Kuria and Suba Exhibition Development...

The Elimu Asilia team proposes to conduct research in April 2015 and a workshop in May 2015 which will culminate into an exhibition in June 2015 at Kisumu Museum to formally introduce the Elimu Asilia project to two communities, the Kuria and  Suba, based in Western Kenya.

BI AMIRA MSALLEM AKIZUNGUMZIA HOJA YAKE NA WA KUNGA KATIKA MJI WA LAMU

BI AMIRA MSALLEM

BI AMIRA MSALLEM AKIZUNGUMZIA HOJA YAKE NA WA KUNGA KATIKA MJI WA LAMU 14^TH FRIDAY, 2014 KATIKA MAKTABA- RISSEA 

(COASTAL RESOURCE CENTRE CRC - MOMBASA).

  Adress: 82412 Mombasa

 Contact:  Cellphone No. 071-089-7228

 Email: amira2006said@yahoo.com 

                                          

SAFARI YA LAMU

Tarekhe ishirini na nne mwezi wa kumi na moja elfumbili na kumi na tatu niliondoka Mombasa saa tano na nusu nika fika Lamu saa  moja za usiku, nikashukiya Sunsail nikapumzika kitambo cha kwenda kutafuta nyumba niloipo fika kwa mwendani wangu sihaba nikampata sababu alikuwa safari  na nilipompata akanikaribi na nikaeka mizingo halafu nikenda ni katafuta chakula cha kujisikiza  kwani ulinwengu huu si sawa kuna matatizo huwezi kumlemeya mtu wa kila kitu.

Amina Musa ana miaka sitini na alizaliwa kipungani na ujuzi wake alianza na kumzalisha mwnawake bila ya kujuwa alimzalisha mwana mara tatu bila ya usaidizi wa mtu yoyote lakina alinambiya yakuwa wazee wake upande wa baba na mama alikuwa ni wahajizi wakandaji watu na huku ni wa kunga na hapo alipo mzalisha mwana mara tatu akaona afadhali awachane na karai asaidiye watu kwa kuwapokeya na alipawa kipa baada ya kumzalisha mwanawe na mamake alianza kumfundisha mambo muhimu maana aliona sasa anaitaka ile shuhuli vile vile vile alinambiya yakuwa alikwenda hospitali ili atake msaada ya kuwa pakitokeya na ufundishaji wa ukunga aitwe ili apate ujuzi zaidi na bahati mpaya au nzuri hakupata ya sirikali bali alipata ya ujarumani na akenda akapata faida zaidi na wakapawa madawa ya kuzidiya watu yakusanga damu na yakumsaidiya mzazi asiwe na maumivu na vilevile pamoja na yote atakuwa akiweza kwenda na mzazi wake hospitali bila ya kupingwa.

MATATIZO YA MADIKITARI

Nilipo muuliza yakuwa jee madakitari huwa wana waita wakati ya shughuli za  kuzalisha  watu ambao hawa husu? Akasema la! Hawatuiti maana yake sisi huwenda ikiwa mzazi ametushinda na amechoka  hata saini kutiya huwa hawezi na ndiposa Dr na manasi hushirikiyana wanapo taka kuwafanyiy watu kupasuliwa wao huwa wakasema kuwa yule  mjamzito  ametiya saini na wala hakutiya saini bali yuko thieta peke yake na hakuna mtu wake  hata mmoja wakushuhudiya ametiya saini au hakutiya.

 Sababu  ya pili aliotowa bi  Amina juu ya waja wa zito nichakula cha kutiya rutuba huwa hawapendi chakula cha kisawa sawa  na huwa hawana nguvu za kutosha za kupija kite ili za kusukuma  na wakati mwengine huwa ni muoga ndipo yule dakitari hubidi kumpasuwa kwa uwoga wao.

CHAKULA CHA KISAWAASWA

SUPU YA AINA YOYOTE

SUPU YA MAGUU YA MBUZI

MBOGA

WALI WAMTAMA

KUKU  MAPAPAYO/MATUNDA

 Lakini wao watoto wa sasa hawasikizi mtu bali huwa wapenda kula takataka kama viazi vya rojo, bajiya ukwajuna vitu vya khamidhi vyote ndivyo wapendavyo na udongo hivyo ndivyo wapendavyo na hali kadhalika lakini ikiwa umewapa wali au supu au kitu chochote cha rutba huwa hawana hamu nacho kabisa.

