Bukusu Dance Class 3 of 3 (Dance Attires/Ornaments)

 

There is a wide diversity of attires for Bukusu dance shows. The attires include among others;

 

1.    Butundi- Variety of multicolored beads on a string.

 

2.  3.    Chinakwe- Pieces of split stick (castanets) worn on the hands.]

 

4.    Chindekwe- The hand-worn bangles

 

5.    Biyula- Waistline costumes.

 

6.    Chinjiya- (longer than biyula) Woven by female married dancers made from wild sisal (nabiili), and banana stems (kamarakicha).

 

7.    Biliko- Waist wrappers made from banana stem and wild sisal fibers. Abandoned in 1920s in favor of wearing calf, goat or antelope skins on waists.

 

8.    Kamakutu- Knee-high hide cloaks woven by older men. Chichwala (inner membrane) removed and skin softened into shape using ghee. Kamakutu were abandoned for modern cotton clothing and blankets.

 

9.    Ekhorere or Ekutwa- head gear made from monkey skin decorated with cowries (chisimbi). It is an elder’s attire as well.

 

10. Epokoto- A wide ivory band worn on right arm.

 

11. Sirere Sukure- Copper or gold bracelet worn on left hand.

 

12. Kumukhinga- Flywhisk, traditionally from a buffalo tail. Today, cow flywhisks are easier to find.

 

13. Engeye- Tail with lots of fur, often from rodents such as wild hares.

 

14. Ekhendie- Walking stick from kumukhendie tree.

 

15. Wambulwa- 3 or 4-legged Bukusu stools.

 

16. Kamaleso- Use of Swahili Kanga has been adopted in Bukusu dance from 1990s to the present.

 

17. Body Paint- Dancers can paint their bodies in various dyes and paints such as red ore or chalk

 

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