Bukusu Naming Traditions: A Synopsis

Having many children is considered a blessing, and childlessness (Bukumba) among the Bukusu-like many African cultures is taken as a great misfortune. Traditionally, many births took place at home by self or assisted by co-wives, mother, sisters, mother-in-laws or even the pregnant woman's relatives if she had chosen to go give birth at her maiden home.

The placenta (engobi) and the umbilical cord (lulela) were buried at a secret spot so that they aren't found and tampered with by a witches (omulosi).

Naming Customs among the Bukusu:

After delivery, a child was given a name or names depending on a number of factors. Today, following christian and modern norms,  names can be derived from foreign customs such as Arabic, English, French, Dutch or Portuguese.

However, even today, Bukusu children have be given African names as per tradition. As a result, the 21st century Bukusu will have three names; Christian/Muslim name; a maiden name and then a family name in that order.

The family name is almost strictly paternal unlike the mixed system among Spanish naming systems where paternal and maternal surnames are combined sequentially. Moreover, unlike in some ancient Asian traditions- South Koreans in particular-the surname does not denote status. It is simply the name of your father.  This article reveals the intricacies, charm and traditions of how the Bukusu gave middle names to children. Several factors influence names given to children. These may include;

Bukusu naming traditions: According to Time & Place

• Day of the week of the birth. Males born on Mondays could be named Barasa while those born on Saturdays would be named Nyongesa.
• The time of day (dawn, morning, dusk, afternoon, evening, night). For example male children born late in the night would be named Wabwile and Nabwile for the females.
• Season of the year (famine, rainy season) Males born during the dry season will be named Simiyu, those born in the rainy season will be Wafula.
• Location a person is born children born by the roadside would be named Wangila, those born on the veranda would be named Namukuru.
• Babies born during circumcision period would be named Namwenya if female, males would be named Mukhebi.

Bukusu naming traditions: According to community events.

• Economic activity of the day (planting season, harvesting) Male children born during planting season would be named Wanyonyi and Naliaka for females while those in the harvesting season would be named Wekesa.
• Contemporary nature of the times:- Children born during merry making times would be named Wamalwa or Wanyama. These are commonly born in August of a leap year or December during Christmas celebrations.
• Children born after death of someone significant in the community would be named after the person. They would also be named Masika.

Bukusu naming traditions: According to circumstances surrounding pregnancy & delivery 

 

• Children whose mothers could not remember their last monthly periods would be named Okumu. 
• Female children born past the normal pregnancy gestation period would be named Nasiebanda, or Mwibanda for males
•  Normally a child is born in breech (any other presenting part- legs, buttocks- save for the head), is given a special name. A boy is named Sifuna while a girl Nafuna.
•  Specific circumstances relating to the child and to the child’s family. For example very small babies would be named Nangekhe. These would boarder small for gestation age
• Female children born before completing normal gestation would be named Nambuswa
• If one's parents suffer or suffered from child or infant mortality, one is likely to have a funny, survival or death-prevention name believed to be capable of preventing and/or eliminating totally such deaths since it has the power of preventing parents in the underworld from causing the death of such children. Males would be named Wenani, Wepukhulu, Makokha, Kundu, Kuloba, Namunyu etc. Females on the other hand would be named Nabangala, Nang’unda, etc.
• Twins were named in more special way. For example the first one to come out was named Mukhwana who is followed by Mulongo. After the birth of twins a ceremony known as khukhwikula bukhwana is done.  
• Children could also be named depending on the availability of special foods like those born during the mushroom season would be named Wabwoba. Their counterparts born during the termite season would be named Waswa. 
• A girl born among boys would be named Nasio meaning single.
• Girls born with fair skin/beautiful that the rest of the siblings would be named Khakasa.

Bukusu naming traditions: The influence of family ties

• Babies could also inherit names of their ancestors. These would vary from one clan to the next. Example names like Makila, Makanda, Mukisu, Wakoli, Bifwoli are related to the bayemba clan in one way or the other. Not everyone got a chance to be named after. Men and women of honor were immortalized by naming children after them. Certain people could not be named after example those who committed suicide, those who didn’t bear any children.
• Order of birth; children born after twins also had special names; Khamala was born immediately after twins and Khisa born after Khamala. 
• Special cases where a couple got a second set of twins would be named Khisa and Khamala. If they got a third set of twins they would be named Khonokha and Nabangi.
• Children born after the death of their parents would be named Namulekhwa or Walekhwa, Taabu etc. Translating to those who were left and problems respectively.

Sources: Makokha, Mangobe my village elder (not the Omukasa but the wise one whose only task today is passing on Bukusu culture via oral tradition)