THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

was overtly informed that this place is sacred and only accessed by the candidates who are
going for the ceremony. Other members are also prohibited form visiting the site.
It was also pointed out that not even firewood is picked from this place. It is sacred and holy
place, a fact which could be proved on observing it flourishing vegetation. As we shall later
learn, the study found out that spiritual head usually collected the herbs to avoid
contamination and undue exploitation. Replanting and regeneration of herbs from the sacred
area is encouraged. The practices of initiation are still popular in Kakamega and traditional
methods of initiation persist.
The clan
Like any other Bantu sub-group, else where in Africa, the Luhya people are usually identified
by a clan. Each clan is traced from the sub-tribe. This is some form of tradition hierarchical
structure, through which people and their ancestral lineages can be traced. A clan therefore
brings together a people with a common ancestry heritage and history. This history is usually
seen in form of generations which span from ten to forty generations. The clan is an automatic
forum that guarantees social interaction and determines how institutional norms should be
observed and passed on. The clan is headed by a clan leader who in most cases is elected by a
council of elders, strictly following particular ancestry history and observing a strict and
conservative tradition.
Through the clan, family relationships such as marriage, kinship ceremonies are arranged. The
Luhya are a strong clan based society that is organized into age groups called likhula. Those
born in the same year usually belong to the same likhula, and are initiated together by a
circumcision ceremony. The initiated group then goes through several different stages
together. These age groups include; middle age, old age, respected old age. Village elders
from the last two stages form an honoured ruling group.
Marriage is an important institution among the Luhya. But marriage within one's clan is a
taboo and is strictly forbidden. This custom persists even today. Before young people get into
serious relationships with members of the opposite sex, they will usually find out the clan of
their would-be fiancée. If it is established that the two, in fact, belong to the same clan, the
relationship is abandoned. The Luhya are a very diverse people with about thirty different
clans which have intermarried forming a whole complicated network of relationships
popularly called "Olwikho".
The Luhya clans include: Abaafu, Ababenge, Abadavani, Abaengele, Abakangala,
Abakhubichi, Abakoye, Abakwangwachi, Abalanda, Abalindo, Abamisoho, Abamuchuu,
Abamugi, Abamwaya, Abasaacha, Abasaya, Abasenya, Abasia, Abasiloli, Abasonge,
Abasumba, Abatecho, Abaucha, Abauma, Abaumwo, Abayaya, Abayirifuma, Abayisa,
Abayundo. One is not allowed to marry from his/her own clan. The Luhya have extensive
customs surrounding death. In the olden days there would be a great celebration at the home
of the deceased, with mourners staying at the funeral for up to forty days, and some times
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