THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

Wasike, named after a swarm of locusts, Walungu, named after worms. Many other names
among the Luhya follow in this kind of rhyme.
The following table illustrates the wide gap between those who persons who are named after
the species and those who are not.
Table 6.5 Respondents named after animal species
Value Response
Yes (Named after an
Frequency Percentage
animal species)
No (Not named after any
210 95.98
animal species) 10 4.57
Donnot know o 0.0
Total
Source: Field Survey data.
220 100
Related to the above, respondents were asked why people were named after the above animal
species. A number of reasons were enumerated to justify this. According to the Bantu people
of East, Central and Southern Africa, names signified continuation of the strong institutions
within the Bantu tribal setting. 606
In accordance with the above Bantu institution, the Luhya sub-tribes are no exception. We
have already mentioned the cultural significance of the different animal species among the
Luhya. For that reason, these institutions are eternally carried on even in the every day lives
of the Luhya people. This is done through giving names to children who are born in the Luhya
community. For instance, respondents answered that people are named after such animal
species as a sign of luck; others are named as a portrayal of prosperity, history of events, and
sign of good health, tragedy in the community and as sign of inspiration among others. It is a
common rhyme to hear names such as Wamalwa, Walungu, Wadumbi, Wenani or Wasike all
names with such a myriad of significances related to biological species, biological
connotations, biological events and happenings. The following table shows the different
reasons why persons are named after different animal species.
606 Llyod, A. T. 1978. The Bantu Bureaucracy. Cambridge: W.Heffer and Sons Ltd.
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