The Luhya Subtribes and their brief history;




 


Do you know all the Luhya sub-tribes? If No, don't worry, here is the list of 18 Luhya Sub-tribes.

What is your Sub-tribe? What about your clan?

Kisa

Marama

Batsotso

Maragoli

Idakho

Bukusu

Wanga

Kabras

Banyole

Bakhayo

Banyala Ba Ndombi

Banyala Ba Busia

Samia

Bamarachi

Tiriki

Isukha

Tachoni

Batura

We will discuss them further here below:


1.Kisa

The Kisa is also known as the Abakisa or Abashisa. They live in the Khwisero district and speak in a dialect known as Olushisa. The clans of the Kisa include the following; Ababoli, Abakambuli, Abakhobole, Abakwabi, Abamurono, Abaruli, Abashirotsa, Abalukulu, Abamanyulia, Abashirandu, Abamatundu, Abachero, and abalakayi among others.


2.Marama

The Marama live mainly in districts of Butere. They speak in Lumarama dialect. Some of the clans of Marama include but not limited to; Abashitsaha, Abacheya, Abatere, Abashirotsa, Abamukhula, Aberecheya, Abamumbia, Abamatundu, Abanyukhu, Abakhuli, Abakokho, Abashieni, Abamani, Abashikalie, Abakara, and Abatsotse.


3.Batsotso

The Tsotso live in the western part of Kakamega and speak in a dialect known as Olutsotso. The major clans of the tsotso include; Abamweche, Abashisiru, Abashibo, and Abangonya.


4.Maragoli

The Maragoli are among the hugely populated sub tribes of the Luhya. They occupy Vihiga region and speak in the Lulogooli dialect. The clans of the Maragoli include but not limited to; Avasanga, Avagitsunda, Avamumbaya, Avamuzuzu, Avamasingira, Avamaseero, Avasaali, Avakizungu, Avagamuguywa, Avasaki, Avamageza, Avagizenbwa, Avakirima, Avamaabi, Avamutembe, Avayonga, Avasaniaga, Avakebembe, Avagonda, Avanoondi, Avalogovo, Avasweta, Avaliero, and Avavurugi.


5.Idakho

The Idakho live in the southern region of Kakamega County. The dialect of the Idakho is called Lwidakho. The Idakho like most Luhyia sub tribes practice circumcision of the males as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. 


Some of the clans of the Idakho include; Abangolori, Abamahani, Abamusali, Abamuhali, Abashimuli, Abashikulu, Abashiangala, Abamasaba, Bakobe, Bakase, Bakhubi, Bashitsiula, Bamahani and Babwanishili.


The Idakho people is one of the Luhya sub tribes known for amazing cultural practices like the *Isikhuti* dance. Other activities that the Idakho people involve in include pot making, and gold digging along River Yala and Sigalagala.


6.Bukusu

The Bukusu is one of the largest Luhya sub tribes of Kenya. The Bukusu live in Bungoma and Mount Elgon region. They speak Lubukusu and practice circumcision as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. The Bukusu myth of origin states that their god, known as Were Khakaba created the first humans Mwambu and Sela who gave rise to the entire tribe. The Bukusu has so many clans. A clan constitutes a people of common ancestry. These Clans include; Batura, Bamalaba, Banywaka,Banyangali, Bamwale, Bakikayi, Bhatasama, Bhakiyabi, Basirikwa, Baechale, Bhatemlani, Bhasakha, Baechalo, Bakibeti, Bakikai, Bhakitang’a, Bakhisa, Bamwayi Bamwaya, Baluleti, Babasaba, Bang’oma, Basakali, Bakhurarwa, Bakamukong’I, Bakiabi, Baliuli, Batilu, Bakhurarwa, Bamuki, Bakhona, Bakhone, Bakimwei, Bakoi, Bameme, and Basombi among others. Shadrack Amakoye Bulimo lists all the clans of the Bukusu in his book: Luyia Nation: Origins, Clans, and Taboos, you can grab the book know all there is to be known about the Bukusu.


7.Wanga

The Wanga speak the Oluwanga dialect and live in Matungu and Mumias districts. The Wanga was under the rulership of Nabongo Mumia and being a clan with twenty-two clans; it was a sub tribe that was fortified in both food resource and security. The clans of the Wanga include; Ababule ,Abamulembwa, Abashitsetse, Abakolwe, Abalibo, Abang’ayo, Abaleka, Abachero, Ababonwe, Abatsoye, Abamurono, Abashieni, Abakulubi, Abang’ale, Abambatsa, Abashibe, Abakhami, Ababere, Abamwende, Abamwima, Abashikawa, and Abamuniafu. 


8. Kabras

The Kabras occupies the northern region of Kakamega district. Their language is Lukabarasi, a dialect that sounds nearly the same as the Tachoni dialect. The Kabras split from the Banyala sub tribe. Today, they occupy Malava in Kabras division in Kakamega County. The Kabras are living between three other sub tribes; Tachoni, Isukha, and Banyala. You would think that they derived the name from the division they live in, but the word ‘Kabras’ has a deeper meaning. The word is derived from Avalasi, a word that means ‘Mighty Hunters’ or ‘Warriors.’ This name denotes the fierceness of the Kabras people as they engaged in endless battles with the Nandi community for cattle and pastures. It is believed that they lost their numbers to these fights and that is why they are among the fewer Luhya sub tribes by numbers as compared to the Bukusu and the Maragoli. One interesting belief that the Kabras hold dearly is that they are the descendants of Nagwiro who is linked with Nimr

od of the bible. Any Kabras would state this claim

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