hills at an elevation of around . Its urban population was estimated at 220,000 in 2007....
and Kapsabet areas of the Rift Valley province.
The western province is the most densely populated part of Kenya. The Kisii
Kisii people
The Kisii is a community of Bantu speakers who inhabit the two counties in Nyanza Province, Western Kenya...
are considered to be closely related to the Luhya, and more specifically, to the Nyole and Maragoli, having split from them approximately 500 years ago. The Kisii are geographically separated from Luhya's by the Kano plains, and the Nandi escarpment and their settlement is in south-western part of Kenya. The relationship between the Luhya and the Kisii is deduced from their connected oral history as well as linguistic similarities. The languages are still almost mutually intelligible even though the two groups have lived in locales hundreds of kilometres apart for several centuries.
Migration to their present Luhyaland (a term of endearment referring to the Luhya's primary place of settlement in Kenya after the Bantu expansion
Bantu expansion
The Bantu expansion or the Bantu Migration was a millennia-long series of migrations of speakers of the original proto-Bantu language group...
) dates back to as early as the 1450s. However, some Luhya tribes have traditions of descent from "Egypt", which is taken to mean the Nile Valley, around Sudan or Ethiopia.
Immigrants into present-day Luhyaland trace their ancestry with several Bantu groups, such as the Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
(who called their king 'Mwami,' just as the Maragoli do) and to other Nilotic
Nilotic
Nilotic people or Nilotes, in its contemporary usage, refers to some ethnic groups mainly in South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and northern Tanzania, who speak Nilotic languages, a large sub-group of the Nilo-Saharan languages...
peoples like the Kalenjin, Luo
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)
The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. They are part of a larger group of ethnolinguistically related Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, northern and eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania.The Luo are the third largest...
, and Maasai.
By 1850, migration into Luhyaland was largely complete, and only minor internal movements occurred after that due to disease, droughts, domestic conflicts and the effects of British colonialism.
Overview
Anthropologists believe that the progenitors of the Luhya were part of the great Bantu expansionBantu expansion
The Bantu expansion or the Bantu Migration was a millennia-long series of migrations of speakers of the original proto-Bantu language group...
out of Western-Central Africa around 1000 BC.
The most powerful centralized kingdom in what is now Kenya before the advent of European Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionaries and the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonization of Kenya was founded by the Wanga, a Luhya tribe who claim Ancient Egyptian heritage.
The Wanga
Wanga
The ojeda are a tribe of the Luhya people of Kenya. They mainly occupy Butere-Mumias and Kakamega Districts, two of the 8 districts of Kenya's Western Province....
would sometimes hire Maasai and Kalenjin mercenaries to fight for them. The Wanga incorporated most of the Luhya tribes as well as territories to the east, southeast, west and southwest occupied by the Luo
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)
The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. They are part of a larger group of ethnolinguistically related Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, northern and eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania.The Luo are the third largest...
, Kipsigis, Nandi
Nandi people
The Nandi people are a number of Kenyan tribes living in the highland areas of the Nandi Hills in Rift Valley Province who speak the Nandi languages. They are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people....
, and Masai.
Pre-colonial period
Their territory neighboured the Baganda, Basoga and Bagisu of present day Uganda, and the Luo, Kisii, (Gusii) Teso, and Nandi of Present day Kenya. The territory occupied by the 'Bantu' around Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
and to the north of Lake Victoria was known as Kavirondo
Kavirondo
Kavirondo is the former name of the region surrounding Kavirondo Gulf as well as of two native peoples living there under the regime of British East Africa...
. When the British came into the area, they coined the term Bantu Kavirondo to refer to the Luhya and other Bantu communities in the area while Nilotic Kavirondo was used to refer to the Luo.
The Wanga were ruled by King Mumia, at the time. His kingdom was akin to that of the Baganda
Baganda
The Ganda are an ethnic group native to Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Traditionally comprising 52 tribes the Ganda have a rich history and culture...
. It was the most powerful and centralized kingdom among the Luhya. Other leaders among the Luhya were known as Baami (singular Mwami), a title translating to 'Kings' or 'Lords.' Nabongo was the Wanga title for king.
The British explorer Henry Morton Stanley
Henry Morton Stanley
Sir Henry Morton Stanley, GCB, born John Rowlands , was a Welsh journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of Africa and his search for David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly uttered the now-famous greeting, "Dr...
made a voyage around Lake Victoria and Joseph Thomson (explorer)
Joseph Thomson (explorer)
Joseph Thomson was a Scottish geologist and explorer who played an important part in the Scramble for Africa. Thomson's Gazelle is named for him. Excelling as an explorer rather than an exact scientist, he avoided confrontations among his porters or with indigenous peoples, neither killing any...
the Scottish geologist passed through Luhya territory around 1883. Thomson met king Mumia and influenced British relations with the Luhya king in the region. The construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway beginning from 1898, further opened opportunities for European interaction with the Luhya and other communities in the western part of Kenya. King Mumia's dominion extended to other Luhya subgroups such as the Kabras and the Tsotso.
In the late 1800s, when European nations began their Scramble for Africa
Scramble for Africa
The Scramble for Africa, also known as the Race for Africa or Partition of Africa was a process of invasion, occupation, colonization and annexation of African territory by European powers during the New Imperialism period, between 1881 and World War I in 1914...
