Transcript for "Topics in Bukusu"

Lisina liange bali Yabuna Ngw’angw’a.

My name is Yabuna Ngw'angw'a.

Omurefu ekholo.

From the Barefu clan.

Senakama ano namwe nja muu?

Should I stop here or should I continue?

Nono ndakikhe khubola embakha, ndakikhe niyo ndakikhilekho eyo?

I should start telling the story, starting from the one I started with?

Eeeeh.

Eeeeh.

Efwefwe babukusu khulimo chilomo chingali cho khulomaloma malakho bamulanga bali lebe watimile khuloma.

We, Bukusus, we have many stories to talk about. They will say that so and so didn't speak well.

Nolikho omundu narekukha nacha, newenya akobole lundi eneno omubolela-okhaloma oli yukha tawe.

If someone leaves to go somewhere, you should tell them to come back, not turn back.

“Ewe! Lebe Wekesa kobola.”

"You, Wekesa, come back."

Akobole nali omwana woo wakana orumile abele wamurumile abundu mala kabe mbo wekesa akhakobola mala omubolele elomo niyo abele acha khubolela lebe nali ocha wawandaye namwe walebe nali wararawe namwe nail ocha wakhochawe.

He/she should come back, maybe it was your child that you had sent somewhere. Wekesa should come back and you should tell him that you wanted him to go and tell the other person. If he was going to his brother or uncle you tell him what you called him for.

Oli nga nekhulangile nandi kobola nocha wole wa khochao omubolela oli khochao, mukhweo alikhacha khukhola kumulimo kwe kumulikho endalo nabulebe.

"When you reach your uncle's place, you should tell him that." You say that your in-law is going to do some work at a function at a particular date.

Waulile?

Have you heard?

Omwana ali yee papa naulile.

The child will respond, "Yes, father, I have heard you."

No omwana arekukha acha noba bali oli omwana nokhowaya chikhafu.

Then the child will leave.

Nowayanga chukhafu choo, orusia mabwibwi ocha khwaya chikhafu norekukha nacho oche waaaaaaye mala walakwisisie nokhola orio mabwibwi akako nechikhafu echo nga nochikobosia chichi khukhamwa chikobola mungo chikhafu chekure namwe nobone oli chekure bulayi chisa chakhola che khukhama ochiila ata chacha eluchi, chanywa kamechi chanywa kumusole.

If you have a child and you take care of your cows, you wake up early morning to go and look after the cows. You leave them to go and graze for some time. You would have done everything early that morning. You will then return the cows back to be milked. When they are back home, you will see if the cows are well fed. When milking time arrives, you can take them to the river to drink water.

Chamayo nechikobola mungo haba ata wakhachiyabila silongo chaliakho nechicha mungo bacha khukhama chicha ata ekhafu elikho emolola busa kamelele kalola, karonya busa neyola mungo.

They will come back home. You should dig for them some traditional food for them to eat and then come back home. The cows will come mooing, as milk will be ready to get out.

Wachirao bacha khubukula bibwili, okhama arure ne sibwili acha khukhama ekhafu eyo.

The milk will be dripping as they take the milking containers. The other cow will be standing there.

Ekindi yima busa akhame kamabele kechule sibwili ekahafu eyo wase arekho emosi yachakile khununa naba chikhafu echo chiramile chiche khwima musiabusie.

They will be milking the other in a container. It fills the container and he will leave the calf to feed and the remaining cows will be taken to a shelter.

Kamakhuwa ako kaba kekhale ne luno luri kumubailo kwa luno sekulinga kwe khale ta.

Those were the old days. Keeping animals today is not like the old days.

Kwa luno kumubimbi kwa wele bindu nio khubona musibala luno bikhalimo nende kimilimo nga kiekale ta.

Today, things are different. The things we see in world today are different from those of the old days.

Ndalomalomanga kano khubela kamakhale kabao kwa khwakhulile nga khwailenge chikhafu.

I am saying this because in the old days, things were different, especially the way we grew up looking after the cows.

