ABANYALA BA KAKAMEGA: The Clan of Abasonge.
Abasonge is one of the clans among the Abanyala ba Kakameka. This Abasonge clan of the Abanyala is one among the six Abasonge sub-clans found among six sub-tribes of Western Kenya.
It is with a lot of curiosity to note that Basonge or Abasonge or Abasonje in Kenya do share a name with the Basonge (originally Songye) in Zaire. However, they may be a different people or same people who separated centuries ago.
1. The six family groups of Abasonge.
Though seen as six various groups, the Abasonge in Abanyala do not intermary with any of other Abasonge because they believe they were originally one people from the leneage of Songe se Songiek. They exist as below:
They practised hunting, crop farming and animal farming. Their females are called Namusonge in Bunyala and Bukusu. Among the Kabras and Tachon, they are called Namusonje while Nyar-Usonga(Nasonga) among the Luos.
3. Origin of Abasonge
One legend has it that they were part of what was a larger amalgamation of the Bantu and Nilotic clans that happened to have lived around the Eastern side of Mt. Elgon araea. This amalgamation of clans divided into groups with one group heading into uganda and another group remaining.
First, the group that migrated into Uganda included clans lead by Mukama, Musamia, Munyala, Masaba and other leaders who were all under the leadership of Kintu (Muntu/Kundu). On the other hand, there were other clans under various leaderships that did not move- Abasonge were part of this group. They remained as part of the neighboring El Kony kalenjin clans. They got assimilated among the El Kony Kalenjin group that lived in El Konyland- spanning from Mt. Elgon to Kapenguria.
As Kintu and his group moved, those who remained formed six new clusters of clans. These clan clusters were later called: Abamwalie, El Kony, Kapchikhen (Abachikha), Chipruk, Tambach and the Grates Group. The Abasonge were part of the Abamwalie cluster of clans.
Another legend has it that they may have been part of El Kony Kalenjin clan of KapSongiek who became assimilated by Abaluhya. Therefore, it is worth noting that there is an unsettled doubt as to whether Abasonge were of the El kony Kalenjin clans or were part of the Bantu group. If they were Bantus, then it is the clan of KapSongiek among the El Kony clans of the Kalenjin that can be said to have been originally bantu under Muntu.
However, according to Demmahom Olovodes Lihraw in his book, The Tachon Peoples of Kenya- History, Culture and Economy, it turns out clear that Abasonge clan were of the generation of Songe the brother to Sioya and Kaburia. Songe was son of Songiek. Songiek's father was Chesianik. Chesianik (Chesaina) was a son of Mahlhul (Makhuli)' Makhuli's father was Mangeti son of Lukhutu. Lukhutu's father was Berindei son of Meluti (Maruti). Meluti's father was Baliseti (Bel Set) son of Namisi (El Namsri). Demmahom documented the family tree from which Abasonge emanated as below
The Abasonge have their first traceble ancestor as Songe and their first place of settlement, together with the Kipsongiek clans of El Kony, on the Eastern side of Mt. Elgon. It is said that in the absence of Se Mukuma, Abasonge were now under the leadership of Weramateya Se Lutome- who lead a cluster of clans that were under the El kony group.
Abasonge then moved under the leadership of Kibanani to settle in present day Chereng'ani Hill sparning towards Sirikwa. After some time, they shifted to Kapchai, then Chebukwa, then Kapchorwa, then Tolosio and lastly stayed at Mwalie Hills. At this point, Abasonge were part of the Abamwalie cluster of clans.
It was at Mwalie that this cluster of clans split. This split was called esiatikho sia Namukongo. The split was occcassioned by leadership wrangles between Namukongo of Ababichu (Kapchu) and and Munyenyi of Abangachi. Namukongo faced a coup because he did not match Munyenyi in throwing periodic feasts to his subjects. After the above split of the Abamwalie clan cluster, the Abasonge also split up.
4. The split of Abasonge.
The major split of Abasonge also took place at Mwalie. By this time, the Abasonge had estabilised themselves into four major families and two minor ones. The four major ones were: of the Aba-Tawai, of the Aba-Kibande, of the Aba-Bitelia and of the Aba-Wendikiti. Two minor ones were of the Aba-Nyalase and the Aba-Leitia. Just like the Abasoga of Uganda, the Abasonge families were never united even in presence of common foe. Each group set off with its own leadership.
