THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

settling around the Mount Elgon area before displacing a pygmy race to settle in their current
homeland.
On the other hand anthropologists believe that the progenitors of the Luhya were part of the
great Bantu migration out of Camerron. 623 Other available accounts of Luhya oral tradition,
mention that the Luhya may have been pushed out of a pygmy race in the Central African
tropical forest. These accounts are very similar to the oral traditions of the Baganda. It is
significant to note that the language of the Baganda who have a close migratory history with
the Abaluya, is closely related to the dialects spoken by the Luhya, especially the Maragoli
dialect. This in a way points to a common point of origin.
The structure of traditional authority and Luhya cultural institutions
The sub-tribes
The Luhya are divided into over different 17 sub-tribes, each speaking a certain dialect of the
Luhya language. Linguistically, these sub-tribes can be grouped into four main categories.
These categories were arrived at according to the dialectical variations. 624 This also has a
significant relationship with further emigration and settlement patterns among the Luhya,
after they migrated into this forested belt of Western Kenya. As a result of this, different subtribes
dialect emerged. For instance, the Wanga dialect, or variations of it, is spoken by the
Wanga, Marama, Kisa, Batsotso, Kabras, Isukha, Idakho, Banyore and Tachoni. The Maragoli
dialect is spoken by the Maragoli and the Tiriki. Similarly, the Bukusu dialect, and/or
variations of it, is spoken by the Bukusu, Gisu and Masaba. The Nyala dialect is spoken by
Abanyala of Busia and those who emigrated to Kakamenga popularly known as Abanyala ba
Ndombi. Lastly, the Samia dialect is spoken by the Samia, Nyala, Wahayo, Tura and the
Bamarachi. 625 However, there are significant overlaps that exist between these sub-tribes.
These overlaps stem from mini-dialects that are composed of two or more dialects. In the
Bukusu of Lugari area, for example, speak a dialect that is mixture of the Kabras and Bukusu
dialects.
All the Luhya, with the exception of the Kabras, Marama, and Saamia, practice initiation
ceremonies which includes both circumcision and in some cases clitoridectomy. Traditionally,
circumcision is a period of training the youth for adult responsibilities for the youth. It also
signified a graduation of the youth into adulthood, from one age set to another. Among
Luhya, circumcision is carried out every four or five years, depending on the sub-tribe. For
example among the Banyala living in Navakholo; the initiation of the young boys was every
other year and notably an even year. 626 The initiates are about 8-14 years old, and the
ceremony is carried out in the forest in a highly guarded and exclusively sacred place. When
asked whether this place is accessible to other members of another sub-tribe, the researcher
623 Ibid.
624 Ibid.
625 Mulusa, J. 1999. The Luhya Way of Life. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
626 Ibid.
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