the luhya culture
St. Pauls University
Unit
title: intercultural communication
Lecturer’s
name: Louise
Macharia
Unit
code: com
Adm.no.
BACS/NRB/1565/17
Task: The luhya
culture
LUHYA
Introduction
The
luhya tribe, also known as the Abaluya, Baluya, or Abaluya, is a Bantu tribe living
in Kenya’s
agriculturally fertile western region. They are neighbours to some of the Nilotic
tribes, including the luo, kalenjin, Maasai, and teso.
They
are Kenya’s
second largest ethnic tribe following the kikuyu, and they account for 14% of
the Kenyan population.
Though
considered one tribe, the Abaluya consist of over 18 sub-tribes, each speaking
a different dialect of the luhya language. The Bukusu and the maragoli are two
largest luhya sub-tribes. Others include the Bunyala, Banyore, Batsotso, Gisu,
Idakho, Isukha, Kabras, Khayo, Kisa, Marachi, Marama, Masaaba, Samia, Tiriki
and Wanga.
The
luhya tribe, like many other Kenyan tribes it’s known to have lost most fertile
land during British colonialism. Their true origin is disputable. According to
their own oral literature, luhyas migrated to their present day location from
Egypt (northen part of Kenya) but some historians argue that luhya came central
and west Africa alongside other Bantus in what is known as the great bantu
migration.
Religion
The
luhya people traditionally believed in and worshiped only one god, were (nyasaye), a name borrowered from
their Nilotic luo neighbours. Nyasaye was worshiped through intermediaries
usually the spirits of dead relatives. The spirits are considered to be either
positively or destructive to the community and thus had to be appeased through
animal sacrifices, such as goats, cattles, chicken and sheep.
Today,
most people from the luhya tribe are Christians; however, it is common to find
some mixing Christianity with aspects of African traditional religion. For
instance dini ya msambwa, a religion
whose adherents are mostly luhyas, uses portions of the bible for its doctrine
while practicing traditional witchcraft at the same time. All luhyas practise
Christianity today expet the abawanga who practise Islamic.
Music
Music
and dance are vital in luhya community, children sing songs and dance for play
and (especially boys) when herding livestock. Occasions such as weddings,
funerals and circumcision ceremonies all call for singing and dancing. Musical
instruments include drums, jingles, flutes and accordions. The luhya are
nationally renowned for their energetic, believed to have come from eating huge
amount of ugali (obusuma) and vibrant isukuti dance (a name misheard by a luhya
from a white man saying “is good”). Isukuti dance is a celebratory performance
involving rapid squatting and rising accompanied by thunderous, rhythmic
drumbeats.
Games
Luhya
people are greatly sport enthusiasts, especially when it comes to rugby and
soccer. Many luhyas show wide support for the AFC
leopards’ soccer club (ingwe) which is considered to be their own. The club was
formed in early 1960s under the name Abaluya football club and has
traditionally had a bitter rivalry with Gor Mahia FC (Kogalo) a club associated
with luo.
Traditional
bullfighting is still considered a sport among sections of the luhya ethnic
tribe. The annual bullfighting completion attracts many many spectators,
including Bonny Khalwale the current cabinet secretary of parliament for
Ikolomani. Bullfighting is done annually in Ikolomani stadium in kakamega
Bullfighting
in luhya
Bullfighting
in luhya being cheered by a group of people
Rites of passage
Birth
Having
many children is considered a virtue, being childless is seen as a great
misfortune. Many births take place in the home, the placenta (engori) and the
umbilical cord are buried behind the hut at a secret spot so that they will not
be found and tempered with by a witch (omulogi).
The
burying of the placenta around the house symbolizes that wherever the child
goes anywhere, will always come home because it’s his or her original homeland
or the ancestral homeland.
Circumcision
Traditional
male circumcision is an important ritual in most luhya sub-tribes. It marks the
initiation from boyhood to manhood. The modern and educated luhyas continue to
choose to circumcise their sons in hospitals upon birth. However, among some
factions of the Bukusu and Tachoni, traditional circumcision ceremonies still
take place every August and December.
Uncircumcised
boys (avasinde) were not allowed to marry or join in many other adult
activities. Until when he feels he is ready, he approaches his father who
prepares the required materials which are male bull, he goat, traditional beer,
circumciser and the small house called likombe or samba after being a real man
as they put it. A samba is a male house among the luhya and only the father is
allowed to enter the small house.
Death
and funeral rites involve not only the bereaved family, but also other
relatives and the community. While it is known that many deaths occur through
illnesses like malaria and tuberculosis, as well as road accidents, quite few
deaths are still believed to occur from witchcraft. Burial often takes place in
the homestead of the deceased. Among the luhya, funerals and burials are public
and open events. Animals are slaughtered; food and drinks are brought to feed
the mourners.
Traditionally,
the extended family and the clan were at the centre of the luhya culture.
Luhyas practised polygamy and a man was given more respect depending on the
number of wives he had. This is because only a very wealthy man could afford to
pay the dowry for several wives. The dowry was paid in form of cattle, sheep or
goats.
