In few weeks that have
passed, Akneta, others and I are seated listening to Mayi Muro, the sensational song by Wanyonyi Omukoyi. Akneta, widowed with Katupa - a veteran
of the 2nd Great War, is an aged Omulukulu woman. She is a sister to
Regina, my paternal grandmother. 3 minutes into the song, she asks of the song
to be paused to give us a short tale of her old Omukoyi relative who had
uncanny powers to turn into a real elephant!
It was motivation
enough to learn more about the famed Bakoyi clans-people and what cultural peculiarities
they proclaim.
Tracing Bakoyi Cluster
Bakoyi is a clan whose
roots are traced back to Barwa in the ancient migration patterns. The ancestor
of Bakoyi was a Kalenjin who was assimilated into Bukusu clanal ranks as back as
the fifteenth century. In fact, it is noted that Omukoyi came into Embayi
Plains, way before Bamalaba-affiliated clans such as Basakali, Bakuta, Bakhonjo
Babuuya and Bayemba.
History rememberers say
that Omukoyi belongs to the Banabayi Cluster. All clans under Banabayi evoke
the Oath of Munyole. [This blog has extensively talked about different Bukusu
clusters and oaths in other episodes. However, we shall revisit.]
The word Banabayi comes
from Babaayi which is a plural of omwaayi or a herder. But, far from what it
means, Banabayi are no normal herders. They played a special role of ‘herding’
people. They were tasked with looking after their clansmen and those from other
clans. After setting up a homestead, in a new area, for example, Banabayi were
invited for thanksgiving. They would stick their spear into the ground, scoop a
lump of soil and hold it skywards asking Khakaba to bless their stay of new
beginning.
And such Omwanamwayi would be from the clan of Omuyaya, Omusombi, Omusekese,
Omusichongoli, Omutecho, Omusime, Omukangala, Omuleyi, Omuliisa, Omuyiitu or
Omukoyi- who share a common ancestry.
Since then, Bakoyi have
produced good leaders- babaayi be babandu. While Bakoyi were not traditionally
a militarized clan such as Batukwiika taking active role in war, they formed
good judges. In communities, they argued for peace, being quick to unite when
cracks emerged. An Omukoyi tribesman or woman was valued in face of Khakaba and
whatever they blessed did not wither. Khakaba blessed livestock, gave immense
health to clansmen and every warriors prior to war.
But, it was not the
‘herding’ attribute that has popularized Bakoyi in Bukusu culture; it is
another trait- the love for the African elephant (Enjoli/Enjofu).
Swells into an Elephant when Provoked
In her youthful days,
my grandmother’s sister narrates an ordeal in which she had a confrontation
with an Omukoyi. She calls that she were not too young, about the marriageable
age. Omukoyi warned her not to push him further or she will regret. Out of
sheer persistence (she was on the wrong) Agneta pressed the conflict further. He
then warned, telling her to meet him in the back of the hut.
Alas! Akneta could not believe it! On doing a
told, she met face to face with a full grown elephant, staring at her with
rage. Momentarily she had been blinded by wits from her Omukoyi relative. She was
hit with fear, temporarily paralyzed, not even a grain of energy to give a
scream. Abruptly, she took off, never again to engage a quarrel with him and
never again to see the elephant in their homestead.
While a reader cannot
make sense of what transpired, Akneta
cannot me convinced otherwise. She had seen first-hand Bakoyi wits and
witnessed their ability to conjure elephants.
Indeed, Omukoyi is an
elephant-man!
Omukoyi: Omusolosi we Enjoli
While other clans are
gifted with other powers such as circumcision, rainmaking, royalty, and giving
public lectures, Omukoyi was gifted by the power of conjuring the elephants. Along
with Barefu and Bakamukong’i, Bakoyi had close ties to elephants, back in the
days in which the massive animals roamed the lands.
Consulted sources cannot
give an exact account of how the Omukoyi-elephant relationship unfolded. Perhaps
they used the mammals to commit their ancestral wits, magic and trickery. Or
they, relied on the animals for tusks to make tools or their fertile dug to
grow arrowroots and sweet potatoes. It is also alleged that when elephants
showed up in the vicinity to feast on grown crops, Bakoyi elders would be
consulted to avert the gigantic beasts, soothing their heart and driving them
off.
Some accounts have it that
occasionally; Omukoyi herder could be spotted riding the mammals to help in
control huge number of livestock being grazed. There were also gifted map-readers
following elephant poop, to seek direction when lost, trail water sources and
other treasures.
Elephant behaviour and
movements might have been also used to tell when to expect rains after a long
dry spell. Reportedly, they could also be a source of medicine and/or gave
items for use in divination (bulakusi).
Just as Bakoyi could
soften the hearts of tribesmen and women to shun fighting, resentment and
conflict, Khakaba might have extended their prowess to tame the enormous
beasts. Thus, to an Omukoyi clansman, an elephant was important animal. The
specifics would only be known to the very elephant herders whose calming powers
were admired beyond rivers and valleys.
May the good heavens
shower down blessings, we close and begin another year!
Lusimo: Enjofu yebubwayaya sekhusia
kumusanga ta
[A
reckless elephant cannot grow its tusk up to maturity]
Take
good care of yourself. A reckless life will limit your potentials to maturity.
A
story is good, until another is told
……………………End…………………………….
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