KabilaEthnic groupsLuhyaBukusu
← Back to Luhya
Sub-tribe
Bukusu
Omubukusu
LuhyaPatrilineal lineageBukusu97 clans documented
Language
Bukusu
Lineage system
Patrilineal
Population
1,188,968
Type
Sub-tribe
Origin story & oral tradition
The Bukusu (Babukusu) are the largest Luhya sub-tribe and trace their origins to Mwambu and Sela, the first man and woman said to have been created by God (Were) at a place called Sibembe near Mount Elgon (Masaba). Their founding ancestor Mubukusu is credited with establishing circumcision as a rite of passage. The Bukusu migrated from the Mount Elgon region and settled in present-day Bungoma County. They are renowned for their vibrant circumcision ceremonies (Khuminya) held every even-numbered year.
How they identify
Person (singular)Omubukusu
People (plural)Babukusu
HomelandEbukhayo
Language / dialectBukusu

A member introduces themselves: “Ndi Omubukusu — from the land of Ebukhayo.

Clans (97)
Baangachi
Omuangachi
Baata
Omuata
Babilo
Omubilo
Babinda
Omubinda
Bachuma
Omuchuma
Bafwa
Omufwa
Bagali
Omugali
Bagombe
Omugombe
Baisi
Omuisi
Bakachele
Omukachele
Bakhone
Bakhone
Bakibeti
Bakibeti
Bakiha
Omukiha
Bakofu
Omukofu
Bakolwe
Omukolwe
Bakombwa
Omukombwa
Bakondu
Omukondu
Bakongolo
Omukongolo
Bakopi
Omukopi
Bakubia
Omukubia
Bakulutu
Omukulutu
Balala
Omulala
Balicha
Omulicha
Balikhe
Omulikhe
Balobolo
Omulobolo
Balogoli
Omulogoli
Balondo
Omulondo
Baluchwa
Omuluchwa
Balukha
Omulukha
Balukhoba
Balukhoba
Balulosia
Omululosia
Balunda
Balunda
Bamaai
Omumaai
Bameme
Bameme
Bamia
Omumia
Bamisi
Omumisi
Bamkhofu
Omumkhofu
Bamuli
Bamuli
Banacha
Omunacha
Banakhe
Omunakhe
Banambale
Omunambale
Banambatsi
Omunambatsi
Banamboyi
Omunamboyi
Banang'oi
Omunang'oi
Banangu
Omunangu
Bananyi
Omunanyi
Banaona
Omunaona
Banaswa
Omunaswa
Banchuki
Omunchuki
Banechesa
Omunechesa
Banengele
Omunengele
Banengi
Omunengi
Bangifu
Omungifu
Bangoma
Omungoma
Banguka
Omunguka
Bangweli
Omungweli
Banichu
Omunichu
Banje
Omunje
Banjira
Omunjira
Banole
Omunole
Banongwe
Omunongwe
Banooli
Omunooli
Bansimba
Omunsimba
Banyange
Omunyange
Banyele
Omunyele
Banyemu
Omunyemu
Banyole
Omunyole
Banyonga
Omunyonga
Banyuka
Omunyuka
Banyumu
Omunyumu
Basamia
Omusamia
Basani
Omusani
Basembe
Omusembe
Basende
Omusende
Basinde
Omusinde
Basitsi
Omusitsi
Batecho
Batecho
Batefu
Omutefu
Bateko
Omuteko
Batemo
Omutemo
Batiba
Omutiba
Batikha
Omutikha
Batile
Omutile
Batima
Omutima
Batinda
Omutinda
Batonde
Omutonde
Batotio
Omutotio
Batukuyu
Batukuyu
Batukwa
Omutukwa
Batumba
Omutumba
Batutu
Omututu
Bawesa
Omuwesa
Bawoko
Omuwoko
Bawukhe
Omuwukhe
Bawuli
Omuwuli
Bawuyu
Omuwuyu
Bayisi
Omuyisi
Sources
  • 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Vol. IV, KNBS, 2019
  • A History of the Abaluyia of Western Kenya, c. 1500–1930, Were, Gideon S., 1967
  • Luhya people — Wikipedia
Parent ethnic group
Luhya
AbaLuyia
At a glance
NameBukusu
EndonymOmubukusu
Ethnic groupLuhya
TypeSub-tribe
LanguageBukusu
LineagePatrilineal
Population1,188,968
Sub-groups0 documented
Clans97 documented
Know more?
Missing a clan, origin story, or language detail? Help us build the record for the Bukusu.
Contribute data →