The Age Sets of the Babukusu from the 1800s

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 The Babukusu have been in love with history from as early as 1800. This love for history is exhibited in how they named their age sets (bibingilo/chibololi). Apart from the main name of the age set as adopted from the Kalenjin, they added a second that helped them remember when a certain historical event happened. Take note below:

 

Omunyange

1848: Sia Masafu Omuala (When a leader from the Baala Clan died)

1850: Sia kisenge

1852: Sia khafululu

1854: Sia Siakala wa Mukhwana

1856: Sia Kisila

1858: Sia Nasiombe


Maina

1860: Sia Sifumbukha

1862: sia Makheti wa Nelima owakwa Ebunyala. People from the Babulo clan killed Watiki (Omubuya) and refused to pay (khurunga kumurwe). So the Babuya went to Bunyala to have them Bewitched. The  witchcraft spared Tototo (according to Gideon Were, this one was a powerful leader) and killed Makheti.

1864: sia Wachiye wa Lwasaka a.k.a Wachiye wa Naumbwa (this great prophet died in this year). People from the clan of Bakwangwa claimed that Njabikha was responsible for the prophet's death. Infuriated by this serious allegation, Njabikha decided to walk to Bunyala to ask the Banyala to use witchcraft to help identify the killer. Perhaps as an attempt to stop Njabikha, two men went after him and found him at Milo resting under a tree and killed him. These two people were the left-handed Kitinindi  son of Malaba and Lukela son of Simali.

1866: Silima (there was darkness all over)

1868: Sia khalundu (must have been the death of Khalundu)

1870: sia Nakhoba--the "embalu" was so painful this year that Pingilo son of Mweku from the Babuya clan had to uproot "Kumukhombi". It didn't spare Wanabe (Omuchembai) either.


Chuma

1872:  omuchuma sia Chonge Nabiri (Remember the story of the war at Wachonge I once talked about, where my great great grandfather Khwatenge Namusole aka Sibolo (Omuafu) was among the leaders? The first war at Wachonge took place in 1871.)

1874: omuchuma sie Eng'eniesi ( a huge star was sighted in the sky)

1876: sie Eng'eniesi (another star must have been seen)

1878: sia Masai 

1880: Sia Mutonyi ( Remember the greatest prophet ever? He died this year)

1882: sie bakhana. 


The Bachuma went for 8 years instead of the normal six, and here is the reason: a leader by the name Wambilianga called all the six major clans and asked if any of them still had an Omusawa (a man from the next age set). Bamalaba didn't have him, neither did the Mwalie, Nabayi and Silikwa. But the Kikayi had had him; his name Khalabanda Enyuma ya Ndosi from the Bamuyonga group while the Baneala had Makutukutu son of Malasile from the Bakhurarwa. These people or one of them must have died in 1887 because the Basawa were only allowed to face the knife in 1888.

1884: omuchuma sia Emachukha

1886: omuchuma sia Nabutandanyi. Butandanyi is a disease called mumps.This diseases attacked the whole land that year.


Sawa

1888: Omusawa sia Wechabe. A prominent person from the Bakiyabi clan house of Malemo died that year.

1890: Omusawa sia Maliongobi owalia lichwang'a wakona.

1892: sia Nambusi

1894: sia Namukhalaki

1896: Basawa Misiko. Omubukusu suffered a lot this year. I told you all along we have been people who stood by what we knew was the right thing no matter what. Forget our current crop of leaders.


This was immediately after the Bukusu Resistance in 1895. We had fought the white man in Lumboka and at The Fort of Chief Chetambe (Omuyumbu). We killed the white man and he also killed enough of us. Our gallant soldiers who were arrested were given bundles of luggage (kimisiko) to carry all the way from Mumias (Mumia was working with the white man) to Kaboto (somewhere around Endebess or Suam). When our soldiers arrived back home, it was time to cut the 5th Omusawa.

1898: Omusawa sia Nanyende (jiggers infestation)


Kolongolo

1900: Omukolongolo Khururwe/sia Nandemu. I am informed that "ekhururwe is a mass of water moving on the ground digging trenches, Mwalimu Alex Kaita tells me Tonado is the name ( here I stand to be corrected). This type of thing happened that year. At the same time, according to the late Manguliechi, a humongous snake left Mt. Elgon via Chwele, Namwela, Busakala, Musese, Sikusi, all the way to River Chiminyinyi. Sons of Okhwa Nandebe (Bamwoyayo) and Lulabwa (Omuechalo) found it on the thickets around here.

1902: Omukolongolo sia Nabiswa Omung'oma. A rich man with many heads of cattle at a place known as Tulienge. A song was even composed in his honour.

