Abanyala ba Kakamega

A] TIME IN OLUNYALA (K) DIALECT OF LUHYA. Among Abanyala ba Kakamega, time is referred to as ebise . The twenty-four hours of the day is subdivided into the following time zones. Makherebeende- from 3am to 4am. It marks the start of the day. It is associated with the first cock-crow. Ewuikwe ni yikheba- from 4am to 5am. It is marked with the brightening of the horizon on the East before sunrise. It is associated with the second cockcrow. Mumawiiwi- from 5am to 6am. It is associated with the third cockcrow. Chulichuli- from 6am to 7am. It is associated with the first singing of the morning birds and sunrise. Children born at such time are called Wechuli or Machula. Owusieye- from 7am to around 9am. The time of early visiting, early women and children activities, and morning greetings of "Wusieye!'  Musisanya- between 10am and 11am. Girls born at such hours are called Misenya. Musiteche (musi) from 11 am to 1pm. (Also used for daytime). It is associated with shadows bei...

Abanyala ba Kakamega have various sports and games for children and men in the society. Elderly women only play a role of teaching children the games. The following were the major games. Amakhu - These were fights involving cattle- specifically bulls. The game spontaneously took place at the grazing fields where people enjoyed by cheering and jeering. At times, herdsmen could goad the bulls from one herd to fight with another bull from another herd. This was done after grazing and ignited by forcing the bulls to smell blood from a tick.  No specific organised days and events were reserved for amakhu among Abanyala ba Kakamega. It was just a grazing field event. Also, the children had soil made animal-toys that they played with imitating the animal fights in a game that they too called amakhu . Amakoora - game played by young girls and young boys. The players sit in a circle around a hole on ground filled with 20 to 30 small stones or marbles. The first player picks up one ...