Elomo yefwe ye babukusu nga khumenyile aba musimana mala mwekhala alala mwaba khukokwa endala mala mwakachula likhuwa lie limenya.

Our word as Bukusus is how we live. It was that you love each other and come together to discuss how to live.

Imenya lino khumenya khuriena.

How do we live this life?

Lola lulumbe lwechile musibala rulwira chikhafu, lulwira babana khukhola khuriena mala bandu baloma bali tawe bulwale buno lola bwakhingilile khurebe wele wefwe we mungaki mwikulu akhurusileo lulumbe lukhakhumalila kimiandu kiefwe ta.

There has been a disease which has come in the world killing cows and children, what should we do? And people said, "Now that this disease has attacked us, our father in heaven will get rid of the disease so that our wealth doesn't get affected."

Kimiandu kino wele niye wakhuwa mala nekieela aba sekhuli nga nekhunyola lundi kimiandu ta.

This wealth. "It's God who gave it to us and when we lose it, we will not be able to recover it.

Wele chana niye wenyakhana akhuonesele kiandu chana.

That same God should save our wealth."

Eyo elomo eyo yama khuba khuba papa befwe nende bakuka befwe bakhola kimilimo kieneko kimiko kiama khubira.

That was the work our fathers and grandfathers did in the old days.

Nemunyaga nicho khwichilemo chino che khulimo chino che sisungu nga basungu nga yama khwicha nga basungu bakhulekhile khwanyola buruki bubwefwe.

And in these current days, where the white men stepped down to get our freedom.

Babandu wakalukhane luno sabali basimani.

People have changed nowadays.

Bakwile be chinge wakwile watakha ata sabasima babana be bebabandu namwe bana babwe ta, ata nonyola bandu balebe balikho basimana ta bamenya alala barebane kamakhuwa nga kali ta, efwe khwabona busa chinyanga nga ese obelekho musibala muno nakhacha nekimiko lola luno kicha kamakhumi munane.

They are not loving, they are mean and poor. They don't love other people's children or their own. You find relatives living together but they don't love each other enough to check on each other. I have seen a lot because I have lived for long. My years are heading to eighty.

Nabone bibindu bikholekha musibala muno bikene bilali sana khwama nga omusakhulu wefwe Kenyatta naruka naamakwamakho nalekhela moi mala abundu bwenao onyola bandu balekho kakai khubakho balayi luno luriluri kwicha kimiko kie khukhwamila muthamanini khwicha mu elefu mbili nieyo khulimo yino.

I have seen many new things happening since Kenyatta was the president. When he left power to Moi, you would find people different but nowadays starting from the 1980's to the 2000's we are in now.

Eyino yabele sibala sie sieli.

The world has been full of chaos.

Lifwa likali, bwirani bukali, bunuli bukali, bubwifi bukali omundu kengilila busa omundu Kenya amwire.

More deaths, murder and theft. A person just attacks someone and kills them.

Omwana ata kenya ata nosoma, ndi mubibilia somanga nebibilia ndi omufrench.

I read my Bible, I am a member of friends church.

Wa elgon friends mala nyola nga nesoma sitabu khane khuli mundakano empya yino eli nekamakhuwa kekhuuka nga omwana wawele omwene nekabola ali esese nga kabola kabola musitabu sia luka kuminambili mala kacha mulubaso lwa-kamila mulubaso lwa arubaini na tisa ali ese senecha khurera kumulambo ta necha khurera lipanga.

From Elgon friends. As I read the book, the New Testament has interesting words. As the son of God said in the book of Luke, chapter 12, verse 49, it says, "I did not come to bring peace." I brought a matchette.

Nono bindu ebwo nonyola bikali bilikho biekholekha musibala bandu balikho berana busa ata wele kafwanile nga oanile.

You will find a lot of things happening in the world where people are killing each other. God seems to have given up.

Efwe babukusu khwalonga khuli kamwatile musibala siiye silikho sikhwira silikho khasikhumala.

We, us Bukusus, used to say that he has thrown a plague in the world which is killing and finishing us.