, they mapped African boundaries to suit their interests in the continent. With the lion's share of colonies going to the British, in 1895, the region of East Africa was declared to be a British Protectorate. It was further divided into British East Africa, (present day Kenya) and the Uganda Protectorate (present day Uganda).
As all the land in Kenya, west of Naivasha
Naivasha
Naivasha is a market town in Rift Valley Province, Kenya, lying north west of Nairobi. It is located on the shore of Lake Naivasha and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway and Uganda Railway.Naivasha is part of the Nakuru District...
was mapped within the Uganda Protectorate, the Luhya people and other Kenyan communities were included in the Ugandan territory. In 1902, the boundaries were remapped and the Luhya kingdoms and their neighbouring communities which were on the eastern part of Uganda, were annexed to Kenya.
Colonial period
The first EuropeanEuropean ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
the Luhya had contact with was probably Henry Morton Stanley
Henry Morton Stanley
Sir Henry Morton Stanley, GCB, born John Rowlands , was a Welsh journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of Africa and his search for David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly uttered the now-famous greeting, "Dr...
as he voyaged around Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
. In 1883, Joseph Thomson
Joseph Thomson (explorer)
Joseph Thomson was a Scottish geologist and explorer who played an important part in the Scramble for Africa. Thomson's Gazelle is named for him. Excelling as an explorer rather than an exact scientist, he avoided confrontations among his porters or with indigenous peoples, neither killing any...
was the first European known to pass through Luhya territory on foot, and was influential in opening the region to Europeans after his meeting with King Mumia of the Wanga
Wanga
The ojeda are a tribe of the Luhya people of Kenya. They mainly occupy Butere-Mumias and Kakamega Districts, two of the 8 districts of Kenya's Western Province....
Kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
.
The Wanga kingdom was very similar to the Baganda
Baganda
The Ganda are an ethnic group native to Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Traditionally comprising 52 tribes the Ganda have a rich history and culture...
kingdom and other monarchies in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, a unique form of government among the Luhya. Mumia was the last king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of the Wanga, and because of ethnocentric (racist) British beliefs, was called a chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
.
The Bukusu
Bukusu people
The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 17% of the Luhya population...
strongly resisted British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
incursions into their territory in the 1890s. In 1895, they fought the British from a stronghold near Bungoma
Bungoma
Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council...
on the lower slopes of Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu and west of Kitale.- Physical features :It is the oldest and largest solitary volcano in East Africa, covering an area of around 3500 km²....
called "Chetambe's Fort". The British had machine guns and massacred over a hundred Bukusu
Bukusu people
The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 17% of the Luhya population...
warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s in the stronghold, who were armed with spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
s, hide shields, bows
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
and quivers of arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
.
In the 1940s and 1950s the Bukusu
Bukusu people
The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 17% of the Luhya population...
resisted the British under the leadership of Elijah Masinde
Elijah Masinde
Elijah Masinde was a traditional leader of the Bukusu people of western Kenya.-Early life:...
, a religious sect leader and prophet who demanded return of their lands. Masinde was imprisoned during the Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s, but was released to his home area at independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
in 1963.
The Kabras and the Wanga collaborated peacefully with the British. Most Luhyas from the Kabras subgroup joined the colonial-era police forces. Nabongo Mumia, was forced to sign treaties with the British after being defeated, this allowed the colonial authorities to subject his people to British rule.
Significant numbers of the Luhya fought for the British in the Second World War, many as conscripts in the Kenya African Rifles, (KAR). As with many African societies, the Luhya also named their children after significant events. Consequently, many Luhya people born around the time of the Second World War were named "Keyah", a transliteration of "KAR", the acronym for the King's African Rifles
King's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
.
Other famous chiefs during the colonial time included Ndombi wa Namusia, Sudi Namachanja, and Namutala.
