The following tabulation represents the salient hunger periods experienced by Abanyole from the early 20th century.
Early 1900’s – Inzala eya Mutumbu – Abanyole travelled to Luoland to offer labour in exchange
for food (Okhusuma).
1914 – Inzala eya Keya – Africans were being forcibly conscripted in the army during
the First World War.
1920’s – Inzala eya Opande – Coincided with the introduction of the kipande system of
identification by the colonialists.
1942/3 – Inzala eya esikombe – A cup, in place of the traditional baskets, was used a unit of
measuring cereals.
Mid 1950’s – Inzala eya Maumau – Coincided with onset of the Maumau guerrilla warfare.
1973/4 – Inzala eya kilo – Coincided with the change to the metric system of
measurements
1984 – Inzala eya omugorogoro – Characterised by the introduction of a two kilogramme tin
(gorogoro) unit of measure
1996 – Saba olulala – The clarion then was ‘beg (for food) only once’.
2007/8 – Bamba 80 – The peak price of one gorogoro of maize was KShs 80.00
(about $1).