Before
dowry payment, there is always negotiations done from both sides that is the
bride’s and the groom’s side.
When
parents and relatives of the girl were satisfied with the dowry payment,
arrangements were made for the wedding. A big feast is prepared both at the
girl’s and the boy’s home. There is much singing at the girls home. When
everything is ready the boy is left with the bride and a large group of girls
to act as bridesmaids.
Taboos
In
luhya tradition, he sighting of a night owl signals that the death of a family
member is imminent while among the Maragoli it is considered lucky if one meets
a small antelope while going on an important journey.
In
the Maragoli if one meets a certain rat called ‘elivengi’, it is considered a
bad omen generally.
In
Bukusu meeting a black dog on the way is a bad omen so the journey ends till
next day or use another route.
Meeting
‘esimindwa’ (red hawk) is a bad omen among the Maragoli and Wanga.
If
an owl (elikuli) cries near a homestead, this is a sign that someone from that
home will soon die. To avert the fate which the owl portent, he is driven away
with a firebrand.
Among
the Bukusu if one comes across certain ants called ‘nafusi’, this is taken to
mean one will receive good hospitality if he is visiting or something pleasant
is in store for him.
It
is a taboo to sweep the house at night or take rubbish out at night. It is said
that by doing so you are throwing your luck.
It
is taboo to cut nails at night because it is believed that evil spirits will
haunt you.
If
an antelope crosses the road from either side in front of the marriage cattle
while being driven from the bridegroom’s father to the bride’s father it s a
bad omen indicating the cattle will die.
Naming
Naming
among luhya community was based on seasons or after ancestors. Children were
named after their ancestors just to please them. According to season’s names
like wafula suggested the time of rains, wanjala meant hunger and wekesa meant
the time of harvest.
Technology
In luhya the most known means of
technology is the use of radio to get information such as soccer, passing
greetings to their relatives and most preferably listening to music especially
the traditional music
References
‘The luhya tribe of Kenya: their history
and culture”. Kenya information-guide.com.
Retrieved 2017.06.20.
Shadrack Amokoye Bulimo: luhya nation:
origins, clans and taboos: Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2017.06.20.
Tim Wambunya(7 may 2007). “ABA LUHYA”.
Softkenya.com. retrieved 2017.06.18.
Luhya languages according ethnologies”.
Abiengo community network.
“Luhya tribe/Kenya tribe and people”.
Softkenya.com. retrieved 2017.06.19.
Luhya
candidate coming from the river.
A
luhya boy standing the knife.
Death
Death
and funeral rites involve not only the bereaved family, but also other
relatives and the community. While it is known that many deaths occur through
illnesses like malaria and tuberculosis, as well as road accidents, quite few
deaths are still believed to occur from witchcraft. Burial often takes place in
the homestead of the deceased. Among the luhya, funerals and burials are public
and open events. Animals are slaughtered; food and drinks are brought to feed
the mourners.
Marriage
Traditionally,
the extended family and the clan were at the centre of the luhya culture.
Luhyas practised polygamy and a man was given more respect depending on the
number of wives he had. This is because only a very wealthy man could afford to
pay the dowry for several wives. The dowry was paid in form of cattle, sheep or
goats.
Before
dowry payment, there is always negotiations done from both sides that is the
bride’s and the groom’s side.
When
parents and relatives of the girl were satisfied with the dowry payment,
arrangements were made for the wedding. A big feast is prepared both at the
girl’s and the boy’s home. There is much singing at the girls home. When
everything is ready the boy is left with the bride and a large group of girls
to act as bridesmaids.
Taboos
In
luhya tradition, he sighting of a night owl signals that the death of a family
member is imminent while among the Maragoli it is considered lucky if one meets
a small antelope while going on an important journey.
In
the Maragoli if one meets a certain rat called ‘elivengi’, it is considered a
bad omen generally.
In
Bukusu meeting a black dog on the way is a bad omen so the journey ends till
next day or use another route.
Meeting
‘esimindwa’ (red hawk) is a bad omen among the Maragoli and Wanga.
If
an owl (elikuli) cries near a homestead, this is a sign that someone from that
home will soon die. To avert the fate which the owl portent, he is driven away
with a firebrand.
Among
the Bukusu if one comes across certain ants called ‘nafusi’, this is taken to
mean one will receive good hospitality if he is visiting or something pleasant
is in store for him.
It
is a taboo to sweep the house at night or take rubbish out at night. It is said
that by doing so you are throwing your luck.
It
is taboo to cut nails at night because it is believed that evil spirits will
haunt you.
If
an antelope crosses the road from either side in front of the marriage cattle
while being driven from the bridegroom’s father to the bride’s father it s a
bad omen indicating the cattle will die.
Naming
Naming
among luhya community was based on seasons or after ancestors. Children were
named after their ancestors just to please them. According to season’s names
like wafula suggested the time of rains, wanjala meant hunger and wekesa meant
the time of harvest.
Technology
In luhya the most known means of
technology is the use of radio to get information such as soccer, passing
greetings to their relatives and most preferably listening to music especially
the traditional music
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