They arrived among the Abanyala during the reign of Omwani Nasokho. They were together with the group of Masiribayi. Masiribayi is a Masai who was the forefather of Abayirifuma clan who had emigrated from the present day Eldoret. According to Gideon S. Were in his book, it is recorded that when Masiribayi was moving towards West with his brothers, he reached Sang’alo and found the clan of Abasonge Aba-Nyalase. He then migrated with them down to Ebuyemba. The name Abasonge Abanyalase resonated well with the Abanyala and they accepted the people into the community. They built homes there and settled.
When moving into Navakholo, Abasonge who were now among the Abanyala, found another group of Abasonge in Navakholo that had estabilished olukoba around Malaha.
The family tree of Abasonge in Bunyala.
The tree starts with Nyala-Se-Lukongo who had four sons.
(This will be updated)
It is with a lot of curiosity to note that Basonge or Abasonge or Abasonje in Kenya do share a name with the Basonge (originally Songye) in Zaire. However, they may be a different people or same people who separated centuries ago.
1. The six family groups of Abasonge.
Though seen as six various groups, the Abasonge in Abanyala do not intermary with any of other Abasonge because they believe they were originally one people from the leneage of Songe se Songiek. They exist as below:
- Abasonge found among the Ugandan
- The Abasonge family among the Tachon
- The Basonge among the Bukusu in Lugari and Bungoma
- Some of the Abasonge family of Abasonga among the Luos in Nyadorera of Alego Usonga. They are the Abasonge Abarecheya. (Aba-Leitia)
- The Abasonje family among the Abakabras of Malava.
- Abasonge family among the Abanyala of Navakholo.
They practised hunting, crop farming and animal farming. Their females are called Namusonge in Bunyala and Bukusu. Among the Kabras and Tachon, they are called Namusonje while Nyar-Usonga(Nasonga) among the Luos.
3. Origin of Abasonge
One legend has it that they were part of what was a larger amalgamation of the Bantu and Nilotic clans that happened to have lived around the Eastern side of Mt. Elgon araea. This amalgamation of clans divided into groups with one group heading into uganda and another group remaining.
First, the group that migrated into Uganda included clans lead by Mukama, Musamia, Munyala, Masaba and other leaders who were all under the leadership of Kintu (Muntu/Kundu). On the other hand, there were other clans under various leaderships that did not move- Abasonge were part of this group. They remained as part of the neighboring El Kony kalenjin clans. They got assimilated among the El Kony Kalenjin group that lived in El Konyland- spanning from Mt. Elgon to Kapenguria.
As Kintu and his group moved, those who remained formed six new clusters of clans. These clan clusters were later called: Abamwalie, El Kony, Kapchikhen (Abachikha), Chipruk, Tambach and the Grates Group. The Abasonge were part of the Abamwalie cluster of clans.
Another legend has it that they may have been part of El Kony Kalenjin clan of KapSongiek who became assimilated by Abaluhya. Therefore, it is worth noting that there is an unsettled doubt as to whether Abasonge were of the El kony Kalenjin clans or were part of the Bantu group. If they were Bantus, then it is the clan of KapSongiek among the El Kony clans of the Kalenjin that can be said to have been originally bantu under Muntu.
However, according to Demmahom Olovodes Lihraw in his book, The Tachon Peoples of Kenya- History, Culture and Economy, it turns out clear that Abasonge clan were of the generation of Songe the brother to Sioya and Kaburia. Songe was son of Songiek. Songiek's father was Chesianik. Chesianik (Chesaina) was a son of Mahlhul (Makhuli)' Makhuli's father was Mangeti son of Lukhutu. Lukhutu's father was Berindei son of Meluti (Maruti). Meluti's father was Baliseti (Bel Set) son of Namisi (El Namsri). Demmahom documented the family tree from which Abasonge emanated as below
 |
| Tachon Family Tree with early ancestors of Abasonge (Songe) |
Abasonge then moved under the leadership of Kibanani to settle in present day Chereng'ani Hill sparning towards Sirikwa. After some time, they shifted to Kapchai, then Chebukwa, then Kapchorwa, then Tolosio and lastly stayed at Mwalie Hills. At this point, Abasonge were part of the Abamwalie cluster of clans.
