In the days that Bamasai Bamuruku, Basebeyi
and Bakinisu raised Bukusu homesteads…
In
the days that the community felt the wrath of their alien weapons…
In
the days, parents waited endlessly for young herders who never returned with
cattle and goats.
There
was inter-tribal warfare. Having well-oiled crop cultivation and herding
skills, the Bukusu were on the receiving end.
Invasions were unexpected, like the calculative sipangilisi diving down
in unsuspecting binywinywi. Periodically, Barwa and Bamasai exploited the
Bukusu weak defenses, breaking formation, driving huge number of animals off
the cattle kraals. Occasionally, lives were lost. And yet, it was time when
Bukusu Clans embraced greatly disunity, each pulling on its own… all to the joy
of ferocious non-Bukusu neighboring, who lurked in thick shadowy bushes to rob
the ripened.
This
is the story of Sikala. The clan of Bakiyabi has witnessed no mightier hero
than the son of Wechabe. A senior, near-noble elder, Wechabe had a large flock
of cattle to his name. Widely, he was considered a wealthy man, having
inherited much from his father.
Wechabe
lived large, and humorously as well. Oral accounts narrate that Wechabe, the
wealthy Omukiyabi kept stock of his hundreds of animals each day. Faithfully,
he did it every morning as they went for the grazing fields and in the evening
when they returned to the homestead.
‘Let
me first smoke this roll of bang (enjaka) before I start counting!’ Wechabe
would amuse the onlookers, who broke into laughter.
But
that is not all, for which Wechabe is remembered about. There was a lot of talk
on his prowess in brushing his teeth. He would chew a stick (for brushing teeth),
take in a huge mouthful of cow milk and start brushing teeth. His spectators (perhaps
including those who had come in homestead in search of milk) would cheerfully
laugh his unique antics.
Bravery of Sikala: Busiku mubufulu
As
was the norm, taking care of his father’s herd was the chief responsibility of
Sikala. He would walk for long distances taking the cattle for feeding along
with his playmates. He is remarked as a brave boy, whose mates loved to work
and play along with.
Soon,
1888 fast approached and it was ripe time for Sikala to get enter manhood. As were
custom, he prepared for his circumcision which was done to the satisfaction of
his father, a wealthy man eager to keep a name in the clan.
The
ceremony was barely over, when someone caught wind of incoming Balaku invaders.
Frightened messenger alleged that they toned themselves in white clay, fiercely
armed with short spears and dreadful arrows and bows. But then it was too late
and screams were already dampening the joyous evening. Men desperately scrambled
for weapons in their huts while arguing women and children to take cover. Young
initiates sought cover in their mwikombe, all except one.
The
one who dared Balaku to touch in his favorite herd, his father’s cattle.
Sikala
took an upper hand, ready to intervene is the abrupt, unwelcoming situation. ‘Kaba
nakhama khwima khuyaywa, neyina Bilaku
bino birera sisyayumba. Cha papa omundu otilakho khufwa naye.’ Sikala might
have argued himself.
Amid the terror and panic, the bleeding Sikala
made way to his father’s hut making way for his spear and shield. The young man
made way for the Balaku warriors, who had struck down someone at the gate making
way for his father’s hut. His circumcision pain only made him stronger. With determination
and unheard-of bravery, Sikala join the defenders. He fought with fury, to salvage
his people and their cows. His calling to defend his people weighed more than
the bleeding wound.
Sooner,
he broke through a formation of the Barwa Balaku invaders, giving them a
patriotic taste of Bukusu warfare. Behind him, lay three enemy warriors dying. A
handful others seeing the fury of the young man immediately retreated. Two more
groups, decided to pull back, aborting the invasion. An early death of their
three kinsmen was not a good sign. Almost as abruptly as it started, the invaders
pulled off, making for the bushes.
At
the end of the day, Sikala son of Wechabe was a hero! His bravely was admired
and he had laid his life, bleeding, to meet the snap attack by the Baluku
warriors.
The
story of Sikala resounds to that of Mwambu, eldest son of Masaaba and Namurwa
many centuries ago. When the Maasai attacked the homestead of Masaaba, Mwambu,
a young lad, chased the enemies as they made away with his father’s animals. He
caught up with the rustlers, many miles away from his home. Instead of killing
the boy, the invaders admired his bravery crowning him with a huge bull that
they called ‘inkishu’. Back home, when he drove the animal back, his father jokingly
nicknamed him Mukisu. The young man became Mukisu, the forefather of Bagisu of
Buganda!
Shortly
after Balaku invaded lukoba of Wechabe, Bukusu elders gathered. They unanimously
decided to name the 1888 circumcision age set as Basawa Sikala, after the brave
act of Sikala son of Wechabe.
A story is good, until another is told
……………………End…………………………….
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