KUPASULIWA OVYO KWA WANAWAKE

 Nikamuuliza bi Amina habari ya kupasuliwa  ovyo ovyo wanawake nikwasababu gani ? alinipa hoja zake  akanambiya yakuwa :

 Subira hawana  huwa wenda mapema hospitali ndipo   wasaidizi ambao ni manasi huwa wakiwatiya chanda na kupasuwa tupa naunapo pasuwa tupa huwa utungu huwisha na ndipo kisha huwa wawatiya maji ya utungu na saa nyengine unapo tiwa maji ya utungu huwa mzazi huchoka akawa hana pumzi ndiposa anapo kuja dakitari  huwa akidai mpaka afanyiwe upasuwaji  akimmpima atasema ati mtoto amekaa kombo auhana ndiya ilikusudi  ampasuwe naikiwa hakuna mtu aliyekuja naye  au hata amekuja naye  wakiona yakuwa pana utata atajitiya mwenyewe ili mzazi  ndiye ametiya saini hilo ni la kwanza,  lapili manasi hawa taki mzazi asukume na  latatu manansi huwa wakuwata uchi hawakushughuliki wala hawa kupimi  huwa waagaliya sitarehe zao  huwa wako nde wazungumza napengine mtoto huwa amegeuka au yuko mlangoni ukiweta wao huwa wakwambiya bado na tayari mwana huwa mlangoni  mwanamke apija kite cha kuzaa manasi huwa hawapo   chumbani hili piya la udhi sana na la lanne ambalo laniudhi kwa kuzaa hospitali ni ukisha zaa una pakuliwa kiuno nikutolewa ile damu ya uzazi ile ukisha zaa mji huwa  madakaitari wakupakuwa huwa  wa umiza wanawake na wakawatiya ugonjwa  na kuwaumiza kizazi .

  

MJI/MUI

Nilipo muuliza juu ya mji huwa mwanaufanya nini wakunga  wapo maliza kuzalisha  jee munautupa kama mahospitali , akanambiya laa! Sisi mji twauhifadhi sana maana mwanzo watu wa zamani walikuwa wakiuzika na kivumbani na chumvi na kisahani cha sini, kile kisahani huwa akisha zaa na ushamrekebishiya kila kitu  huwa kile kisahani ni nchako wewe mkunga pamoja na leso naunapo zaa nyumbani hupawa kata hiyo kata ni ya kuzaliya mshika kovu na anapo sukuma na huku nyuma una mtiliya nguvu ndiyo hiyo leso ni ya mkunga  huwa hiyo ni ada yake.

 Mji unathamani sana katika uswahilini kama kama hauna thamani  haunge hifadhiwa na   unapomzalisha mtu huwa ule mji uko kwenye dhama   yetu sisi wakunga tunapo kwisha zalisha huwa tukisha rekebisha mwana hutukuwa ule mji tukenda tu kauzika.    Vile vile nikamuuliza jee ukizaa nyumbani na hospitali wapendeleya wapi? akasema napendeleya nyumbani maana nyumbani ni raha huwa wasomewa  na kupewa subira na kufinikwa kisawa hakuna mtu wakuku babaisha na kuingiliwa ovyovoyo kila saa kutiwa mikono nakuumizwa kizazi  na ukisha  zaa hupawa uji wamadawa ya kuondowa kiuno ni mfuko wa kizazi na kisha huwa wapigwa maji ya moto tini pamoja na mafuta ya simsim na  kuwekwa kwenye kibao na ukakitwa  na ukapigwa ndani ya kizazi yale maji moto na huku wamregesha kile kizazi ili ile damu imalizike  na huwa yatoka mapande mapande ukicha kutoka chooni hapo una pikiwa uji wa dawa na kumeekwa kitanda cha usutu na makaa ya moto  chini ya kitanda kujikanze moto  mpaka ukupande kwenye kitwa basi haitmu wiki mbili huwa ume kauka na hurudi kama mwanamwali bado huja ingiliwa  na  huwa ukila madawa  kama  manemane, Asalai, 

Tangawizi na Mafuta kutiliwa kwenye kuku vifaranga  pamoja na siki ya mnazi au ya mkoma lakini   watoto  wa sasa wataka kizungu  hawataki kujipiga maji ya moto,hawataki kufinika nywele, hawataki kujipaka mafuta na  hajui ni adhari kwao ikifika siku saba huwa watoka nde, utaona watoto kama hao huwa wamefura uso na nasikiya kuna wengine waliowatembezi huwa wakitiya vitu katika nafsi zao kama ndimu,majano na hali kadhalika hawajui waumiya ndipo kukawa na adhari nyingi ya kizazi kama alikuwa mzazi yajiona huwa mwanzo uso umefura huo waitwa ubiti na tumbo huwa ilimefura kwa sababu hawakufunga mkaja na kusingwa na vilevile maguu huwa yame wafura kwa  sababu  hakunwa uji wa madawa  na siki na mafuta maiti pamoja na vifaranga vya kuku hatari nyengine ni mtoto haja pata siku mbili huwa yuwaonyeshwa kila mmoja hapo huwa wamdhuru yule mtoto na huwa hana wanda wala hakandwi na kufukiza vifusha hii ni hatari mmoja lakini tufanye nini watoto hawatusikizi.