Omwana ne rarawe, omwana nomwana ata musitabu chana nga nama khuloma sia luka esesio onyola bali omwana, ata yesu chana kabola ali bakhabe babana barano mumwabwe, babili khubataru bulomani bwong’ene.

The child with the father, the child with the child. As I have said in the book of Luke, Jesus said you will find five children in their home and two out of three will be fighting.

Masalawe ne mukhomwana, Mukhomwana, omwana ne rarawe.

The in-laws with the daughter/son in-law. The daughter in-law, the father and the child.

Nono kwabone mbo chinyanga nicho khulimo chino.

We have seen the days we are living in now.

Mwalekha khukobolela wele nomwana wewe yesu christo ba sibi nisio khuli nasio musibala sili sieli aka niko mbone musibala nendi nga nikhale nga nga nengenda nebasiange ata chiselukho ngachichaka khwama khu bakikwameti barurireo babele nende likambila lilayi bakananachi barureo babele ne likambila lilayi sikila bandu bano babele nende bakolongolo basala esese sikila ese omwana wo mukolongolo omutua.

If you don't turn to God and his son Jesus Christ, what we are experiencing in the world is a plague. That is what I have seen in the world as I have lived. As I walk with my agemate and circumcision's ageset like the Bakikwameti, some who have left were good teachers. The Bakananachi who left were good teachers. I was sired by Bakolongolo who were there. I am a child of the last group of Bakolongolo.

Ko bamakhuba nenako kaba kebulayi bwe khuuka abele ese nyala nekekha omundu ekhafu namwe omulebe wase namwe omusale namwe omurende tu namwekekha.

They had good teachings. I would keep my cow at a friend's, relative's or stranger's place.

Mala ekhafu yasalilayo chikhaaafu mala nenya nembukulangakho.

The cows would give birth and I would go to pick some.

Neluno olekekha omundu ekhafu abola ali khwaandikisiana waena ekhafu yino eyase niyo yasalile chikhafu alia, mala ocha oli nechile chikhafu chase chamenya ewoo nechile mbekho nje kholelekho kumusango nakhayilakho mulamanilekho bali muche ebwami.

Nowadays when you keep a cow at someone's place, he/she will ask for documentation to show that you own the cow, even if they have eaten the cows the have gotten from your cow. When you request to take your cows and use them in a function, he/she will refuse to do so. You will fight and end up at the government leaders' offices.

Nelelo bandu bakwile busa bali ebwami niyo niyo bukesi buli.

That is what people want nowadays.

Bubwami bukesi bwenebwo khubapapa namwe khumenya musibala sebuli nibio bukesi ebwami niyo buli ta.

Such issues don't need leaders to solve it since the old days.

Nono babami nabo bakwa baliakhilia benya balie sio buli omundu.

Now leaders have become greedy they will take advantage of the situation.

Efwe babukusuku abele khwasimana mulisimana liefwe, omundu nakhwekehe ekhafu yoo omwaila omwaila chikhafu chakhakucha chikuche mala akheche alo ooh ndi nende kumusango engo eyi ndi nende kumusango omwana wase omusinde mbekho khamosi khakhunukhe khukhafu yino nje kholele.

Us Bukusus, we love each other. In our loving spirit, when someone keeps a cow at your place, you take care of it well. When the person comes over asking for the cows back for a circumcision function, "Give me a calf that has stopped weaning."

Oyo amua ali eeeh ekhafu yino chikhafu chayo nichechi chili ano chirano, khano khaunwa, khano khaunwa, khano khamosoti, eyino mawe ne bona ekindi bina khulikho khukhama.

He will give him, siring the cow has five cows. There is a male and female cow. "This is the mother, we are milking others."

Khayo khukhuwelesie khano oche nakho mala nebaloma bario omulosi mwene mungo omwo niye wekekhakho ekhafu aba kaulile, omusakhulu oyo aba kaulile nemwikhale-mwana wewe aba kaulile.

"Let us give you this one," when they say that, the wife in the home, she will hear the husband and if the child will be around, he/she will also hear about it.

Nebamanya busa yakhaba omundu narureo bali chikhafu chino cha lebe kakhwekekha sechili chefwe ta.

