1. JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
Promoting The Abaluhya Culture
23-Mar-14
OPITSO AUSTINE
REG NO.: B231/0804/2013
Course : International Tourism Management
Course Unit : Tourism Resource Management
Presented to: Mr. George Otieno
This paper entails details about the culture of the Luhya community: It contains an overview of the
Abaluhya, the Luhya sub tribes, Religions among the Abaluhya, their cuisines, mode of their dressing,
their cultural artifacts and monuments, Music and dances, their sporting activities, and circumcision in
Luhya community. The paper various ways for safeguarding, preserving and promoting the Abaluhya
community, and also the significance of the culture to the Abaluhya.

2. THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
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By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014
NO. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
1 OVERVIEW OF THE ABALUHYA COMMUNITY 3
2 THE ABALUHYA SUB-TRIBES 3
3 RELIGION 4
4 LUHYA CUISINES 4
5 CLOTHING 5
6 CULTURAL ARTIFACTS/FEATURES/MONUMENTS 5
7 MUSIC AND DANCING 6
8 SPORTING ACTIVITIES 7
9 COCKS SUPREMACY BATTLE 7
10 BULLFIGHTING 7
11 CIRCUMCISION 8
12 SAFEGUARDING/PRESERVATION OF THE LUHYA CULTURE 9
13 PROMOTION OF THE LUHYA CULTURE 9
14 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LUHYA CULTURE 9
15 REFERENCES 10

3. THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
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By Opitso Austine
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OVERVIEW OF THE ABALUHYA COMMUNITY
The Abaluhya or Luhya is a Kenyan ethnic community with rich vast cultural, social and
political heritage transferred through successive generations. Luhyas are also found in Uganda
but not as comparable to the number of the found in Kenya. It was the second largest ethnic
community in Kenya 2010 as per the census carried out by the government of the Republic of
Kenya in 2009. Their territory neighboured that of Baganda, Basoga and Bagisu of present day
Uganda and the Luo, Kisii, Teso and Nandi of present day Kenya. The ancestral homelands
occupy the counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and parts of Transnzoia County.
THE ABALUHYA SUB-TRIBES
The Abaluhya has 18 subtribes which diversifies the ABALUHYA TRIBE. The sub-tribes
include:
1. Banyala
2. Banyore
3. Batsotso
4. Bukusu
5. Gisu
6. Idakho
7. Isukha
8. Kabras
9. Khayo
10. Kisa
11. Marachi
12. Maragoli
13. Marama
14. Masaaba
15. Samia
16. Tachoni
17. Tiriki
18. Wanga
As said earlier, Abaluhya is a community enriched with a variety of cultural heritage, arts, and
activities among other things. Culture in itself is a tourism resource that can be ‘a tool of social,
cultural, economic and political advancement and development. These range from their cuisines,
clothing sports, economic, circumcision, weddings, burials among other activities and cultural
elements and events.

4. THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
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By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014
RELIGION
Most of the Luhya people subscribe to Christianity but with others to Islam (especially the
Wanga) and others still loyal to their African Traditional Religions (ATRs). A notable African
Traditional Religion is the Dini ya Msambwa with its spiritual father being the great Elijah
Masinde wa Nameme. Dini ya Msambwa follow the Luhya tradition as their focal point and
action of their activities and beliefs. But funny enough, Dini ya Msambwa also use the bible as a
reference book for its faithful. Most Luhyas call God as “Nyasaye” a word borrowed from their
close neighbours, the Luos. “Were” is also used to refer to God in the Luhya community.
LUHYA CUISINES
Luhyas have various foods and drinks they rake but the most
popular one is the Ugali (Swahili) called Obusuma in Luhya
language which is synonymously served with Ingokho (chicken).
The traditional vegetables also served with obusuma include saga,
Obwova (mushrooms), mrenda among others. The vegetables are
cooked by spices such as the mselekha
to make them soft and for quick
cooking. Other food crops in the Luhya
community include sorghum, finger-
millet simsim, tsimbande (a variety of
nuts), tsing’oli (a variety of peas),
pumpkins, sweet potatoes, yams in their
rich basket of food. The Luhyas are also
more often seen chewing sugarcanes.
Their drinks include sour fermented
porridge called the Obusera and Busaa,
traditional liquor which is served in
traditional gourds cut into two halves
for individuals. Busaa is also served
inside a container during ceremonies
from which it is drunk with aid of pipes with those involved seated around the container. The
community is also famous for chewing a root plant called the Mkombero. Mkombero is chewed
for medicinal purposes and also as a ‘stimulant’. It is always specifically chewed by men to
enhance their ‘bed arousals’.

