Bukusu tribe (Luhya)

The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 34% of the Luhya population. They speak Bukusu dialect.

The Bukusu myths of origin state that the first man, Mwambu (the discoverer or inventor), was made from mud by Were Khakaba at a place called Mumbo (which translates to 'west'). God then created a wife for Mwambu, a woman called Sela. Mwambu and his descendants moved out of Mumbo and settled on the foothills of Mount Elgon (known to them as Masaba), from where their descendants grew to form the current Bukusu population. Anthropologists believe that the Bukusu did not become a distinct grouping apart from the rest of the Luhya population until, at the very earliest, the late 18th Century. They moved into Central Uganda as part of a much larger group of people, many forming the eastern extension of the great Bantu migration out of central Africa. (See Origins of the Luhya.) The Bukusu clan include subdivision called ekholo.The subdivision include;Bakibeti,Bakibumbi,Batilu,Babhichachi,Baengele,Batukuika,Batecho, Bachemai, Bakoi, Balunda among others.

Together with other Luhya sub nations, the Bukusu are thought to have first settled north of Lake Turkana at a place called Enabutuku. From here they settled in Cherangani Hills at place called Embayi later to be known as Sirikwa. After the evil and bad omen befall them they dispersed taking six routes; five going around mount Elgon and one via the eastern side of Mount Elgon. Those who went via the western side of Mount Elgon included Basilikwa, Banabayi, Baneala, Bakikayi and Bamalaba. Mwalie cluster took the eastern side route and settled at Mwalie hills. This area was already inhabited by some Kalenjin sub nationalities like the Laku, Sabiny, Bongomek, Sebei etc. These groups were hostile to their new neighbors. To check and protect themselves against these wild tribes the Bukusu built fortified villages. The art of fortified villages was as ancient as the tribe right from their origin in Misri.

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