http://google.com/search?q=cache:V_RAv7SAzXAJ:www.abeingo.org/HTML_files/wanga.html+nabongo+mumia&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=ca&client=firefox-a
Tribes and clans
| Luhya tribe | Luhya variety | ISO code ISO 639-3 ISO 639-3:2007, Codes for the representation of names of languages — Part 3: Alpha-3 code for comprehensive coverage of languages, is an international standard for language codes in the ISO 639 series. The standard describes three‐letter codes for identifying languages. It extends the ISO 639-2... |
Region Region Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bukusu | Lubukusu | bxk | Bungoma Bungoma Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Idakho | Luidakho | ida | Kakamega Kakamega Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 .... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Isukha Isukha tribe (Luhya) The Isukha, are a tribe of the Luhya nation of Kenya. Among the Luhya, the Isukha are known as Abiisukha. They reside Kakamega District neighboured by the Idakho and the Tiriki.- References :... |
Luisukha | ida | Kakamega Kakamega Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 .... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Kabras Kabras tribe (Luhya) The Kabras, or Kabarasi, are a tribe of Luhya people of Kenya. They reside in Malava, in the Kabras Division of Kakamega District neighboured by the Isukha, Banyala, Tsotso and the Tachoni. The Kabras dialect is similar to Tachoni.... |
Lukabarasi | lkb | Kakamega Kakamega Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 .... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Khayo Khayo tribe (Luhya) The Khayo are a tribe of the Luhya people of Kenya. They reside in Busia District, by the Kenya-Uganda border. Their fellow Luhya neighbours are the Samia, Marachi, Wanga and Bukusu... |
Olukhayo | lko | Busia Busia Busia may refer to the following:Places*Busia District, Kenya*Busia District, Uganda*Busia, Uganda, the Ugandan town on the border with Kenya*Busia, Kenya, the Kenyan town on the border with UgandaPeople... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Kisa Kisa tribe (Luhya) The Kisa, also known as Abakisa or Abashisa, are one of the sixteen tribes of the Luhya nation of Kenya. They occupy Kisa location in Khwisero division of Butere-Mumias district. The Kisa are sandwiched between the Marama of Butere, the Idakho of Kakamega and the Nyore of Vihiga district... |
Olushisa | lks | Butere/Mumias Butere/Mumias District Butere/Mumias District is an administrative district in the Western Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Butere. The district has a population of 476,928 and an area of 939 km² .The district has four constituencies:*Butere Constituency... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Maragoli | Lulogooli | rag | Maragoli Maragoli The Maragoli, or Logoli , are the second largest tribe of the 6 million-strong Luhya nation in Kenya, after the Bukusu. The dialect they speak is called Llogoli, Urulogoli, or Maragoli.... , Vihiga Vihiga -Geography:The town is along the road between Kisumu and Kakamega, and only five kilometres north of the equator. Vihiga bears the same name as its district, Vihiga District, which is one of the eight districts in Kenya's Western Province... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Marachi Marachi tribe (Luhya) The Marachi are one of sixteen tribes of the Luhya people of Kenya. Nestled between the Samia, Khayo and Wanga, the Marachi occupy a land area comparatively smaller than the other Luhya tribes in Busia District... |
Olumarachi | lri | Busia Busia Busia may refer to the following:Places*Busia District, Kenya*Busia District, Uganda*Busia, Uganda, the Ugandan town on the border with Kenya*Busia, Kenya, the Kenyan town on the border with UgandaPeople... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Marama Marama tribe (Luhya) The Marama, also known as Abamarama, are a Luhya tribe occupying Marama Location in Kakamega District of the western province of Kenya. The town of Butere is located in west Marama and is a significant trading centre in Kakamega.... |
Olumarama | lrm | Butere/Mumias Butere/Mumias District Butere/Mumias District is an administrative district in the Western Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Butere. The district has a population of 476,928 and an area of 939 km² .The district has four constituencies:*Butere Constituency... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Nyala | Lunyala Nyala dialect (Luhya) Nyala is a Luhya dialect spoken by the Nyala tribe of the Luhya people of Busia District in Kenya. It is spoken by 35 000 people.... |
nle | Busia Busia Busia may refer to the following:Places*Busia District, Kenya*Busia District, Uganda*Busia, Uganda, the Ugandan town on the border with Kenya*Busia, Kenya, the Kenyan town on the border with UgandaPeople... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Nyole Nyole tribe (Luhya) The Nyole, also known as Nyore, are a tribe of the Luhya nation from Bunyore in Western Kenya. Native speakers of the Nyole dialect of Luhya refer to themselves as Abanyole.In Swahili, they are known as Wanyore... |
Ugandan Nyole, Kenyan Nyole |
nuj, nyd |
Vihiga Vihiga -Geography:The town is along the road between Kisumu and Kakamega, and only five kilometres north of the equator. Vihiga bears the same name as its district, Vihiga District, which is one of the eight districts in Kenya's Western Province... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ), Tororo Tororo Tororo is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Tororo District. The district was named after the town.-Location:... (Uganda Uganda Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by... ) |
| Samia Samia tribe (Luhya) Samia speaking people live in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda. they are composed of several clans which include, but not limited to avahulo, avakangala, avangale, avanyanga,Avaburi, avahone, avamurembo etc. Their ancient economic activities include fishing [in Lake Victoria and other rivers like... |
Lusamia | lsm | Busia Busia Busia may refer to the following:Places*Busia District, Kenya*Busia District, Uganda*Busia, Uganda, the Ugandan town on the border with Kenya*Busia, Kenya, the Kenyan town on the border with UgandaPeople... , Kakamega Kakamega Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 .... - Uganda Uganda Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by... |
