[In case you missed Part one, be entertained: http://dimplesnet.blogspot.com/2017/05/babukusu-lock-horns-with-iteso.html]
After Mukisu Lufwalula had on the advice of Bwasiele, Omurwa elder, had sought the presence of Munyenyi, Omuyumbu, the three men sat down. And after a brief silence, Bwasiele began off:
‘You Bukusu are a very formidable force, but also have a share of weaknesses. When the Bukusu warriors advance an enemy’s lukoba, they warn him in advance. They only fight when the enemy is prepared or back off to fight another. Also in the fighting, you are not lethal, not displaying any terror tactics that demoralize the enemy. Remember Bamia warriors have shown utmost brutality...”
“Besides, Bamia warriors are superb intelligence gathers who have come to know fine details of the routine life in chingoba of Babukusu. For instance, they knew that Babukusu carry bundles of thatching grass (binywa) while flocking to elder’s homes for a communal drink. Or isn’t so, Mukisu? Don’t your uncircumcised boys go around naked uprooting chinombela (uprooting stems of sweet potatoes)? That is where Bamia beats you. They hide kimitati (sharpened throwing sticks) while walking in straight lines as those going for drinks. Or they pretend to loiter around potato plantations while unsuspecting Bukusu think they are ordinary children. They suddenly strike, and you suffer great causalities!!”
In utmost silence, Mukisu son of Lufwalula, listened, not a single detail escaping his ears. In his wise counsel, the old man continued.
“Tell your boys to man up. Do not fight gentleman’s war. Arise and strike Bamia ruthlessly. Do not wedge war during the day as your custom. Invade in the night and make sure your bichenje (ankle bells) are stuffed with leaves so that you do not make noise to announce your arrival. Do not, however, take twins and baboelela. An omuboelela (or ’tied one’) is a child that has survived infant mortality and thus ritually protected. Although it is rarely seen today, Baboelela were previously identified by echucheli (the skin earing) and sikhabala (specially made rawhide strap worn around the waist). “
“Listen to me Mukisu, son of my fellow elder who we fought with. Do not fight Bamia this month. Travel two rivers down the south and seek Nasokho (an Omunyala Diviner). He will offer his blessings as well as prepare a concoction of sacred herbs to aid you in the war. “Bwasiele spat and arose. “and that is the end of my advice, Mukisu......”
After expressing the best of gratitude, Mukisu would later return to his lukoba and train the soldiers per the advice from Bwasiele, an Omurwa elder. He chose lukoba of Nang’oni to be the final training ground. He would split the army under the stewardship steadfast lieutenants: Wasilwa and his brother Malemo (Bakiyabi), Kasembeli son of Mulaa (Omukwangwachi, Siundu wa Bulano (Omusimisi) and Wetayi (Omuleyi).
By now, Opata of Bamia was ready to engage Babukusu without knowing that Bukusu were extra prepared. Bukusu warriors would not fight an ordinary war. “Khupa Omumia paka omumalilisi (Tonight we fight the Iteso to the last one on them).
On the eve of the war, the women and children were instructed to fetch lots of water as possible. The Bukusu warriors sharpened and poisoned their arrow tips. They stuck leaves in their ankle bells and approached chingoba of Bamia. Using the sun-dried sticks from kimifwora trees and the stumps of kimiarumba, they made fires and started torching the Bamia houses. Panic erupted in Bamia homesteads and people around in confusion. As they ran out of blazing houses, Makisu’s warriors stabbed them right by the doorsteps. Fighting went on until dawn. The poisoned arrows fell many Bamia warriors including those that were barely scratched. The Bamia leaders Wamurwe Lipopo (Omukariboko), Omong’o, Ochana Okuti, Kimaru and Opata Omupata were utterly mesmerized by alien-deadly fighting techniques by Babukusu. They effortlessly gathered the survivors.
It is alleged that as the survivors ran downhill to water points, death was waiting for them. Whoever drank even a drop of water, fell dead. It was the power and craftsmanship of Nasokho, Omunyala. Remember the Bukusu had been earlier to fetch lots of water. Mukisu and some warriors ran in pursuit of the felling Bamia warriors. On top of kumufutu tree, Mukisu, who now understood clearly overhead Bamia speak:
Lets camp here and wait for incoming Bukusu warriors. We will make kamaswakhe (slanting ant-bear holes) and hide. When they come, we will offer them a surprise retaliation giving an advantage for they will not be expecting. Besides, from now on we will not make lusuli (rooftop pinnacles) on our huts so that an escape would be easy “. (To this day Bamia do not put chisuli on their houses)
In the nick of time, Mukisu and his battalion would descend on the Bamia warriors even before they could start to dig their holes. They chased them from lukoba of Echaka (present day Amukura) up to Tororo upon the mindset that Bamia need to return to Soroti (somewhere in Northern Uganda).
Back in the war zone, Kimaru, Omumia elder had been captured. Some Bukusu elders reasoned with Mukisu that they should spare him. After all, didn’t he marry two beautiful Bukusu girls, Nanjumbia from Babuulo (daughter of Tooto) and Nang’oni from Bakiyabi (daughter of Malemo)? So a dog eating ceremony was conducted, and Kimaru and his household out of dire respect attained pardon.
Due to the successful military campaign by Mukisu, Bukusu went back to former territories that had been occupied by Bamia. People were free to live at Mwiala and Kibachenje including the watered valley overlooking the Holy River of Malakisi. In joy, the warriors broke into victory song:
Inja Mulole! Inja Mulole!
Inja Mulole! Nakholo nasena kameno kewe Mukibachenje, Icha Mulole!
[Come and see how the wag-tail bird brushes its teeth in Kibachenje River]
Mukisu is remembered as a brilliant and visionary leader who put an offensive stand against the Bamia, weakening them once and for all. It was a sound strategist who invested a lot in learning on how to defeat the enemy. He in conjunction with Mukite wa Nameme son of Lunja (Omumutilu) helped reform the Bukusu military force whose Barwa came to nickname as Ketoch (A Nandi word for a brutal and ruthless force).
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A story is good, until another one is told...
Author’s gratitude is to among others John Osogo, Prof Bethwell Ogot and Dr. Patrick Makila for extensive works of Bukusu Warfare
Kimilembe kiase kiolele Basefu be Chebukwabi, mukhoye mulame
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