They will know the owner of the cows even if the owner will die.

Neluno bandu khukhola kakai, efwe musibala muno nga khwakhamenya eeeh abele lisimana lilio nono nga bandu nebakuchile khane khwatubanile nebabandu chikholo khwama enje, khwabukule chikholo chakwingilemo mubabukusu ata chindala chilikho chikhumala lulomo lwefwe lwe babukusu luno chakilile khale sikila bandu nakhubirana.

Today, we do it differently. As we have lived in this world. Eeeh, there was love. People are full and we have mixed with different clans from outside. Many clans have joined us Bukusus. Some are weakening our Bukusu language.

Balalakho khwamenyile ne babandu baberi, kwamenyile ne babandu babefwi chikholo chindala chaba che bubwifwi nio chamenya.

It is causing us to not have peace. We are living with murderers. We are living with clans who are thieves.

Chira nechamenya, nefwe abele sindu nisio khwabonanga khwabonanga bandu babina nende barori baroranga bandu.

They have to kill to live. We only used to see night runners and witchcraft, people who bewitch others.

Mala bibindu biabechangao lakini bubwiraki sifuki khwira busa omundu omubukusu kaba karia, karia kabisa sekenya kera busa omundu wabene ta akako niko nakhabona ndi musibala sino luno luri muramilemo namwe mulabamo muyime wele wenywe we bakuka nebakuka mala amulinde.

There were other things, but killing was not one of them because a Bukusu feared murder. He could not just kill someone. That is what I saw in this world today. Those who are here and those who will be there. Look for your own God and ancestors to protect you.

Amwekesie kamekesio kamalayi mumenye mulomo yefwe musibala muno khumenye nende wele wefwe wabao oyoyo wapapa befwe balomanga bali wele mwana, wele mulayi balomanga basaya mwele oyu.

To teach you well in order for you to live well, our God who was there, our fathers used to say, "A child and a good God."

Basaya khwama khubakuka nende bakuka nata khusimusaya.

They used to say to pray to God from our great-grandparents and we still pray to God.

Fwesi khumanyile epipilia babukusu, khumanyile kapisa sikila bona efwe nga nokhepa omwana obukula kumusuni wara kwibeka wakhumba nio bakhala kamafuki kachichukha asi fwesi aba khwamanya nga yesu nebakhoma khumusalaba mala bamuuna kamafuki kachuchukha.

We also know the Bible as Bukusus because as we circumcise a child. You put an arrow on the shoulder and fight your best before your blood spills out. We all know how Jesus was crucified on the cross. Then they stabbed him and blood spilled.

Nono fwesi khumanyile bukuristo khumanyile babukusu busa nende epipilia khucha nenayo.

We, us Bukusus, know about the Bible.

Efwe obonanga nga khukhola kimisango, kimisango milala kilimo kikhalikhomo bubwoni ta kili busa kimisango kie babukusu kili ne maana lola nga sikhebo!

You see us performing traditional ceremonies which are very meaningful. Look at circumcision.

Sikhebo sino luno khasicha khutila chikholo chichindi chikhebwe abele chikhabebanga tawe.

Other tribes who were not performing circumcision are now performing it.

Sikila babukusu khwalonda likhebo lia papa wefwe kuka bali aburahamu wele nga kamubolela ali cha okhebwe.

Because of Bukusus, we followed the circumcision of our grandfather Abraham when God asked him to get circumcised.

Okhebe nebabana boo mungo, fwesi nono babukusu nio likhebe elelio likhalekhale lie bakukanebakuaka.

You circumcise your children at home. As Bukusus that was a tradition from our forefathers.

Ata bapasita befwe nebacha khwalusia omwana bachichanga khubola likhua lino khwama khukuka wefwe Abraham.

When our pastors graduate a boy to adulthood, they talk about this word coming from our father Abraham.

Sikhebo sino sesili sialuno namwe khwemumile busa nga chikholo chindi nechichile busa mocha khwenya khungila ta.

This circumcision is from long ago. Like the other tribes which come straight to circumcise.