ATHARI YA MTOTO AKIWA KATIKA ARUBAINI

 Mtoto  akiwa katika arubaini ataka afitwe  sio kila mtu ajae umuoneshe  huwa ni miko watka  umwmbiye watu  amelala nakila usubuhi  umpake wanda ilikumuondowa hasadi na mato mabaya ya watu    na kumkanda kwa mafuta  ya simsim basi yule mtoto ata lala mpaka utamsahau lakini  sasa huwambiwa ni mambo ya kiswahili na watoto watiwa mafuta na harufu nzuri ambapo sivizuri kwa mtoto nimiko usiku akiliya na  huwa watu waovu wamsikiya  na huweza kubadilika mara moja lakini wapi watoto wasasa hawakusikizi  huwata mwana akaliya  na zamani mtoto akiliya usiku huwa akibebelezwa kwa nyimbo ili sauti yake isipande huimbiiwa hivi;

SILIYE MWANA SILIYEE MATAMU YA KUKU NDIA ZINA WATU WATAKUSIKIYA

Basi huwa mtoto hunyamaza

na uwangaliye ulimwengu ulivyo mtoto akikuwa huwa duko kama vile wazee wao walivyo kuwa washindani.  akasema juu ya madawa nayo ni

1.                  Saba ya kwanza amabayo yaitwa fungate kikwao huwa mzazi hunwa uji wa madawa kama Manemane kwa wiki ya kwanza hutiwa kwenye tupa ya maji na ikawa ndiyo maji yake yakunwa

2.                  Saba ya pili huwa watumiya Tangawizi na Asali na jungu la moto huwa unakaliya na kufahamiya katika kitanda cha mwakisu

3.                  Usubuhi huwa nilazima usingwe uukandwe  wiki mbili ndiyo utakuwa sawa .

Na chakula cha rutuba kama vifaranga na mafuta ya simsim na siki ya mnazi ikitangaywa pamoja  huwa ina nguvu sana katika kizazina mwenyewe mzazi

Asemavyo Amina kuwa wiki mbili huwa mwana mke ashakauka kama nilivyo sema awali mume akimuingiliya huwa kama mwamzo na mwana mke huwa yu wangara kabisa arubaini ni ya shaka tuu.   Wasiya wangu ni nawaomba wanawake wawe na subira kwani ukenda hospitali mapema huwa ukipasuliwa tupa na ukipasuliwa tupa huwa utungu huna tena sababu tupa huwa inapopasuka huandamana na mtoto na mji pamoja ukiwa utashika haya basi utafaulundipo wazee wazamani walikuwa wakikwambiya mungu atakuzalisha patatu ili tupa mtoto na mji

JEE UTAFITI HUU UNA MAANA

Kwa hakika utafiti huyunu una maana kweli maana mambo mengi ambayo nilikuwa siyajui sasa na yajuwa na unenitowa masikiyo taka kabisa na vile vile utaweza kutufaa nasisi iwapo sirikali itatupa nafasi ya kuwa pamoja na kutulipa, na vile vile kutuatiliya huru na upokezi wetu bali wao twataka waje wasome kwetu.

REHEMA MOHAMMED BAKARI

AMEZALIWA  MASHEMBANI MOKOWE

MIAKA:  49

UYAKETI :   WIYONI

LAMU

Tarekhe ishirini na sita nilimuhoji Rehema Mohammed Bakari katika nyumba ya Dr Haroub Mohammed twabibu na mjuzi wa madawa.

Amesema yakuwa ujuzi wake ni kupima mimba, na nimezalisha takribani watu wapatao mia tatu au zaidi na toka kuzalisha ni miaka kumi nanane.  Nilipo muuliza dalili ya mimba una itabuwa vipi? Akasema mwezi mmoja tuu mtu huwa wamjuwa katika kipembe cha uso pili ni kiuno hufunguka anapoketi huwa kimefunuka tatu ni mabubu au matiti katika kilermbe huwa vikibadilika na bila kutapika au lolote lile huwa  dalili hizi mwanaadamu  huwa nazo.  Hapo iwapo mama amekuja kunita huwa na msinga kwa mafuta  na kumpapasa  tumbo na mwana kama akiketi ubavu huwa na mtabuwa.

MWANAGENDI AKISHIKWA NA UTUNGU

Mamake akinita kwenda kumuangaliyayule mzazi  mwanzo humkanda,na kisha ndiyo nikatamtambuwa yule mwana ameketi vipi matumboni, nikimuona ana tafauti nitamtambuwa kuwa aweza  kustahamili au hawezi ikiwa yuko karibu na kuzaa jee  kuza nyumbani au mpaka twende hosipital naikiwa ni usiku basi siwezi kumpeleka sababu hospitali ni mbali huwa namfanyiya na mzalisha mwenyewe

Mwana ikiwa ameketi ubavu huwahawezi kugeuka mwanzo ataleta bega hawezi kuleta shingo na kimkanda nikimuona kitwa kiko juu na ametiu mui uko tini huwa wamtambuwa kuwa huyu ata pasuliwa  mmaana desturi kitwa huwa tini/chini katika kubishana wakunga wawili Amina na Rehema mabingwa wawili

