Bukusu Self-Introduction

Bukusu Self-Introduction

1. Omutilu: Nekoye, Nabwami, Bulicho, Nakhanwa, Nabwayi, Nang’oma, Nakhabale, basinga bukhi, babatikitia likulu liamwenyamwenya. Bamutilu came to the present Bukusu land by use of a rope across a large river. They are a leadership clan and are wealthy in cattle and livestock. They play the war drum, such as that which Mukite wa Nameme used to unite Bukusu land. They are skilled rainmakers and belong to the Basilikwa group of clans, descendants of Silikwa, one of the sons of Mubukusu who led the people in Esengeli during early migration.
2. Omuchemwile: Omukikayi, Omusiandete, Omusiang’oma, Omusyanyungu, Silimbakha. Bachemwile are naturally captivating conversationalists (silimbakha), and thus talk a lot. Their ancestors include Watambamala, Muchube, and Situlungu, who were tough and rough men. They belong to the Bakikayi cluster, a group of clans who sojourned in Kikayi Hills during migration.
3. Baengele: Nambengele Nalukhamba, Nabulusya, Owaabina Nebusiele. Tundwe, Nasiloma, Mwalie Owecha na Ekutusi. Omuengele is naughty, stubborn, eloquent, and a people-person. The late Wamalwa Kijana was a famous orator from the clan. Omuengele is bold and can outwit an enemy at dawn. They are a leadership clan and pay allegiance to the Bamwalie cluster, those who came through Mwalie Hills.
4. Banyangali: Basilikwa, Barwa Bayoboyi, Khukhwakenda ne Chikhendu Mukanda, Balicha Ngwe. Omunyangali is a descendant of Silikwa, and they fought Kalenjin adversaries (Bayoboyi). Due to their association with Barwa, they adopted the khulicha ritual, a top-secret rite symbolized by the leopard. They are closely linked to the Bamwalie cluster.
5. Babichu: Namwalie, Wanakhuchuru. They are linked to the Bamwalie cluster who lived around Mwalie Hills and adopted much of the Barwa lifestyle. They are elusive like the Ekhuchuru bird (African francolin).
6. Bakhwami: Nabukhwami, Enda ye Wandinda, Kukali, Kutusi, Namachanja, Machabe. Bakhwami are a leadership clan whose elders wear the royal regalia: ekutusi (robe) and lichabe (iron armband). They are maternally related to the Babuulo.
7. Bakhoma: Nawanga, Nalubia, Nasakami; Omukhoma salia Engokho. Bakhoma belong to clans that lived around Kikayi Hills and trace their maternal ancestry to Nawanga. They traditionally abstain from eating chicken.
8. Babwoba: Omwanamusime. Though not explicitly mentioned in their introduction, Babwoba play a unique role in Bukusu circumcision. A tale narrates that two elders were sent to locate a mudding spot for initiates and encountered a snake and a bird, both seen as omens. Since then, Babwoba initiates are the first to be mudded during circumcision rites.
9. Bamakhuli: Batachoni Ngololi, Maabo, Bulicho. Omumakhuli branched off from the Batachoni clan-fold (Bayumbu). Other descriptions are not clearly translatable.
10. Bakobolo: Bemukwena, Bamatisi, Wekoye, Likhui, Khukhwanaba Ching’eni, Khwanaba ne Lulumbe. Omukobolo was a skilled fisherman who coexisted with crocodiles, built dams, and consumed various types of fish. They were also herbalists. They belong to the Bamwalie cluster, those who arrived via Mwalie Hills.
11. Basituyi: Basilikwa, Njoyobi, Namurwa, Simatwa, Kikayi, Banianiambi Basilimatakho, Bama Embayi ne Chikhendu Sikanda. Omusituyi came later after the Silikwa dispersal wars. They revere Namurwa, mother of Mubukusu and Mukisu. Their ancestors were known for their slim build and graceful demeanor. Basituyi came carrying chikhendu (raffia palms), symbols of immense wealth in livestock.

Classes of Nouns in Lubukusu Language

From elementary grammar, we know that a noun is a word that names something like a thing, person, idea or place. In Bukusu language, there are six classes of nouns:

1. The Om-/Ba- class

• Identifies human beings. Example: Omundu (person) → Babaandu (people).
• Others: Omwiisukha, omwekesi, omwami, omwiwaana, omweebolelesi, omwiibo, omwibusi, omwiiranyi, omwinami, omwiimeelesi.

2. Kumu-/Kimi- class

• Refers to non-person objects. Example: kumukoye (rope) → kimikoye (ropes).
• Others: Kumukhonge, kumukhuung’ano, kumuniina, kumukuku, kumulilo, kumusiinga, kumwiiko, kumweendo, kumusiliisili, kumwanda, kumwasi, kumulyulyu, kumunalo, kumusango, kumusalaba.

3. Li-/Kama- class

• Used for items or things. Example: liirome (weedy land) → kamarome (lands).
• Others: Liikhola, liikemo, likhumuuniu, likhebusyo, liusi libongobongo, likololwe, libokoyi, likongolio, liloko, lichoki, liisamuna, lilekelesyo, lilekhana, liing’anyu.

4. E-/Chi- class

• Broad class for varied items. Example: esesi (calabash) → chiisesi (calabashes).
• Others: Embalikha, ekholo, ekhomako, enombela, eng’ololo, embuusi, endaalo, endali, embambilisi, esindu, ekhung’engele, embuyusi, endakaano.

5. Lu-/Chi- class

• For parts or qualities. Example: luliimi (tongue) → chiinimi (tongues).
• Others: Luyima, lukondo, lutelu, lukoba, lusakya, luutimba, luusekhe, lumuusyu, luusiba, luteete, lutuukhulu, luususi, luutambi.

6. Si-/Bi- class

• For physical items or concepts. Example: siifuba (chest) → biifuba (chests).
• Others: Siilekhelo, sikheebo, siichimi, simichwa, sicholon’go, sitekho, sikhandakilo, sikhuumbu, sikhalalafu, sikhelekho, sikuunyilo, sikhoonde.

Bukusu is a beautiful language, may it outlive all generations!