How Bukusu’s Dealt With Childlessness In Marriage
By Hosea Namachanja.
Bukusu is among the larger Luhya Community tribes based in Bungoma County at the foot of Mt. Elgon. The tribe consists of a large population of people in Luhya community.
Socially, the Bukusu’s who speak Lubukusu as their indegineous typical language; are popularly known nationally for their traditional circumcision ceremony. The ceremony which is held at each even year, is practised in public to let people prove how courageous they are.
Economically, the Bukusu’s practice mixed farming. However, in terms of education, it has produced prominent academicians in the entire country Kenya for instance the late Swahili maestro Prof. Ken Walibora.
Politically, Bukusu’s acted as resistance community in Western Kenya when the fight for independence in African states begun, led by the traditional late Prophet Elijah Nameme. Currently, the community has public figure politicians like the cum law guru Hon. Moses Wetang’ula.
However, little is known and archived concerning marriage. Back, nonagenarians and octogenarian never look at the issue of infertility or conceiving one gender children as a normal unsolvable thing. The aged saw the issue solvable.
Among married couple, in case a woman could realize her husband’s missiles were weak to make her pregnant; she could have a secret talk with her mother – in – law who could later talk to the then father – in – law.
The father -in – law, have a talk to his son and confiscate the son’s health and normal status. In case be found the son’s weapons of war had problems, a solution could then be sought urgently.
The daughter – in – law with the aid of her mother – in – law could talk and the daughter -in – law given the onus of choosing one married brother -in- law from the same family to secretly and seriously impregnant her.
How It Was Done
After the then ‘infertile’ son having talked to his father, the father could advice the son ” to be having a night running session in a far village for 5 – 6 hours.” Mythically, ‘ the man could belief night running confuses demons and evil spirits to rest in a far village. ‘
But ironically in the house, his wife could be having a mighty bed match until she gets pregnant. In any situation the woman could then need another child of the other gender, the woman could be like ” papa wa Simiyu cho otimekho lundi chimbilo khunyolekho khakhana”
Just to mean the hubby to go for a night run so that they can have a child of a female gender. This was known as ” khuchenja lirango ” – changing the thigh. At this time, the woman could have secretly talked to her brother-in- law again to come for the second time and bless her womb with mighty missiles in a jovial merry cloud nine.
Dying Of The Culture
This could be done until her husband could believe it’s the night running gig that had led to blessings (children) in his house. On the other hand, if a woman could be the one having a problem with conceiving; she could get a lady and marry for her husband.
Unfortunately, this culture has totally died among the Bukusu’s because of religious doctrines and beliefs, outbreak of diseases, increased population in the society, unfaithfulness and dynamics in parental issues.
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