Amina akamwambiya Rehema yakuwa yawezekana mtotoakilala kwa ubavu utamkanda na utamueka sawa lakini Rehema akampinga Amina akakataa kuwa aweza kukanda nakumuweka sasa Rehema akamwambiya ya kuwa ikiwa mtoto amefika miezi mitisiya huwezi kumkanda kalekeya lakini ikiwa yuko miezi mchanga kama sita saba  na nane basi huwezekana ukamrekebisha.  Lakini tabu yangu ni watu hawaniti mpaka siku zao huwa zimetimu tena huwa ana utungu ndipo wanitapo mimi, rehema akamjibu yakuwa kuna kupindana ni mara moja lakini kuna kukaa ndiyo huwezi mpaka hospitali.   Amina akamwambiya ,mtoto huwa azunguazunguka na huwa mamba yapaa na miezi ya tisiya huwa azunguka mpaka aketi mahali pake ndipo anapo keti vizuri na kisha kutowa hoja wote wawili ikawa Amina akashindwa na akasema kwa hakika hajapambana na hoja hizo, akasema Amina yakuwa aliwahi kumuona mzazi alipokuwa amempeleka mzazai wake kwa dakitari kuwa mwana aliketi upande na dakitari alipo mtiya mkono na kumpima yule mzazi akamuona yakuwa mwana yuko upande mmoja na  dakitari alisema mpaka apasuliwe kisha Amina akasema iwapo dakitari ametukuwa muda ya kumpima yule mzazi huona hawana ujuzi kama sisi wapokezi wa kinyumba huweza kumtambuwa mzazi kwa dakika ile ile kwa ujuzi wetu amina ni mkandaji na ni muhajizi ana ujuzi mkubwa sana kwa dawa za miti shamba na za utwabibu.

Rehema amesema hivi amezalisha mzazi mtoto akiwa ametoka kwa kitako au kwa bega lakini piya hangezalisha kwa sababu ya hospitali mimbali sana ndipo humbidi kumzalisha naye kwa ujuzi wake hashindwi kwa lolote kwa uwezo wa mungu na radhi za wazee, na apenda kuwaseidiya watu kwa sababu ya kumzalisha huyo mwana na kuzalisha mui kisha nikamzalisha mwana mpaka leo mimi ni mgojwa kwa dharubu niliyo ipata.

Alizalisha mzazi nikamtoa mui mbele maana alipopata mimba  wazazi wake hakunita kwenda kumpima basi mumewe alipo nitra nikenda kumuangaliya  na nikampima mtoto alikuwa kitwa kiko juu na nilipo weak vidole nikiangaliya mwana yuko juu na mji uko tini na nikaona nipate usaidizi huyo alikuwa akiketi naye alikuwa ni tongo haoni nikenda kwajirani naye alipo kuja alikuwa nikumsaliya mtume na kumpapasa na hukuakimsomeya nikaona ahh haya hayanifai mimi nataka kuseidiwa yeye anisomeya ingawa kumsaliya mtume ni sawa lakini natak kusaidiwa mtoto alikuwa karibu nikenda kuangaliya watu wa boti wakawa wamekwenda baharini kuvuwa basi nikaona hakuna budi sasa nikapaka mafuta na nikatiya glovu zangu nikalekeya kwa mungu, mwanzo nika sukuma mtoto na alikuwa ashavunda tupa nikakawana naye ikabidi nimuweke mkono nyuma nikapata kidevu nikakilemeza kile kidevu na kisha nikamswarifu kidogo kidogo mpaka akatoka na alipo toka mui ukawa kifuwani na yule mwana alipo toka akawa hana pumzi maana kwa vile kuchoka na pumzi zake zikawa ndogo na kwambali hapao ni saa tisiya alipozaa na ikawa siwezi kumpeleka hospitali peke yangu lakini nilipo ona hali ya mtoto yaanza kubadilika ikanibidi nitoke naye saa hizoo za satisiya nende naye kwa dakitari nikenda ibnusina lamu na nikampata dakitari Athumani Vae na akaniseidiya lakini alipomtiya oxygen alikuwa mtoto akuwa na nguvu tena akfariki na nashukuru niliokowa ruhu ya mama. 

Usubuhi walie ambao hawana mahaba nami wakenda hospitali kumtafiti  kumpeleka yule mzazi kumuangaliya kuwa ameumiya au laa, na alipo pimwa akawa hana lolote na dakitari akawambiya sihaba huyu mkunga amewasaidiya sana lakini kama siyeye mtoto na mama wagekufa na nawahakikshiya hakuna dakitari yoyote awezaye kumzalisha mzazi ikiwa mji  uko mbele na kitwa kiko juu lakini huyu mwana mke aliweza kuokowa mama na akazalisha mshukuruni sana.

Mzazi wa pili  nikaja nikaitwa kwenda kumuangaliya nilipo mpima  nikamuona yuko tayari kuzaa kukawa hakuna wakati wa kwenda  hospital, na alikuwa ameketi na mamake alikuwa tongo nilipomuuliza taa akawa hana na nilipo mwambiya anipe kijembe akawa hana na nilipomwambiya nipe pamba akawa hana  alghasili hana chochote katika nyumba yake na hospitali ilikuwa  ni mbali na huko niketiko ni wiyonina mwana ashafika mlangoni nikalekeya kwa mungu nikapija bismillahi  nikamsuka suka na hapo nikamkumbuka mrehemu mamangu.