| Tachoni Tachoni tribe (Luhya) The Tachoni are a Luhya tribe of Western Kenya, sharing land with the Bukusu. They live mainly in Webuye, Chetambe Hills, Ndivisi - of the newly created Bungoma East district - and Lugari District in the former larger Kakamega District. Most Tachoni clans living in Bungoma speak 'Lubukusu' dialect... |
Lutachoni | lts | Lugari Lugari Lugari is a town in the Western Province of Kenya. It is the capital of Lugari District. The town is located 10 kilometres east of Webuye. Lugari has an urban population of 5000 .... , Bungoma Bungoma Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council... , Malava (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Tiriki Tiriki tribe (Luhya) The Tiriki are one of sixteen tribes of the Luhya people. The word Tiriki is also used to refer to their geographical location in Vihiga district, Hamisi Division in the Western province of Kenya... |
Lutirichi | ida | Vihiga Vihiga -Geography:The town is along the road between Kisumu and Kakamega, and only five kilometres north of the equator. Vihiga bears the same name as its district, Vihiga District, which is one of the eight districts in Kenya's Western Province... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Tsotso Tsotso tribe (Luhya) The Tsotso or Abatsotso are a tribe of the Luhya nation in Kenya. They occupy three locations in Lurambi division of Kakamega District. The three locations are Bukura, north Butsotso and south Butsotso.- References :... |
Olutsotso | lto | Kakamega Kakamega Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 .... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
| Wanga | Oluwanga | lwg | Butere/Mumias Butere/Mumias District Butere/Mumias District is an administrative district in the Western Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Butere. The district has a population of 476,928 and an area of 939 km² .The district has four constituencies:*Butere Constituency... (Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |
1. The Bukusu speak Lubukusu and occupy Bungoma and Mount Elgon districts. The clans of the Bukusu include the Batura, Bamalaba, Bamwale, Bakikayi, Basirikwa, Baechale, Baechalo, Bakibeti, Bakhisa, Bamwayi Bamwaya, Bang'oma, Basakali, Bakiabi, Baliuli, Bamuki, Bakhona, Bakoi, Bameme, Basombi, Bakwangwa, Babutu (descendants of Mubutu also found in Congo), Bakhoone, Baengele (originally Banyala), Balonja, Batukwika, Baboya, Baala, Balako, Basaba, Babuya, Barefu, Bamusomi, Batecho, Baafu, Babichachi, Bamula, Balunda, Babulo, Bafumo, Bayemba, Baemba, Bayaya, Baleyi, Baembo, Bamukongi, Babeti, Baunga, Bakuta, Balisa, Balukulu, Balwonja, Bamalicha, Bamukoya, Bamuna, Bamutiru, Bayonga, Bamang'ali, Basefu, Basegese, Basenya, Basime, Basimisi, Basibanjo, Basonge, Batakhwe, Batecho, Bachemayi, Bachemwile, Bauma, Baumbu, Bakhoma, Bakhonjo, Bakhwami, Bakhulaluwa, Baundo, Bachemuluku, Bafisi, Bakobolo, Bamatiri, Bamakhuli, Bameywa, Bahongo, Basamo, Basang'alo, Basianaga, Basioya, Bachambayi, Bangachi, Babiya, Baande, Bakhone, Bakimwei, Batilu, Bakhurarwa, Bakamukong'i, Baluleti, Babasaba, Bakikai, Bhakitang'a, Bhatemlani, Bhasakha, Bhatasama, Bhakiyabi and possibly others.
2. The Samia speak Lusamia and occupy Busia District, Kenya. The clans of the Samia of include the Abatabona.
3. The Khayo speak Lukhayo and occupy Busia District, Kenya. Khayo clans include the Abaguuri.
4. The Marachi speak Lumarachi and occupy Butula District. Marachi clans include Ababere,Abafofoyo.
5. The Nyala speak Lunyala and occupy Busia District. Other Nyala (Abanyala ba Kakamega) occupy the north western part of Kakamega District. The Banyala of Kakamega are said to have migrated from Busia with a leader known as Mukhamba. They speak the same dialect as the Banyala of Busia, save for minor differences in pronunciation. The Banyala of Kakamega are also known as Abanyala ba Ndombi.
They reside in Navakholo Division North of Kakamega forest. Their one time powerful colonial chief was Ndombi wa Namusia whose family has held political power in the area since his days. He was succeeded by his son Andrea Ndombi.
Andrea was succeeded by Paulo Udoto, Mukopi, Wanjala, Barasa Ongeti, Matayo Oyalo and Muterwa in that order. The 36 clans of the Banyala include Abaafu, Ababenge, Abachimba, Abadavani, Abaengere, Abakangala, Abakhubichi, Abakoye, Abakwangwachi, Abalanda, Abalecha, Abalindo, Abamani, Abamisoho, Abamuchuu, Abamugi, Abamwaya, Abaokho, Abasaacha, Abasakwa, Abasaya, Abasenya, Abasia, Abasiloli, Basonge (also found among Kabras), Abasumba, Abasuu, Abatecho (also found among Bukusu), Abaucha, Abauma, Abaumwo, Abayaya, Abayirifuma (also found among Tachoni), Abayisa, Abayundo and Abasiondo. The Banyala do not intermarry with someone from the same clan.
6. The Kabras speak Lukabarasi and occupy the northern part of Kakamega district. The Kabras were originally Banyala. They reside principally in Malava, in Kabras Division of Kakamega district. The Kabras (or Kabarasi, Kavalasi and Kabalasi) are sandwiched by the Isukha, Banyala and the Tachoni.
The name "Kabras" comes from Avalasi which means 'Warriors' or 'Mighty Hunters.' They were fierce warriors who fought with the neighbouring Nandi for cattle and were known to be fearless. This explains why they are generally fewer in number compared to other Luhya tribes such as the Maragoli and Bukusu.
They claim to be descendants of Nangwiro associated with the Biblical Nimrod. The Kabras dialect sounds like the Tachoni dialect. Kabras clans include the Abamutama, Basonje, Abakhusia, Bamachina, Abashu, Abamutsembi, Baluu, Batobo, Bachetsi and Bamakangala. They were named after the heads of the families.
The Kabras were under the rulership of Nabongo Mumia of the Wanga and were represented by an elder in his Council of Elders. The last known elder was Soita Libukana Samaramarami of Lwichi village, Central Kabras, near Chegulo market. When the Quaker missionaries spread to Kabras they established the Friends Church
Friends Church
Friends Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in the upscale Orange County city of Yorba Linda, California. The church is affiliated with the Evangelical Friends International denomination...
