The Tale of Omutilu Drums-man: An Account of Mukite wa Nameme

The feet of those who walked before us have rested,

So have their lips faced into silence,

If they were to speak, they could speak of the tale of a lone drums-man,

A fine Bukusu diplomat since the days of Kitimule, Mukite from the womb of Nameme

Today, only a few grasp to paint his picture- a man who went to great lengths to unite the Bukusu sub-nation. 

 

 

A Savior is Born

During the sunset years of 18^th C, Babukusu were undergoing pangs of tribal warfare causing unprecedented dispersions of its clans. Bamia (the Iteso) and Barwa (Kalenjin insurgents) fronted regular and painful battles that made tribal peace a distant illusion. The wars weighed greatly on clan leaders and many took off to far-flung regions presumed peaceful. As far as Ebunyala, Ebusamia, Ebusoba, Ebuserema and down to the Great Lake of Walule (Ebunyifwa/Ebunyolo). Truly, it was a period of integration; where Babukusu not only failed to speak one language but also had polarized military defenses.

Yet, in this turbulence and unspeakable suffering, there was born a boy who could be a beacon to a united future of his people. His birth year is remembered to be 1790 and it was in the household of Lunja, son of Wafulumbe from Bamutilu Clan. He grew to be in favour of his parents and took her mother’s maiden name- Nameme. Such a good woman of respect, upright upbringing and hardworking was known as omukhasi we kumusumbi (woman of girdle). Her name would definitely live through her son’s.

Saddening enough, young Mukite did not florush to enjoy parental love for long. History rememberers have it that during the Second War of Dispersal, in which Bamia Bapala waged battled in Mwalie, Ebwayi and Mwiala lya Mango, Mukite would be orphaned. The realities of life were harsher and he is believed to exile for some time with a distant relative.

However, growing up as a young man, Mukite emphasized with the state of his community. He witnessed not only political integration but also eroding military prowess. By now persisting wars had caused great exodus and Babukusu abandoned their lands in great numbers. With them were gone finest soldiers, farmers, wisest of elders, beautiful girls, mothers and children. Military speaking, even militant clan such as Balwonja, Bakamukongi, Batukwiika, Bayemba and Bameme could not hold against the lethal adversaries. Bamia warriors were unique in tact and often overpowered Babukusu homesteads.

Moved with incredible courage, patriotism to the lands and undying desire to bring lost glory of Babukusu, Mukite wa Nameme devised a plan –a political strategy to restore the identity of Bukusu clans. To attain this, he had to win lots of friends. Armed with a huge drum, synonymous of that of Baganda cousins, he undertook a journey to return people to their lands.

Journey to Restore Glory

Drumbeats of a distant approaching man,

Barefooted, weary, walking to the rhythms of his beats,

Purposeful, giving a call for people to return,

To retake their lands, organize their armies, live in the warmth of togetherness,

Woe, who will listen to you, a war orphan from the womb of Nameme

With great confident and determination, Mukite started to lay foundation for friendship. He took the initiative of organizing social gatherings where people were treated to sumptuous parties. He invited people from different regions, he spoke to them, reminded them of their home.

In his journey, he found Bakabalasi very receptive and party-loving. He walked through their lands, beating his large sized drum calling for exile to rethink about their origin. It was time, to go home and revive their lands. He got the attention of the people. It was 1822 when he started off from Ebukabalasi down to Mundoli. He drifted further to Marachi retaliating the same message. Then to Samia, and down to Bunyala (present day Port Victoria). He walked far and wide to Ebusoba, Ebutama, Ebukwele, and Mungachi among other regions hosting exiled Bukusu tribesmen and women.

Bukusu Treatment in Exile

Mukite wa Nameme was also an ardent intel gatherer. In his walks he received reports on how Bukusu exiles faired on under leadership of foreign clan elders. In Ebumaraki for instance, he realized that people adored the tribal leader Ndubi, Omumaraki elder. They were well received, lived in peace and even fostered inter-tribal marriages. To this day, the good Bukusu-Maraki relations earned the phrase Ebumaraki ebukhocha (it is our maternal uncle’s home). Likewise, in Ebusoba across the border, Mwalie Omumasike treated exiles with respect, offered lands and welcomed them. While Mukite was glad to note these good treatments, he realized it would be challenging to pull out everyone since they’d been well received.

Yet, things were nasty in other areas such as Bunyala-land. Here, the leader Mungulumusabi from Basiondo clan was extremely mean and hard on Bukusu clans. They were displeased, ill-treated and lived in fear of their lives. This notoriously mean leader might have been the root of Bukusu proverb; ‘Watikha emoni okhaba Munyala’ (Better have your eye injured than become an Omunyala).  This humiliation in some regions only fast paced Mukite’s plan to rescue his people. And yet, he had to act smart to save his people from such suffering and humiliation…

In the years that had gone by Maina son of Walukale had seen that a great war at Sikulu sya Bukusu where all clans will take part and subdue the enemy. Will Mukite wa Nameme’s war drum and reconciliation efforts bring the community closer to this day?

Next Episode; How Mukite wa Nameme blinded Banyala elders and rescued his people in the dead of the night