Alivyo niambiya yakuwa mwana akija usirudi nyumatiya mkono ushopowe kikono cha mtoto nami nikafanya hivyo na nikamshopowa mkono wa kwanza na mkono wa pili kisha nikamshika kifuwa nikamvuta kidogo kidogo mpaka akalekeya mlangoni hapo mwana akitoka mji uko kwenye upa. Amira akamuuliza  mwanamke kama huyo jee alikuwa kwenye dhiki? Mwana Rehema akasema laa! Hayo ni miujiza ya mungu lakini Amira hakukubali akamwambiya wanawake kama hao huwa wapatishwa tabu huwenda ikawa mume huwa atukana na pengine huwa yuwampiga au jamii ya mume hawaketi naye kwa uzuri hapo mwana Rehema akakubali  maneno  ya Amira  akasema maneno yako ni kweli mumewe alikuwa akimponda kila siku na aghalabu mwana mke akipata maudhiko akiwa katika mimba huwa anapata tabu katika kuzaa ndipo hufai kumtesa mwana mke kwenye mamba.

Nimezalisha mwana pata mwenye kusimama kwa miguu na akatoka kwa miguu, mwana anapo toka kwa miguu mwekeee mkono kwenye kitwa na umshike miguu kidogo kidogo mpaka maguu yapenduke kisha umlemeze kidevu na ndipo mwana hulekeya akatoka na mambo haya yote yakinipata huwa niko pweke(peke yangu).

Mimi mwenyewe nilikuwa na mamba  na nilikuwa nimechoka na taka nizae nanilikuwa nimepitisha mwezi wangu akaja rafiki yangu  akanambiya yakuwa amesikiya yakuwa  hii zimda ukitiya tini huzaa kwa mara moja basi nikamwambiya anifanyiye nijaribu hapo nilipotiya hiyo zimda  hakupita saa nikenda chuoni nilipo fika chuoni nikaona nimemwaga maji mengi sana na nikaendeleya kumwaga maji mpaka babangu wa kambo aliponiona nimelegeya na mamangu alikuwa hayuko yeye akenda akatwa mkokoteni na akanipeleka hospitali nillipofika hospital na nikawa naendelya kutowa maji nanilipo kwenda haja ndogo nikawa nimefunga yale mikojo na nikashikwa na utungu wa kuzaa ikifika saa nane utungu ukanipoteya dakitari akafanya wasiwasi na akataka kunipasuwa na dakitari akanitowa leba kuniangaliya na dakitari huyo aitwa Mariga mpaka saa tisiya nikenda nikaoga nikavya nguo halafu nikamwambiya nasi aitwa Salimu yakuwa mamba hii alonitiya ni mungu natakaye itowa nimungu mimi kwaheri nenda zangu nikatoka hospitali nikenda zangu nyumbani.  Alhamisi nilitoka hospitali mpaka alhamisi nikarudi na utungu wa kuzaa na mungu akanizalisha salama salimini bila ya kupasuliwa vile vile Salimu alikuwako na nikamwambiya leo ndiyo siku ya mungu kupenda ni zae.

DAWA IKIWA HUNA PUMZI NA HUKOJOI

1.                  KAMULI ASWADI

2.                  AKAMULI ABIYADHI

3.                  AINI SUUNI

4.                  HARUDALI

5.                  PEFU NYEUPE

6.                  MNAFISI

7.                  SANDALI

Dawa hizi ni kwa wanawake na kwa wanaume mwenye mshipa na kwa mwana mke huwa salama kwenye tumbo na huzaa salama na ikiwa niko mashambani huwa natumiya dawa za miti shamba kama

DAWA ZA MITI SHAMBA

1        MSWABIINI

2        MTENDA KINYUME

3        MVUMBANI MKUU

4        MNAFISI

5        MTAPAKIZI

Dawa hizi ikiwa una pumzi na huhema basi hutuliza na ikiwa mtu ana mshipa wa kiume basi humtuza, na ukitumiya kivumbani na sukari kidogo ikiwa mama hakoji hukojowa na akazaa salama

Ukimwanga damu kivumbanni na mnafisi pamoja pefu nyeupe husangaza damu na hukuzalisha

Mzazi ikiwa hana pumzi za kutiya kite ukichukuwa maziwa na glucose hupata pumzi. Twamshukuru Helman kwa kutufundisha madawa ya kila aina.  Nikamuuliza habari ya mji au mui kwa lafidha ya kiamu, akasema hivii tukisha mzalisha mzazi na tukisha mrekebisha mtoto  basi hutukuwa ule mji tukenda tukauzika kama desturi yetu mwanzo hutukuwa ule mui tukavisha ule ukuvute na unapo zikwa huwa wazikwa kwa tani na hutiwa chumvi na ivu kaw jili shetani mbaya asije akauona.  Mji haufai kuwamishwa  kwa sababu mwana atakuwa duko( hatosikiya umwambiyalo), na mwanzo eka chumvi kisha kivumbani na kisha uweke mji sababu ya mbwa  asije kunusa na shetani muovu asije kuramba na akisha kuramba mwana  hudhurika au mama na ukizingatiya mji na mji haufai kutanganywa kuwekwa pamoja.  Bibi yangu amenambiya ikiwa mji watupwa mbona ukifa huzikwa na ikiwa umeza pata piya mji watka uwe mbalimbali hauzikwi pamoja