(Quakers) through a missionary by the name of Arthur Chilson, who had started the church in Kaimosi, in Tiriki. He earned a local name, Shikanga, and his children learned to speak Kabras as they lived and interacted with the local children.
7. The Tsotso speak Olutsotso and occupy the western part of Kakamega district. Tsotso clans include the Abangonya.
8. The Idakho speak Luidakho and occupy the southern part of Kakamega district. Their clans include the Abashimuli, Abashikulu, Abamasaba, Abashiangala, Abamusali, Abangolori, Abamahani, Abamuhali.
9. The Isukha speak Luisukha and occupy the eastern part of Kakamega district. Isukha clans include the Abamilonje.
10. The Maragoli speak Lulogooli and occupy Vihiga district. Maragoli clans include Avamumbaya, Avamuzuzu, Avasaali, Avakizungu, Avavurugi, Avakirima, Avamaabi, Avanoondi, Avalogovo, Avagonda, Avamutembe, Avasweta, Avamageza, Avagizenbwa, Avaliero, Avasaniaga, Avakebembe, Avayonga, Avagamuguywa, Avasaki, Avamasingira, Avamaseero.
11. The Nyole speak Olunyole and occupy Bunyore in Vihiga district. Nyole clans include Abakanga, Abayangu, Abasiekwe, Abatongoi, Abasikhale, Aberranyi, Abasakami, Abamuli, Abasyubi, Abasiralo, Abalonga, Abasiratsi. Abamang’ali, Abanangwe, Abasiloli, Ab’bayi, Abakhaya, Abamukunzi and Abamutete.
12. The Tiriki speak Ludiliji and occupy Tiriki in Vihiga district. Tiriki clans include Balukhoba, Bajisinde, Baumbo, Bashisungu Bamabi, Bamiluha, Balukhombe, Badura, Bamuli, Barimuli, Baguga, Basianiga and Basuba.
13. The Wanga speak Oluwanga and occupy Butere/Mumias District. Wanga clans include the Abamurono and Abashitsetse.
14. The Marama speak Lumarama and occupy Butere district. Marama clans include Abamukhula, Abatere, Abashirotsa, Abatsetse,.
15. The Kisa speak Olushisa and occupy Butere/Mumias district. Kisa clans include Abashisa.
16. The Tachoni speak Lutachoni and occupy Lugari, Bungoma and Malava districts. Tachoni clans include Abachambai, Abamarakalu, Abasang'alo, Abangachi, Abasioya, Abaviya, Abatecho, Abaengele. The Saniaga clan found among the Maragoli
Maragoli
The Maragoli, or Logoli , are the second largest tribe of the 6 million-strong Luhya nation in Kenya, after the Bukusu. The dialect they speak is called Llogoli, Urulogoli, or Maragoli....
in Kenya and the Saniak in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
are said to have originally been Tachoni.
Other clans said to have been Tachoni are the Bangachi found among Bagishu of Uganda, and Balugulu, also found in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and the Bailifuma, found among the Banyala.
Although Trans Nzoia is in the Rift Valley province, substantial Luhya populations have settled in the Kitale area.
Population and politics
In Kenyan politics, the Luhya population commonly referred to as the Luhya vote in an election year, is usually a deciding factor of the outcome of an election. The community is known to unite and vote as a block usually for a specific political candidate without division of mind and regardless of political differences.Given their high population numbers, a political candidate who enjoys Luhya support is almost always poised to win the country’s general elections, barring incidents of fraud. The community is thereafter “rewarded” politically, by one of their own being appointed vice president or to a high profile political office by the winning candidate.
In the 2002 general elections of Kenya, the Luhya proved this point when outgoing president Daniel Arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
unexpectedly appointed Musalia Mudavadi
Musalia Mudavadi
Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government.Mudavadi was born in Sabatia, Vihiga District...
as Vice president in an attempt to lure Luhyas to vote for Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and MP for Gatundu South Constituency. He is the Chairman of Kenya African National Union , the former ruling party, which is currently part of the Party of National Unity...
, his choice of successor with Musalia as running mate. The Luhyas remained adamant in their support for the opposition then led by Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
who also had a Luhya, Michael Kijana Wamalwa as running mate.
The Luhyas dealt a severe blow to Moi’s candidate by voting en masse for Kibaki who thereafter won the election with Wamalwa as his vice president. Of the eleven vice presidents of Kenya since independence, three have been Luhyas.
Others who have held high profile political offices include, Musalia Mudavadi, current deputy Prime Minister formerly 7th Vice President (Sept. 2002 - Dec 2002), Michael Wamalwa Kijana, 8th Vice President of Kenya (January 2003 - August 2003, Moody Awori
Moody Awori
Arthur Moody Awori , known as "Uncle Moody", was the 9th Vice President of Kenya from 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008.-Politics:Awori was born in Butere. He went to Mangu High School in 1935, and later Kakamega High School...
, 9th Vice President of Kenya (September 2003 - January 2008), Amos Wako
Amos Wako
Hon. S. Amos Wako served as th Attorney General of the republic of Kenya for 20 years .Wako was born in Kenya...
, Longest serving Attorney General of Kenya - 19 years in office, Kenneth Marende
Kenneth Marende
Kenneth Otiato Marende, born 7 January 1956, is the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya's 10th Parliament. He was elected Speaker on January 15, 2008. Prior to his election as Speaker, Hon...