It was at Mwalie that this cluster of clans split. This split was called esiatikho sia Namukongo. The split was occcassioned by leadership wrangles between Namukongo of Ababichu (Kapchu) and and Munyenyi of Abangachi. Namukongo faced a coup because he did not match Munyenyi in throwing periodic feasts to his subjects. After the above split of the Abamwalie clan cluster, the Abasonge also split up.
4. The split of Abasonge.
The major split of Abasonge also took place at Mwalie. By this time, the Abasonge had estabilised themselves into four major families and two minor ones. The four major ones were: of the Aba-Tawai, of the Aba-Kibande, of the Aba-Bitelia and of the Aba-Wendikiti. Two minor ones were of the Aba-Nyalase and the Aba-Leitia. Just like the Abasoga of Uganda, the Abasonge families were never united even in presence of common foe. Each group set off with its own leadership.
- Three of the above families, lead by Leitia Se Lukongo, moved and estabilished a settlement at present day Butula area. After a some time, two groups out of this three, lead by Leitia Se Lukongo, crossed over to Uganda and joined Abakwere as Abasonge-AbaLeitia. (Leitia was pronounced as Rechiya leading to Abasonge Abarecheya) This was in the present day Mbale. At Mbale, the two groups forming Abasonge Abarechiya that had moved across differed over a lost spear and split up. Of the two, one group remained in Mbale. However, another group lead by Kusechere Se Sumba moved towards the Abasamia. This is the group that later went to Luoland as Abasonga (abarecheya). It is also said that the Abanyala clan of Abalechiya and Abamarama clan of Abarecheia (Clan of late Hon Martin Shikuku) are a product of this split from the group that remained in Uganda. It is also found among the abamarama as abarechiya. This group is said to have broken the blood realition from Abasonge in an offical ceremony of okhutisa olukale. On the other hand, the group that remained at Butula is the one which moved back into the Tachon as Abasonge Abatachoni. However, some members of this group never moved to Tachoni. They remained as Basonge Babukusu.
- Abasonge group of Aba-Wendikiti moved and settled in Lusumu of Wanga Mukulu. They named the place Malaha and build a fort.
- Another group lead by Khumo went down to Sio Port Busia. While in Busia, a group remained forming the Abasonge sub-clan of Abasonga Busia. However, part of this group decided to move back towards the East to Mundika and then to Shianda. This group joined the AbaWetindikiti group at Lusumu. After some time, they moved to Ingotse, then settled around Lukume and Shamoni in present day Malava. They form the Abasonje Abakabras.
Hon Moses Malulu Injendi of Abasonje ba Kabras. - The other group of the Abasonge Aba-Nyalase moved and settled at Sang'alo. According to Gideon S. Were, this is the group that joined the Abanyala ba Kakamega while in Tororo Uganda. However, it reunited with Abasonge that had settled at Malaha to form the Abasonge in Abanyala
They arrived among the Abanyala during the reign of Omwani Nasokho. They were together with the group of Masiribayi. Masiribayi is a Masai who was the forefather of Abayirifuma clan who had emigrated from the present day Eldoret. According to Gideon S. Were in his book, it is recorded that when Masiribayi was moving towards West with his brothers, he reached Sang’alo and found the clan of Abasonge Aba-Nyalase. He then migrated with them down to Ebuyemba. The name Abasonge Abanyalase resonated well with the Abanyala and they accepted the people into the community. They built homes there and settled.
When moving into Navakholo, Abasonge who were now among the Abanyala, found another group of Abasonge in Navakholo that had estabilished olukoba around Malaha.
The family tree of Abasonge in Bunyala.
The tree starts with Nyala-Se-Lukongo who had four sons.
(This will be updated)
Thanks for this very educational piece about the Abanyala. It highlights so many clans I have encountered.
ReplyDeleteRequest; Does anybody has any information about the Abakholo clan? I would highly appreciate any information.
Thanks. Wabwire
Please notify me on gwabwire44@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteAlso Abasonga of Ageng'a in Samia
ReplyDeleteAm very glad to see how my clan migrated and how they settled.But tell us can Basonga and Nasonge get married?
ReplyDeleteWe have a very small Abasonge in Maraka sub-location of Litunya migrated from Kakamega,abasianiaka and abakobolo are there neighbours.Got assimilated by Bukusu.
ReplyDelete