MJI/MUI

1.                  MJI/MUI TUPA NDIYO MTO WAKE

2.                  MUI NI GODORO

3.                  MUI UNA NGUO MBILI HUWA NGOZI NYEUPE MBILI ILE NGOZI HUWA IMEFINIKA NA YA PILI NA PIYA MWANA AKATI WA KUTOKA MWENYEZIMUNGU HUZIONDOSHA NA HUWA KAMA HIJABU NA KAMA MWANA MKE NI UPANDE WA SHOTO NA KAMA MWANA MUME NI UPANDE WA KULIYA NA VILEVILE HUWA NA BERISHITI MBILI, YA KWANZA AKIPASUKA HUWA NI TUPA NA YA PILI NI MWANA NA YATATU HUWA NI UKUVUTE KISHA ISABU MISHIPA NA ULE MJI HUWA UMESHIKANA NA MWANA TENA HUWA UKIPELEKA CHAKULA KWA MWANA DAMU ITOKAO KWA MAMA HUPITA KWENYE MISHIPA IKENDA KWA MWANA NA  NDIYO UKAAMIWA HUFAI KULA MADAWA MENGI HUWENDA UKAMDHURU MWANA.

Amina Musa akasema  ya kuwa ikiwa mambo ikawa hupenduka huwa ni kitu gain? Naye bi Rehema akamjibu yakuwa huwa ni chakula alacho mja mzito lakini mimi nikimuona mjamzito yuwala udongo humkataza maana si chakula kizuri huwenda ukamdhuru mtoto kama kunywa maji ya barafu huwa wamdhuru mtoto huwa na mafuwa ya kila siku pengine na kifuwa kukohowa. Rehema akasema mimi nilikwenda makadara hospital na nilikwenda kusomeyanilitukukuliwa na Imam Khalifa na nili keti reef hotel siku kumi na tano kwenda kuzalisha basi sijui nikawambiye ndani kuna ndoo imewekwa ya mji/mui yatowa harufu sana mpaka nikaweleza wale wakuzowa mji watu wanapo zaa kesho nikija nikaiona hii ndoo mutaniona maana ikawa damu imebadilika ikawa yanuka watakosa mabuu na hao ndiyo wana leta maradhi ya homa na  hapa pana watoto wa changa huwenda wakaambukizwa na ugonjwa.   Mwana Rehema akasema yakuwa anasikitika kwa mambo mengi ya poteya na   hatuzinga tii  tunapotupa huu mji khasara tunaiipata kwetu na watoto wetu.

SADAKA UNAPOMALIZA ARUBAINI

Zamani tukisha arubaunu huwa twatindiwa  na babangu alipo ata watumwa wake huru ndipo alipo atakutinda lakini huwa yuwasoma maulidi na ndipo mtoto hunyolewa na ukamkata kucha na hivyo hivyo kucha na nywele huwa  za kusanya zikatiwa katika kisahani na zikazikwa lakini sasa haya yote yamepoteya hakuna tena ndipo mambo hutupata katika milango yakilasampuli na mambo yote huwa yatupate kwa pamoja .

KUMNYOWA NYWELE MTOTO MCHANGA

Na kila mmoja huwa na mambo yake kama KIMVITA upande wetu wa baghan Amira amesema huwa siku ya tatu huwa akinyolewa hutiwa nyele mnywozi katika kisahani na yule mwenye kumnyowa atazunguka na kile kisahani au kibakuli cha sini kwa kila aliye muhusu yule mtoto kisha zile pesa zitakuwa nizake kama kupima nywele na halafu yule mwenye kunyowa atatowa sadaka ya mafungu matatu na atagaanyiza.

MwanaRehema akasema lau dakitari atanipa mui wangu nigefurahi sana maana nende nikauzike mwenyewe niliambiwa kuwa nimakosa kutupa mji maana mwana atakuwa hasiki atakuwa duko, kama watoto wa sasa walivyo hakuna mtoto hata mmoja ambaye anasikiya yote haya ni shauri ya mui mwana mwanaada ameubwa na pande la damu na leo sisi mama ndiyo tuna makosa lakini twaandama magharibi na twapoteya kwa umagharibi mwingi.

Submitted By : FATMA MANSOOR

                        COASTAL RESOURCE CENTRE 

Indigenous Knowledge in Quail harvest out beats the commercial Quail egg farming

Quails

Kenya is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bird species diversity and richness. This is due to varied habitats types and the fact that the country boarders with unique species of birds that cross boundaries to feed and breed in Kenya.
In the past three year, some species known to occur and breed only in Uganda and Tanzania have recently crossed boarders and are now breeding in Kenya.


Key example are the Magpie Shrike from Tanzania, Rufous-tailed waver from Tanzania and Weyn’s Weaver from Uganda. The other factor is that due to varied habitats and unique geographical features like the Great Rift Valley, the country hosts a lot Eurasian migratory species.

