Abanyala ba Kakamega

Abanyala ba Kakamega practice circumcision of boys every even year during the months of August. Circumcision transformed boys into young men. A) Origin of circumcision Among Abanyala ba Kakamega Circumcision among the Abanyala is said to have been there from long time ago but suspended due to many natural calamities and wars during migration. It was RE-started off in 1710 under the leadership of Mukhamba Mukhekhe of Abayemba (Abasaya). Abayemba were originally the royal clan of Abanyala. The first official age set of 1710 was named after the killer raiders called Abakolongolo who attacked their forefathers at Sirikwa leading to suspension of circumcision years. They attacked, killed and took everything then went. Due to a big comet (limuli) that passed theth sky, the first age set (that closed abakolongolo of Sirikwa) was called Abakolongolo lumuli.  The Abakolongololo age set also tied up with the Germans hence leading to the reference of Abakolongolo as Germans.  The re-introdu

Abanyala (K) have some form of payments and gifts that have specific names. The art of trading is called okhukusiania while batter trade is called okhukulasania . These payments are in the form of animals, cereals, precious items and money. Some payments can only be understood if used with possessive marking prefix aka ~, eya ~, esia ~ or  echia ~ . Amaecho - payment given to a girl or parents of a girl before marriage to strengthen friendship. Amakata - payment made to elders who take part to listen to a case during a sitting. Also, modernly used to refer for sitting allowances during meetings. Asoya - any form of bribe; payment for corruption deal.  Ebianwa - periodic remitance. Ebiechoecho - extra privilage payments called marupurupu in Kiswahili. Ebimanuswa - presents given during a visit to a visitor for having helped the host orhas as an appreciation for the visit. Ebinywa - presents leaders that is in form of cereals Ebiseke - advance payment to motivate a worker. Ebit

Abanyala ba Kakamega have names for various varieties of comon food crops they greatly use. The following are some of the varieties of the food crops. 1.  VARIETIES OF MAIZE There are different types of maize categorized based on the colour and number of lines on the maize cob. the following are the main types. Amatumwa - general name for maize. Emoti - maize variety that is purple-black.  Emwo - this was maize that was hybrid seed. The word  emwo  related closely to the term GMO. Enyiru  ( Namba nane )- this has big seeds and eight lines on the maize cob.  Nakhalooli - a variety of maize that has a mix of many colours.  Nasimia - this is white maize that has many lines on the cob. Opapari - it is maize variety that has mix of two colours.  Sipindi - this is the yellow maize variety.  Tulatula - this is the pop corn maize.  2.  VARIETIES OF MUSHROOM Owoba - general name for mushroom. Emitwere - some variety of eatible mushroom that grew on trees. It

By Mr. Balovera Edwin Ongacho Abanyala ba Kakamega have names for various edible fruit in Olunyala (K). Though fruits are called ebiamo, the Kiswahili word amatunda is now greatly used. Among the Abanyala traditional community, it was unheard of for a day to end without one eating a fruit.  Unlike other meals such as ugali that had specific times for eating, fruits were eaten where they were found, and a few carried home. Specific fruits were also used as meals for the sick as part of prescribed medication. It is worth noting that nobody owned fruits on a fruit trees- even if the fruits tree was in another person's home. The following are some of the names of the edible fruits in Olunyala (K). A) NAMES OF COMMON EDIBLE FRUITS IN OLUNYALA (K) Amakoyakoye- Paulinia pinnata L. The fruits reduced incidences of diarhoea and heartache. Amaloobaswa - Lannea edulis . They are now almost extinct due to overexploitation. They were common in raised dry grounds such as old anthill