, Speaker of the National Assembly and Zachaias Chesoni, late former Chief Justice of Kenya.
Culture
Luhya culture is comparable to most Bantu cultural practices. PolygamyPolygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
was a common practice in the past but today, it is only practiced by few people, usually if the man marries under traditional African law or Muslim law. Civil marriages (conducted by government authorities) and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
marriages preclude the possibility of polygamy.
About 10 to 15 families traditionally made up a village, headed by a village headman (Omukasa). Oweliguru is a post colonial title for a village leader coined from the English word "Crew." Within a family,the man of the home was the ultimate authority, followed by his first-born son. In a polygamous family, the first wife held the most prestigious position among women.
The first-born son of the first wife was usually the main heir to his father, even if he happened to be younger than his half-brothers from his father's other wives. Daughters had no permanent position in Luhya families as they would eventually become other men's wives. They did not inherit property, and were excluded from decision-making meetings within the family. Today, girls are allowed to inherit property, in accordance with Kenyan law.
Children are named after the clan's ancestors, or after their grandparents, or after events or the weather. The paternal grandparents take precedence, so that the first-born son will usually be named after his paternal grandfather (Kuka or 'Guga' in Maragoli
Maragoli
The Maragoli, or Logoli , are the second largest tribe of the 6 million-strong Luhya nation in Kenya, after the Bukusu. The dialect they speak is called Llogoli, Urulogoli, or Maragoli....
) while the first-born daughter will be named after her paternal grandmother ('Kukhu' or 'Guku' in Maragoli
Maragoli
The Maragoli, or Logoli , are the second largest tribe of the 6 million-strong Luhya nation in Kenya, after the Bukusu. The dialect they speak is called Llogoli, Urulogoli, or Maragoli....
.)
Subsequent children may be named after maternal grandparents, after significant events, such as weather, seasons etc. The name Wafula, for example, is given to a boy born during the rainy season (ifula). Wanjala is given to one born during famine (injala).
Traditionally, they practiced arranged marriages. The parents of a boy would approach the parents of a girl to ask for her hand in marriage. If the girl agreed, negotiations for dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
would begin. Typically, this would be 12 cattle and similar numbers of sheep or goats, to be paid by the groom's parents to the bride's family. Once the dowry was delivered, the girl was fetched by the groom's sisters to begin her new life as a wife.
Instances of eloping were and are still common. Young men would elope with willing girls, with negotiations for dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
to be conducted later. In such cases, the young man would also pay a fine to the parents of the girl. In rare cases abductions were normal but the young man had to pay a fine. As polygamy was allowed, a middle-aged man would typically have 2 to 3 wives.
When a man got very old and handed over the running of his homestead to his sons, the sons would sometimes find a young girl for the old man to marry. Such girls were normally those who could not find men to marry them, usually because they had children out of wedlock. Wife inheritance was and is also practiced.
A widow would normally be inherited by her husband's brother or cousin. In some cases, the eldest son would also inherit his father's widows (though not his own mother). Modern day Luhyas do not practice some of the traditional customs as most have adopted the Christian way of life. Many Luhyas also live in urban towns and cities for most of their lives and only return to settle in the rural areas after retirement or the death of parents in the rural areas.
They had extensive customs surrounding death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. There would be a great celebration at the home of the deceased, with mourning lasting up to forty days. If the deceased was a wealthy or influential man, a big tree would be uprooted and the deceased would be buried there, after the burial another tree Mutoto, Mukhuyu or Mukumu would be planted (This was a sacred tree and is found along most Luhya migration paths it could only be planted By a righteous Lady mostly Virgin or a Very Old Lady).
Nowadays, mourning takes shorter periods of time (about one week) and the celebrations are held at the time of burial. "Obukoko" and "Lisabo" are post burial ceremonies held to complete mourning rites.
Animal sacrifices were also traditionally practiced. There was great fear of the "Abalosi" or "Avaloji" (witches) and "Babini" (wizards). These were "night-runners" who prowled in the nude running from one house to another casting spells.
Most modern day Luhyas are Christians and for some, (if not all), the word for God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
is Nyasaye or Nyasae.
The word Nyasae when translated into English roughly corresponds with 'Nya (of) and Asae/ Asaye/ Sae/ Saye/ (God). The Luhya traditionally worshipped an ancient god of the same name. When Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
was first introduced among the Luhya in the early 1900s by various Christian missionaries from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and America, the Luhya took the name of their traditional god, Nyasae, forgot about that idol, and gave that name to the Living God of Christianity, the father of Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, Isaac
Isaac
Isaac as described in the Hebrew Bible, was the only son Abraham had with his wife Sarah, and was the father of Jacob and Esau. Isaac was one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites...
and Jacob
Jacob
Jacob "heel" or "leg-puller"), also later known as Israel , as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the New Testament and the Qur'an was the third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, which were named after his descendants.In the...
, and whose son is Jesus Christ in the Bible.
The first Luhyas who were converted into Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
took words, names, their perceptions of what Christian missionaries told them about the Living God, (the Creator), and other aspects of the religious traditions that they were born into, and applied them to Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
.