Kenya has also a richer cultural and ethnic diversity as result of different groups of people migrating in the country from other African countries. These groups have evolved with nature and developed unique affinity with nature for nature.  They value both plants and animals for medicine food and protection against evil spirits and misfortune. Among the Samburu and the Kalenjin communities, birds are featured lot in male circumcision preparations.  Candidates go out in the forest and bushes to hunt for the most beautiful birds, among them starlings. They sin the birds very carefully and are left with the skin and all feathers. Each boy can collect as many as twenty different species of birds with different colours. The birds are arranged into a necklace with birds arranged well in colours.  One must be well conversant with hunting techniques and where to get the best collections, because different birds are adapted to different habitats, and they behave differently.

The Luhya Community living in western part Kenya has had a strong affinity to both domesticated poultry. Both wild quails and indigenous chicken have formed part of livelihood of the community. Chicken is featured in most of their cultural activities and beliefs. 

Traditional Hen

Different indigenous chickens have different play different cultural functions. For example the traditional chicken with rose on the body (makuti) was used in cleansing ceremonies to apiece gods. Some chicken found roaming wild were believed to have been given to those who transported a dead body to destination of burial, family members gave them a chicken as the transporter left the compound. The chicken was thrown along the roadside so that evil spirits would not accompany. It was very interesting that such chicken survived very well in the wild and could not join other domesticated chickens. Traditional spiritual prayer people were given white chicken and after offering prayers to community members. Boys were circumcised at ages between 12 and 15. They took a one healing month in seclusion in a forest around fig tree with sponsors or a leader who would teach them family norms and practices. Circumcision is a rite of passage. It was therefore believed that such initiates would be allowed to take some adult responsibilities in the community. Such responsibilities were as leaderships and marriage responsibilities.

Traditional Cock

They were also allowed to feed on some special parts of the chicken deserved only for adult males. For example, only married men were allowed to eat chicken gizzards. The gizzard from single chicken was not supposed to be shared between two people. This would cause tensions and even fights. Ladies were not supposed to eat eggs. They were preserved for the men and children. Any type of ceremony was not was not complete without chicken meat served with brown ugali from finger-millet and sorghum.

In this community, different people had specific responsibilities in a society. Such responsibilities ranged from black-smith, hunters and gatherers, medicine men, mid-wives, and those who specifically. Hunters and gatherers crawled in undergrowth of Kakamega Forest searching for mushrooms, dropped seeds and nuts, fruits, duikers and forest hogs.

Quails are grouped in the same family with the francolins, spurfowls and the stone patridge. Quails are the smallest of the group with extremely shorter tail. They are found hidden in grass and rarely fly, unless flushed out. It arrives with the onset of rains.  The calls are so loud that they attract other from far distances. Females reply in response to males. They form trails inside tall grasses and hardly fly longer distances. The Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei referred to as Isindu in single and tsisindu in plural by the Luhyia community living around the Kakamega tropical rain forest in western Kenya is the most common and preferred for food. They are intra-African migrant found also in southern and eastern part Africa. The males like other species of birds have pretty loud and rapid calls that are continuous.

Quail hunters make use of the loud calls to lour quails in their traps. The traps are usually snares made from the threads or hair of the cow’s tail. The hair is tied across the quail path or trails in the grass. To trap the quails, a four meters long strong stick is planted in the ground at the harvest/hunting site. Three quarters high, small cylindrical woven baskets are hanged on the stick and the stick is bending like bow to the ground. Live male quails are put inside the baskets. The quails will sing inside the baskets as they attract other birds from a distance to the snares on the ground in the grass. It is amazing how many birds the hunters can easily trap as the birds in the baskets continue to call. After the harvest, birds are killed and smoked dry to preserve them ready for the ready market. Local hotels, food kiosks and local buyers have a test for these birds and therefore the market is always available.

Quail Farming

The past two years quail farming was a flooded market in the Nairobi because of its eggs. The eggs were thought to contain medicinal values. Due higher demand in farming, the supply of eggs was much higher than the demand, hence creating low interest in more farming. On the other hand the demand for smoked birds continued at the local in Kakamega County.

Conservation of wild grasses especially in the open glades of Kakamega Forest is to the key for the conservation of the habitats for quails. Since quails are only trapped specialized people in the community, their sustainability is assured. Because this person knows exactly when the birds are arriving and when to collect them and where to the market is. However with the present situation of climate change, which has resulted in shift in rain patterns, hunters may also have to adapt to the situation with some alternative focus. Indigenous knowledge has always has always played a vital role in the local livelihood and when used sustainably, it can lead to sustainable conservation of the natural environment natural resources.

                                                     Research is still ongoing….....

Story by: Titus Imboma

Research Scientist

National Museums of Kenya

Mushrooms and the Iteso, Western Kenya

This is a fleshy spore bearing fruiting body of a fungus typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source.

English name: Mushroom

Scientific name: Agaricus bisporous

Local name: Ebale (Ateso)

Different types of mushrooms:

Russula cellulata(white mushroom) in their early stages of growth as shown below.



Lactarius densifolius mushroom ready for harvest as shown below.

During the rainy season especially in April, the Iteso of western Kenya are always happy and eager to get the local delicacy of mushroom stew. During this season, most school going children are tasked with the responsibility of picking the mushrooms in the plantations as this delicacy grows naturally. Most of the pupils absent themselves from school so as to pick the readily available source of protein in exchange for money i.e. either for sale or for their families’ consumption. Not only is this task vest upon children alone, their parents also participate in the picking. It’s normally picked early in the morning so as to get a bumper harvest. As the saying goes, ‘the earliest bird catches the worm’, hence the early morning picks.