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©Opitso Austine, 2014
CLOTHING
Luhyas nowadays wear similar clothes just as other communities in Kenya but it is different
during their cultural activities, ceremonies and events. The
cultural activities such as ceremonies especially where
dancing is involved, cultural attire are worn to show the
great appreciation to the Luhya culture. Strings of beads are
worn round the waists and necks and not to forget the
tsindeke which are little bells worn around the wrist of the
legs when dancing. Women wear special skirts made out of
sisal which is called Liboya in the abaluhya language.
CULTURAL ARTIFACTS/FEATURES/MONUMENTS
Luhyas make special cravings like
chairs especially one designed for the
owner of a homestead who is always
an old man. It’s always done with
special designs to differentiate it with
other furniture. The community too
has Eshimwero at times made of
special sisal plants or from a hard
grass type. The eshimwero is a basket
that’s used for pounding grains and
also for carrying food bought from
the market. Cooked food is also
placed in eshimwero and hanged
from the top of the roof for storage.
The community also makes Ikhafwa-
a fishing trap-an art borrowed from
their neighbours, the Luos.
A great cultural monument/feature among the Abaluhya is the Crying Stone found in Ilesi in
Kakamega County. The Crying stone is 40 meters high it a small stone at its top with water
running from head to toe. It looks like a gowned figure in perpetual tears. The Luhya community
is much attached to the crying stone in that it’s environ is used for cultural and religious
ceremonies by the community. The activities around the stone include traditional dances, cock
fights and Bunyala wrestling which in combination attract many visitors to the site.

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MUSIC AND DANCING
Special songs were made for beer parties as well as for the special dancing festival called
Omwimo. The Abaluhya traditional dances include the
1. Isikuti
2. Tindikiti
3. Litungu
4. Bakhana
5. Shilli, and
6. Indembele.
In the dances and songs the community used instruments such as the:
1. Ingoma (large drum)
2. Isikuti (small drum)
3. Obukhana (harp)
4. Ehiriri (lyre), and
5. Flute
Notable and famous Luhya musicians include:
1. Daudi kabaka
2. Jacob luseno
3. Sukuma Bin Ongaro
4. George Mwamba
5. John Mwale
6. Justus Omufila and
7. Sharon Wangwe- Lady S

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By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014
SPORTING ACTIVITIES
Luhyas are famous in the sporting activities where they perform very well such as in Rugby.
Notable figures include Collins Injera, Humphrey Ayange, and Willie Ambaka among other.
Football is a field that draws a large support base with notables such as Victor Wanyama and
McDonald Mariga. Back at home the community has always given overwhelming support to the
Abaluhya Football Club (AFC) Leopard (also called Ingwe) which was formed in 1960 with its
main ever rival being, Gor Mahia FC (also called K’Ogalo) which is associated with their ‘in-
laws’- Luos. Other sporting activities include the Bunyala wrestling, cock fights and the famous
bull fighting. There is also the bicycle race which is center of attraction to many viewers and
participators. It is in Kenya and East Africa countries that one can witness use of bicycles called
Boda Boda as a means of earning livelihood.
COCKS SUPREMACY BATTLE
Cocks involved in the fight are always fed and nurtured by the owner before the fight. They are
fed on maize grains and remnants of Ugali.
The cock fights are always near market
places where there is a referee who blows a
whistle to signify the start of the fight. In the
cock fights, the owners of the cocks that
emerge victorious always get rewarded. The
cock always fights it out with their fellow
rival cock until the winner emerges. While
fighting, when a rival can’t sustain the fight
and finally decides to take to its heels, then
the remaining cock/bull becomes the victor
and is endowed with respect from the community members especially in bull fighting. The
winner cock earns the owner recognition and respect among his peers who is also joined by
chanting fans in a victory song.
BULLFIGHTING
The bulls are spurred on by an excited onlookers blowing traditional horning and chanting songs.
The bulls in the pitched bulls always represent villages. The bull always fights it out with their
fellow rival cock/bull until the winner emerges. While fighting, when a rival can’t sustain the
fight and finally decides to take to its heels, then the remaining cock/bull becomes the victor and

8. THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
The culture of the Abaluhya; Promoting The Abaluhya Culture Page 8
By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014
is endowed with respect from the community members especially in bull fighting. The victor bull
is led around the field in a victory show
accompanied by a chanting jubilant
crowd- from the winning village. Other
people bring their cows or hens to mate
with the winner bull respectively with the
hope of getting better genes transferred to
the product of the mating.
Bull fighting is popular but not limited to
the Idakho, Isukha and Tsotso sub-tribes
of the Abaluhya. Tere are Annual
Bullfighting competitions organized
which attract many visitors outside the Abaluhya community.
CIRCUMCISION
The Luhya especially the Bukusu are
still strong traditionalists when it
comes to circumcision. A candidate
for circumcion would take a chicken
to a blacksmith in exchange of two
bells to call people and relatives to
come to his circumcision ceremony. A
candidate is given a bull from his
maternal uncles. One of the uncles accompanies him on
the circumcision day to the river where the candidate is
smeared with mud and grass put on his head. The
candidate is escorted back with a group of villagers with
circumcision songs. During the escort the candidate is
completely naked. The candidate is circumcised while all
the sexes are watching. The candidate is not supposed to
cry as this will bring shame to him and will also be a
show of weakness. The candidate graduates from
Omusinde (un-circumcised) and becomes an Omusiani
(circumcised). After the circumcision, the candidate is showered with gifts. The Omusiani is
isolated with fellow Omusiani candidates to go through the healing period. During the isolation
the fresh Omusianis are taught what is expected of them after the transition from childhood to
manhood.

9. THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
The culture of the Abaluhya; Promoting The Abaluhya Culture Page 9
By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014
SAFEGUARDING/PRESERVATION OF THE LUHYA CULTURE
Sustainability is a key issue that necessitates proper management of resources in industry,
tourism included. Culture as a resource need preservation. There is need for cultural authenticity
and originality among other issues as means of safeguarding a cultural heritage, languages,
status, antive religion, traditions and artifacts of a people or community.some of the ways that
ought to be taken in preserving and safeguarding inlude
1. Construction of Luhya Heritage museums
2. Protection of its cultural heritage and resources
3. Access to and usage of cultural resources . The best way to preserve culture is by
practising it.
4. Teaching luhya generations of various luhya cultures to keep it vibrant.
PROMOTION OF THE LUHYA CULTURE
There various ways to promoting a culuture and these include:
1. Conducting and organising cultural exhibitions and expos with stalls erected to showcase
diferrent cultural aspects of a community.
2. Organising cultural activities such as the bulfighting, cock fighting for public viewing
3. Direct marketing and promotion of culture.
4. Condusting public awareness of the culture.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LUHYA CULTURE
The three main of the significance of the Luhya culture to the Abaluhyas are:
1. It gives the Luhya people Identity of who they really are. This is evident through the
character and clothing among theAbaluhya
2. It bond the Abaluhya together, which is evident during cultural festivals and ativities such
as bullfighting and circumcision. They are brought together with the values they share.
3. The luhya culture acts as a system of social control among the Abaluhya. It establishes
principles and philosophies among Luhyas as they will tend to align with the Abaluhya
culture.

10. THE CULTURE OF THE ABALUHYA
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By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014
REFERENCES
Manali Oak, (2008). Importance of culture. Why is culture important? 15 November.
Business Recorder, Pakistan Today, Pakistan Observer, (2014). President stresses promotion of
country’s rich culture, 23 March.
Protecting Our Heritage and Fostering Creativity. (2014) UNESCO(United Nations Educationa,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation) (Online)
http://en.unesco.org/themes/Protecting-Our- Heritage-and-Fostering-Creativity
The culture of the Abaluhya; Promoting The Abaluhya Culture
By Opitso Austine
©Opitso Austine, 2014