1904: Omukolongolo Bisuche. Wild dogs (Bisuche) were all over. Nyongesa Wambulwa I think Mzee Wambulwa Wakharara belongs here.

1906: Omukolongolo sia Manyonge (this year experienced hunger and starvation, which the Babukusu of Bungoma District called "enjala ya Manyonge")

1908: Omukolongolo sia Biketi. 'biketi' must have been the Omubukusu's pronunciation of "ticket" because the white man introduced tax that year in Western province. People born this year were mostly called Biketi.

1910: Omukolongolo sia Khaoya. Western Kenya was under the attack of rinderpest, a deadly disease that killed cattle in large numbers. The Babukusu called it Khaoya. Many people born around this period were named Khaoya, including Elijah Masinde's partner in Dini ya Musambwa. Elijah himself was also born around this period. 


Kikwameti

1912: Omukikwameti Namiranda. According to my uncle Jephunea Wanda Sibolo, cattle died in large numbers and Babukusu cut the meat in long pieces (Kimiranda) and hung them in their houses.

1914: Omukikwameti muchele. Rice was introduced in the plains of Bungoma

1916: Omukikwameti Bitunguu. The growing of onions was introduced in Bungoma

1918: Omukikwameti sia Keya. "Keya" was the Omubukusu's pronunciation of "K.A.R" Kenya African Riffles". Africans were recruited to fight for the British in World War 1. People born that year were named Keya.

1920: Mutuka. This must have been when our grandfather's first saw a vehicle.

1922: Sia Mabachi. There was an outbreak of a disease, which our people called "Mabachi". Many people born that year were called Mabachi.


Kananachi

1924: Omukananachi Murutu Nabibia. The building of the railway (lubia). People were named Nabibia.

1926: silima. Darkness all over

1928: Machengo (Majengo). The development of towns and urban centres 

1930: Omukananachi Fwesa Nasike Nakhweru. There were locusts like what was seen this year. People born that year were also named Wasike.

1932: Buchunju

1934:Matanda


Kinyikewi

1936: sie Endeke. An aeroplane passed in the air. Must have been the first time it did.

1938: was skipped because of WW2.

1939: Omukinyikewi Musolini. My grandfather Wanda Wambulwa Wakharara was circumcised that year.

1940: Hitler

1942: sia Panyako. "Panyako"-pioneer corps 

1944: Omukinyikewi Ngwekwe

1946: sia amba Mutalia walota


Nyange

1948: sia Musambwa. Dinie ya Musambwa was formed by Elijah wa Nameme

1950: sia Henre (Henry) wa Mutenyo

1952: Sia Matisi

1954: sia cheti. A jet fighter plane was seen in the sky. The prominent musician Wambusi wa Musungu of Banyala was circumcised 

1956:Elgon Nyanza. Western Kenya was named Elgon Nyanza for administrative reasons.

1958: Omunyange sia Gascon


Maina

1960: Omumaina sia Bwana Kotoni (cotton)/Makongwe. Almost everyone made strings from sisal. There was also a mzungu they named bwana Cotton in Bungoma

1962: sia Machimbo (the first devolution)

1964: sia Uhuru. Just  after Independence 

1966: skimo. Settlement and agricultural Schemes (My father Hudson Wanda belongs here)

1968: siarenga. There was an earthquake 

1970: Namukhalaki


Chuma

1972: omuchuma sia Bwana kilo. There was a mzungu in Bungoma they nicknamed Bwana Kilo. Must have been the first one to use measuring scales around

1974: Makongwe

1976:Chebukube. The market Chebukube/Chepkube was thriving 

1978: Namwatikhi. Jomo Kenyatta's death

1980: Nyayo. Moi has taken over government 

1982: sia Makhako. An attempt to overthrow Moi. Babukusu are proud of their sons Mauko and Major Wanambisi for helping neutralize the attempt.

1984: sia Korokoro. Babukusu named the hunger experienced that year "enjala ya Korokoro"

1986: sie eng'eniesi/lumuli nying'inyi. A huge star was sighted again. Scientist should tell us which star is this that passes after 100 years.


Sawa

1988: Sia Elijah Masinde wa Nameme. He died in Maeni in 1987.

1990: siarenga: earthquake on Saturday 19th April at 5 am 

1992: Sia Masinde wa Makinia. Our pious, and  generous son died on 14th August 1992 at the airport in Embakasi. 

1994: sia Wamalwa Kijana omusinde wa Nakitang'a Nakhombe Natulo. Wamalwa Kijana was elected chair Ford Kenya.


This work has mainly quoted John Wanyonyi Manguliechi



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