The Friends Church (Quakers), opened a mission at Kaimosi and the Church of God based in Anderson, Indiana took over the mission in Bunyore
Bunyore
Bunyore is a location in Vihiga district in the western province of Kenya, largely occupied by speakers of the Nyole dialect of the Luhya tribe. In the local language, the place is known as Ebunyole and its people Abanyole...
. During the same period the Catholic order Mill Hill Brothers came to the area of Mumias.
The Church of God of Anderson, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA, arrived in 1905 and began work at Kima in Bunyore
Bunyore
Bunyore is a location in Vihiga district in the western province of Kenya, largely occupied by speakers of the Nyole dialect of the Luhya tribe. In the local language, the place is known as Ebunyole and its people Abanyole...
. Other Christian groups such as the Anglicans (CMS) came in 1906. In 1924 the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada is a Pentecostal Christian denomination and the largest evangelical church in Canada. It reports 234,385 adherents and 1,077 member congregations throughout Canada...
began their work in Nyan'gori. The Salvation Army came to Malakisi in 1936. The Baptists came to western Kenya in the early 1960s.
The first Bible translation in a Luyia language was produced by Nicholas Stamp in the Wanga language. Osundwa says he did this translation in Mumias, the former capital of the Wanga kingdom of Mumia. There has been a strong Christian witness among the Luhya in the twentieth century.
A religious sect known as Dini ya Msambwa was founded by Elijah Masinde in 1948. They worship "Were," the Bukusu
Bukusu people
The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 17% of the Luhya population...
god of Mt. Elgon, while at the same time using portions of the Bible to teach their converts. They also practice traditional arts termes witchcraft. This movement originally arose as part of an anti-colonial resistance.
Various sources estimate that 75-90% profess Christianity.
Initiation
With the exception of the MaramaMarama
Marama relates to more than one article:* Marama, South Australia is a place in South Australia* Marama is a widespread Polynesian word for 'moon' or 'light'...
and Saamia, male circumcision was practised. A few sub-ethnic groups practiced clitoridectomy
Clitoridectomy
Clitoridectomy is the surgical removal of the clitoris. It is rarely needed as a therapeutic medical procedure, such as when cancer has developed in or spread to the clitoris...
, but even in those, it was only limited to a few instances and was not as widespread as it was among the Agikuyu. The Maragoli
Maragoli
The Maragoli, or Logoli , are the second largest tribe of the 6 million-strong Luhya nation in Kenya, after the Bukusu. The dialect they speak is called Llogoli, Urulogoli, or Maragoli....
did not practice it at all. Outlawing of the practice by the government led to the end of the practice, even though a few instances still occur among the Tachoni.
Traditionally, circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
was a period of training for adult responsibilities for the youth. Among those in Kakamega
Kakamega
Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 ....
, circumcision was carried out every four or five years, depending on the clan. This resulted into various age sets notably, Kolongolo, Kananachi, Kikwameti, Kinyikeu, Nyange, Maina, and Sawa in that order.
The Abanyala in Navakholo initiate young boys every other year and notably on even years. The initiates are about 8 to 13 years old, and the ceremony was followed by a period of seclusion for the initiates. On their coming out of seclusion, there would be a feast in the village, followed by a period of counselling by a group of elders.
The newly initiated youths would then build bachelor-huts for each other, where they would stay until they were old enough to become warriors. This kind of initiation is no longer practiced among the Kakamega Luhya, with the exception of the Tiriki.
Nowadays, the initiates are usually circumcised in hospital, and there is no seclusion period. On healing, a party is held for the initiate — who then usually goes back to school to continue with his studies.
Among the Bukusu
Bukusu people
The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 17% of the Luhya population...
, the Tachoni and (to a much lesser extent) the Nyala
Nyala
The Nyala is a Southern African antelope. It is a spiral-horned dense-forest antelope that is uncomfortable in open spaces and is most often seen at water holes. Nyalas live alone or in small family groups of up to 10 individuals.The male stands up to 110 cm , the female is up to 90 cm ...
and the Kabras, the traditional methods of initiation persist. Circumcision is held every even year in August and December (the latter only among the Tachoni and the Kabras), and the initiates are typically 11 to 15 years old.
Seers
- Maina wa Nalukale,
- Mutonyi wa Nabukelembe (Died among the kabras in the Machina clan)
- Wachiye wa Namuma
- Elija Masinde wa Nameme
Economic activities
Traditionally agriculturalists, they grow different crops depending on the regions they live in. Close to Lake VictoriaLake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
, the Saamia are mainly fishermen and traders, with their main agricultural activity being the raising of cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
. The Bukhusu and the Wanga are mainly cash crop farmers, raising sugar cane in Bungoma
Bungoma
Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma District and it hosts a municipal council...
and Mumias
Mumias
Mumias is a town in the Western Province of Kenya. The town has an urban population of 32.965 Mumias is the center of the Mumias Division of the Butere/Mumias District. The town is linked by road to Kakamega , Busia , Bungoma , Butere . The village of Buchinga is located between Mumias and...
areas respectively. The Bukhusu also farm wheat in the region around Kitale
Kitale
Kitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherengani Hills at an elevation of around . Its urban population was estimated at 220,000 in 2007....
.
The Isukha of Kakamega
Kakamega
Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of . The town has a population of 73,607 ....
area and the Maragoli of Vihiga raise tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, while the rocky land of the Nyore is used to harvest stones and gravel for construction. In Bukura area, the Khisa are small scale and only subsistence maize farmers. They also rear cattle, sheep, goats and chicken on a small scale. The Kabras of Malava area raise mainly maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
at subsistence levels, with a few also farming sugar cane.
