Tracing the edible African Fruits & Berries (Kamatunda Kemumusiru)

The native African fruits and berries that supported our health are fast disappearing. Busangura, chikhomeli, bubumburichi, bufutumbe, bukararambi and others. They were rich in antioxidants, bioactives, vitamin C and other nutritional benefits. Our ancestors enjoyed these fruits making them healthy and energetic!

Follow me on a journey to know more about these fruits (Photos; courtesy).

1. Bukararambi – Rasperry (rubus pinnatus

2. Chifutu- African black plums (Vitex doniana)

3. Kamapera- Quava (psidium guajava)

4. Chinduli- Loquat (eriobotrya japonica)

5. Bunyamanyama- (trichilia emetica)

6. Bukhakasu- (antidesma venosum)

7. Burwa- (carissa spinarum)

8. Busangura busecha- (rhus vulgaris)

9. Busangura nabili- (rhus natalensis)

10. Busitole- (syzygium guineense)

11. Busongolamunwa- (dovyalis macrocalyx)

12. Kamachabungwe- rubber vine (saba comorensis)

13. Kamakhuyu – figs (ficus sycomorus)

14. Kamarinda – Mobola plum (parinari curatellifolia)

15. Kamakoyakoye – (Paulinia pinnata)

16. Kamakhuwa – Tamarind (parinari curatellifolia)

17. Chimbunwe- Cape Gooseberry (L. Physalis Peruvania)

18. Kamakhomeri – (Antidesma venosum)

19. Kamaliinda – (Pappea capensis)

20. Chingayu- (Tylosema fassoglensis)

21. Kamachalalia – miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum)

22. Bisira matakho – pepper vines (Ampelopsis arborea)

23. Kamafwora- (Annona senegalensis)

24. Kamasalila- (Aframomum sanguineum)

25. Bisikamunye – (Hoslundia opposita)

26. Kamalaama- passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)

27. Burwa- mulbery (Morus alba)

28. Kamanyungululwe- governor’s plum (Flacourtia indica)

29. Busemwa- water berries (Syzygium cordatum)

30. Kamatore kamarofu- ripe bananas (Musa acuminata)

31. Kamatakho ke basakhulu- (Grewia occidentalis)

32. Kamasuukuma- cactus fruit (Opundia ficus)

33. Kamaluulu- white star apple (Chrysophylum albidum)

35. Kamanyulula- (Sclerocarya birreas)

CULTURAL BITE #1

English: Allophylus abyssinicus

Bukusu: Kumukhendie (Lusasari in Lulogooli)

Tropical indigenous tree. Distribution- Mt Masaaba, Meru, Mt Kilimanjaro, Kakamega forest. Bukusu mythology associates this tree with uncanny misfortunes including death. (Kimirongoro kwe kumusasio, sobiala simbi amuliango ta)

Esiimbo yakwo sewayiila ta. Newekeselela omundu sakonao khabili ta!.

What else do you know about Kumukhendie tree?

Classes of Nouns in Lubukusu language

 

 

From elementary grammar, we know that a noun is a word that names something like a thing, person, idea or place. In Bukusu language, there are five classes of Nouns:

1.    The Om-/Ba- class of nouns

-          Mostly used to identify human beings. For example: Omundu (person) in singular and Babaandu in plural.

-          Similar nouns: Omwiisukha (An Isukha), omwekesi (instructor), omwami (chief), omwiwaana (nephew/niece), omweebolelesi (gossiper), omwiibo (new/postpartum mother), omwibusi (parent), omwiiranyi (blacksmith), omwinami (diver) & omwiimeelesi (sponsor) etc.

 

2.       Kumu-/Kimi- class of nouns

-          Used to refer to non-person objects such as kumukoye (rope) in singular and kimikoye in plural.

-          Similar nouns: Kumukhonge (Terminalia mollis tree), kumukhuung’ano (gathering), kumuniina (steep slope), kumukuku (load), kumulilo (heat), kumusiinga (beehive), kumwiiko (year), kumweendo (small calabash), kumusiliisili (foolery), kumwanda (road), kumwasi (shin), kumulyulyu (greed), kumunalo (custom), kumusango (sacrifice) & kumusalaba (cross) etc.

 

3.       Li-/Kama- class of nouns

-          For example; liirome (weedy, uncultivated land) in singular and kamarome in collective form.

-          Similar nouns: liikhola (dry fiber), Liikemo (hem), Likhumuuniu (snail), Likhebusyo (reminder), Liusi Libongobongo (wild dove), likololwe (reed), Libokoyi (Amaranthus blitum vegetable),  Likongolio (millipede), Liloko (witchcraft), lichoki (yoke), Liisamuna (placenta), Lilekelesyo (contempt), Lilekhana (divorce), & Liing’anyu (horror) etc.

 

4.       E-/Chi- class of nouns

-          For example; Esesi (calabash) and chiisesi in plural

-          Other nouns: Embalikha (jealousy), Ekholo (clan), Ekhomako (hammer), Enombela (shoot), Eng’ololo (urine stench), Embuusi (of grey color), Endaalo (day), Endali (wine), Embambilisi (security), Esindu (Harlequin quail bird), Ekheng’engele (ankle), Embuyusi (baboon) & Endakaano (promise) etc.

 

5.       Lu-/Chi- class of nouns

-          For example; luliimi (tongue) in singular and chiinimi in plural.

-          Other nouns: Luyima (spleen), lukondo (skin color), lutelu (winnowing tray), lukoba (homestead), lusakya (tree branch), luutimba (curtain), luusekhe (beer-drinking tube), lumuusyu (odor), luusiba (deep waters), luteete (whininess), lutuukhulu (dust), luususi (grinding stone) & luutambi (wick) etc.

 

6.       Si-/Bi- class of nouns

-          For example; siifuba (chest) in singular and biifuba in plural.

-          Similar nouns: Siilekhelo (forgiveness), sikheebo (circumcision), siichimi (wilderness), simichwa (broadcast crop), sicholon’go (wooden bench), sitekho (marriage reconfirmation), sikhandakilo (foot’s sole), sikhuumbu (paw), sikhalalafu (rough thing), sikhelekho (percolating dish), sikuunyilo (pestle), & sikhoonde (grudge) etc.   

 

 

 Bukusu is a beautiful language, may it outlive all generations!