Abanyala ba Kakamega

Similes are part and parcel of speech by the Abanyala ba Kakamega. They are so important that children have to learn them as part of children games called engacho (jokes). At times, similes are common as part of verbal scolding or verbal-game of scolding. The following are some of the major examples: Okhuangua churuchuru nga ekata. Okhuba nende amakesi mangi nga namususuni.  Namususuni Okhuba nende amalasire mabi nga esusi. Okhuba nende embalikha nga mwalikhwang'ene. Okhuba nende esileka nga okutiatiasi Okhuba nende esinani nga embungamasi. Okhuba nende esinani nga oluchwasi. Okhuba nende esiniakirisi nga walunabe. Okhuba nende oluseresi nga akhatwaywa. Okhuba nende oluseresi nga esimbikhira Okhuba nende omwoyo mulahi nga amachi. Okhuba omuchi nga ekongolio. To be cowardly like a milipede Okhuba omuchwanda nga akhamuna. To be cunning like a squirrel. Okhuba omunyerere nga engira- to be thin like a path. Okhuba omwerere nga mukhuchwi khwa embwa. Empty like the i...

Abanyala ba Kakamega had a variety of indegenous cooked food. The following are some of the key names of the meals. Amakira - Amabeere- milk. There were other milk products such as amasalule (fat), amabere amayu, amabeere amawiwu, embuu, omutokha, eonda etc Amachemwa- bananas. There were different types of bananas: echemwa lya engocha (cooked), echemwa lya esilimi (brew making), echemwa lya omunchinchi or switi, echemwa lya panianiamba (panana), echemwa esumwe, echemwa lya bokoya and echemwa lya nalandwe. We have the following banana meals: amachemwa amasamba (roasted bananas), amachemwa amasinde (unpeeled and boiled bananas), amachemwa amatekhe (peeled and boiled bananas) and amachemwa amalabire (ripe bananas)  Amachemwa ka esinyala Amachuku (eseebe) - air potatoes or Discorea minutiflora. They were roasted and then boiled. Most people considered them as the poor man's food since they were readily available. Amachuku Amaengere- succotash. A mixture of beans and maize...

Hamisi Okwako Tabasi Ndombi wa Namusia passed away in early 1940, leaving behind a mixed legacy. The Abanyala’s history is deeply intertwined with migration and assimilation. Under the leadership of Munyala Mukhe, the Abanyala began their journey, settling in various regions and forming alliances with other communities. Munyala, a giant of a man with large eyes, was a great seer and warrior who led his people through difficult times. His death in battle marked a turning point, as the Abanyala vowed never to allow their leader to go to war again. Subsequent leaders, such as Buongo wa Namuyemba, Munyala wa Nabakholo and Munyala wa Namakangala, guided the community through periods of unity and division. The Abanyala eventually settled in Navakholo, a land named in honor of Mukhamba’s mother, Nabakholo. It was here that they established their identity as Abanyala ba Mukhamba. The migration of the Abanyala was not without conflict. They faced attacks from the Tesos and other neighboring com...

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...