Notable Luhya personalities
- Khayanga Doreen Wasike, Miss Commonwealth International – Africa 2010
- Winfred Adah OmwakweWinfred Adah OmwakweWinfred Adah Omwakwe is the first black representative and first from the African region to hold the Miss Earth title. She is also the first woman from Kenya to hold a major international beauty pageant title when she formally succeeded Džejla Glavović of Bosnia & Herzegovina as Miss Earth 2002...
, Miss Earth 2002. The first from an African country. - Yolanda Masinde Miss World finalist, 2000.
- Musalia MudavadiMusalia MudavadiWycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government.Mudavadi was born in Sabatia, Vihiga District...
, Deputy Prime Minister and 7th Vice President (Sept. 2002–Dec 2002) - Filemon F. Indire, University of Nairobi, Former Member of Parliament (1983–1988), Kenya's ambassador to Russia (1960s)
- Michael Wamalwa KijanaMichael Wamalwa KijanaMichael Wamalwa Kijana was a Kenyan politician and, at the time of his death, Kenya's Vice-President.-Early life:...
, 8th Vice President of Kenya (January–August 2003) - Moody AworiMoody AworiArthur Moody Awori , known as "Uncle Moody", was the 9th Vice President of Kenya from 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008.-Politics:Awori was born in Butere. He went to Mangu High School in 1935, and later Kakamega High School...
, 9th Vice President of Kenya (September 2003–January 2008) - Amos WakoAmos WakoHon. S. Amos Wako served as th Attorney General of the republic of Kenya for 20 years .Wako was born in Kenya...
, Attorney General - Kenneth MarendeKenneth MarendeKenneth Otiato Marende, born 7 January 1956, is the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya's 10th Parliament. He was elected Speaker on January 15, 2008. Prior to his election as Speaker, Hon...
, Speaker of the National Assembly - Zachaias Chesoni, former Chief Justice
- Musikari KomboMusikari KomboMusikari Nazi Kombo in Bungoma District is a Kenyan politician and currently serves as a nominated Member of Parliament. He joined Misikhu Primary School for his elementary education, then proceeded to Rakwaro Primary School, and finally moving to Mumias where he completed his primary education...
, Chairman FORD-Kenya, Minister for Local Government - Masinde MuliroMasinde MuliroMasinde Muliro was a Kenyan politician, one of the central figures in the shaping of the political landscape in Kenya. A renowned freedom fighter, he campaigned for the restoration of multi-party democracy in Kenya in his later years....
(1922–1992), politician - Calestous JumaCalestous JumaCalestous Juma is an internationally recognized authority in the application of science and technology to sustainable development worldwide. He is Professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of the Science, Technology and Globalization Project at Harvard Kennedy School...
, distinguished Professor, Harvard University - Joe MasigaJoe MasigaJoseph Masiga is a former international Kenyan footballer and rugby player. Masiga played club football for the AFC Leopards, a team with roots in western Kenya. Masiga retired from active sports and is now a dentist in Nairobi.-References:...
, footballer - Elijah MasindeElijah MasindeElijah Masinde was a traditional leader of the Bukusu people of western Kenya.-Early life:...
, Bukusu leader - Maurice Michael OtungaMaurice Michael OtungaMaurice Michael Otunga , Cardinal and Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi and Military Ordinary emeritus for Kenya, was born in Chebukwa, diocese of Kakamega, Kenya.-Early life and ordination:...
, Catholic cardinal - Daudi KabakaDaudi KabakaDaudi Kabaka was a Kenyan-born singer.The type of music he is known for is called 'Benga' a popular style in East Africa. His best-known songs include "African Twist", "Harambee Harambee" and "Western Shilo"....
(1939–2001), musician - Robert WangilaRobert WangilaRobert Napunyi Wangila was a Kenyan boxer who won a welterweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games...
Napunyi, boxer - Violet BarasaViolet BarasaViolet Awindi Barasa was a volleyball player from Kenya. Her surname is sometimes spelled as Baraza....
(1975–2007), volleyball player - Burudi NabweraBurudi NabweraBurudi Nabwera is a Kenyan politician and former ambassador. He served as ambassador to the US in the 1960s, and retired from the diplomatic service to join politics. In 1988, he was elected MP for the Lugari Constituency in Western Province of Kenya. He lost that seat to Apili Wawire in the 1992...
, politician - McDonald MarigaMcDonald MarigaMcDonald Mariga Wanyama is a Kenyan footballer player who plays for Real Sociedad on loan from Inter Milan. Mariga made history as the first Kenyan footballer to play in the UEFA Champions League on 16 March 2010.-Early career:...
, Footballer - Elijah Mwangale, Foreign Minister of Kenya 1983–87
- Wafula WabugeWafula WabugeWafula Wabuge was a politician from Kenya.Wabuge was a Member of Parliament for Kitale West Constituency .He was a close ally of influential politician Masinde Muliro....
, Kenya's ambassador to Uganda, UN & USA (1981–1986). Former Member of Parliament - Joshua Angatia Mulanda, Minister of Health, Minister for Commerce and Industry
- Dr Mukasa Mango, Former Minister and Member of Parliament for Butula.