Eyino niyo elomo niyo ndi nayo kachulila khubandu befwe buyima lubukusu.

This is the story I have for our people who look for Bukusu.

Eeeh elomo ye lubukusu bulayi bubwene kabisa babolanga bali okhakambusia ta lomaloma bulayi elomo yino bakhubolele bulayi okhakikambusiamo ta.

Eeeeh, a good Bukusu story, they say that you should never talk back. Don't talk back to a well told story.

Lundi elomo niyo bakhubolele ye kumulembe khola busa na kumulembe nekwenya bindu bienebio khubabukusu nga khuloma lubukusu, lubukusu luno bandu bakhacha balutimia bali luche likano lundi ta bakhung’ole luno bitabu lola bie lubukusu khuli khakhucha khubisoma bie chibibilia.

If they tell you about peace, do it as peace wants. Those things to Bukusus as we speak Bukusu. This Bukusu. People should not try to take it to the wrong direction. They have now made for us Bukusu books. We are going to read the Bibles.

Ne babandu befwe khaima lubukusu lwefwe lukololokhe luche bulayi nenalwo bakende buli mubabukusu wabukule chilomo chino mala bachonge chibusie chibe sindu silala mala balomalome nga fwesi nakhulokho khakhulomaloma khuri.

Our people who are working to see Bukusu become a great language. I will love if they meet Bukusus and make the language great. Bring them together to become one thing and make it possible to talk the way we are talking now.

Likhaba litimia khubandu befwe bache nebalomelamo luswaili, balomelamo lusungu.

It should be a confusion to our people to mix it with Swahili and English.

Ata onyola bandu befwe bakwile musibala muno mwekhale musibala siefwe sie babukusu nail khaloma lusungu sekahoyele oleme lusungu mala khuli ano babukusu fweng’ene ta loma lubukusu haswa lubukusu ewe omubukusu noli mubatesio loma busa lutesio.

Today in this world you will find someone speaking English in a meeting of Bukusus only. You are not supposed to speak in English when we are all Bukusus, just speak in Bukusu only. If you are in Teso speak Teso.

Noli omuyobo omusaboti loma lusaboti sikila muli mbusa mweng’ene nono oche otubemo lusungu, otubemo luswaili naba babandu bano khobola oli sina.

If you are a Sabaot, just speak Sabaot. If you are Sabaot alone, don't mix English and Swahili in the conversation.

Ewe noli, bona nocha chikholo chichindi bakikuyu.

If you go to other tribes like the Kikuyus.

Noch ebukikuyu onyola omundu bali bekhale musikhasio sikhasio siebakikuyu soliulilakho luswaili namwe lulomo lulundi ta namwe nga lusungu tawe, aloma busa lukikuyu, lukikuyu tu.

And find them having a Kikuyu meeting, you will not hear Swahili or any other language like English, they just talk in Kikuyu.

Nocha ebanyolo bosi bali busa bario ebuchaluo mwabene muli chaluo baloma busa luuosi, baloma busa lwabwe nono fwesi khube busa babukusu nemuli abundu nemwikhale loma lubukusu.

If you go to the Luos it is the same, they speak their Luo language. So we Bukusus should only speak Bukusu when we are alone.

Nono nemuli batesio mulome lutesio nemuli bananga.

If you are Tesos you should speak the Teso language.

Kabe kario nebali bakamba balome lukamba lwabwe sikila bekhale bong'ene, okhalisiamo kakandi nolomelamo lusungu ta.

It should be like that, if they are Kambas only, they should Kamba. Don't mix English in the conversation.

Elomo eyo niyo ese mbalaya khubandu befwe enywe mukenda nemukhuima khukhusomia kamakhuwa kalio kechikholo mukhukholele murio bapapa befwe mala kamenako niko mbelekho nako.

A word I want to say to our people who look for us and teach us about tribes. You should do that to us. That is what I had to say.

Nakachulekho ako kakandi khukhanyole bwiengu lundi khulome kakandi.

We will talk more when we get time.

Asandi wele abenanywe.

Thank you and may God be with you.