Mushroom Picking:

Emmy Makoha and John Masika picking mushrooms

In Teso land, they only pick the edible mushrooms as others are poisonous. They pay no attention to the identification of inedible mushrooms. Some people however described to me presumed characteristics of poisonous species such as a slimy face, bitter taste, bad smell, the prescence of a ring or brown spore dust. Some people pick only those mushrooms which they see monkeys eating, assuming that they are also safe for humans. When going to pick the mushrooms, one has to have a basket and knife. When picking the mushroom from the ground, you first cut off the soil from the base of the stipe. If you put mushrooms with soil in your basket, the soil will drop between the gills of the other mushrooms in your basket, then you’ll l have a lot of washing to do at home.

Preservation:The most common method of preservation among this community is drying in the sun. The sun makes a very effective dryer. The drying does not kill the micro-organisms on mushrooms but makes the substratum so dry that they enter a dormant phase. After drying, they become very hard.

Drying Procedure:

1. Cut into slices about 1/2cm thick and spread loosely on to a mat .To ascertain if they are dry enough, they should make a snapping sound when breaking them.

2. Dried mushrooms are then preserved in a container with a cover to be protected from moisture.
NB: Dried &preserved mushrooms will last until the next mushroom season &can be used after soaking in a small amount of clean water and the same water used in the cooking so as to utilize the nutritive elements that dissolved in the soaking water.




Dried Mushroom

Dried Mushroom ready for cooking

Mushroom Stew Preparation:

Ingredients

1. Onions

2. Tomatoes

3. Mushrooms

4. Cooking oil

5. Salt

Steps:

1. Take about the same amount of onions, tomatoes and mushrooms.

2. If the mushrooms are fresh, cut them into small pieces, if dry, no cutting is required since they are already in smaller pieces.

3. Cut onions and tomatoes into different bowls.

4. Heat the oil

5. Add the onions to the heated oil until golden brown.

6. Add tomatoes to the sufuria until it’s cooked

7. After about 10 minutes, add the cleaned and chopped mushrooms to the sufuria and cook for another 30minutes so that the tomatoes and onions form a thickened stew

8. Vegetables e.g. kunde can be added to the stew according to availability & one’s like
9. The stew is eaten with brown ugali, boiled cassava or boiled bananas

 

Mushrooms are the richest source of protein and are suitable for human consumption. They  contain 31-40% of proteins. The percentage of protein is much higher than in cereals,  pulses, fruits and vegetables.  The proteins of mushrooms contain all essential amino  acids and their quantity is higher than in the egg. They are the good source of iron.  Mushroom contains minerals like calcium, potassium, sodium and phosphorous, and  vitamins like B, C, D, and K. Mushroom contains niacin, which is ten times higher than  any other vegetables. Mushrooms make an excellent food for diabetic and heart patients.

Story Prepared by:

Evalyne Namuju

Library Assistant-National Museums of Kenya - Main Library.

Kalenjin Dowry Ceremony

When the groom identifies a girl he will first go and tell his parents and the parents will inform the elders of the community. The elders will go deep into the family lineage and see if they have a relationship or have a common ancestor.  If they have a relationship or come from the same clan they will not marry because it is considered as a curse by the ancestors.

The groom elders/father will go to the bridegroom’s home and seek for permit to talk to the family elders. When they agree on the marriage proposal the bride’s clan elders will ask from the groom’s family. After one week they will come with the groom for a show up. On that day they will come with two sheep and two goats. After a long discussion the groom will be teased by the bridegroom’s aunts. The bride’s family will be blessed by the bride groom’s family while the bridegroom will be blessed by the bride’s family.

The groom elders will ask for the date of the wedding when they agree for the date the groom family will go and prepare the wedding and it is usually after two weeks. The bride groom was not allowed to be seen by anybody who is not her family member.

The Wedding Day

On that day the bride groom will go to the groom’s home with her family and clan elders. The bride groom will be taken to the special hut that has been made and decorated by the groom only.

Meal Preparation

The meals were prepared by both sides. The groom’s family will prepare the following delicacy: bull’s meat, sheep, goat and the sour milk. The bride groom’s family will only prepare ugali made of millet flour mixed with sorghum, cassava and maize and a special type of beans which is white in color. The groom and his clan elders will slaughter the animals without even a single drop of blood on the ground. The bride groom will then cook ugali for the whole family without any assistance and then go back to the hut. The groom’s family will prepare the meat.

Purpose of Preparing the Meal Together

The bridegroom and the groom’s family will share things and unite in case of any problem. When the groom and the clan elder slaughter the animals, blood should not be poured down that means their love will never break. When the bride groom prepares the ugali, she shows that she loves and cares for the family waiting for her and this shows that she will care for her husband.

Preparation of Sour Milk (Mursik)

First they will need a calabash and then make a bottle from it. After making the bottle they will then decorate using beads (sonoey) this bottle (soret) will be passed from one generation to another.

From time to time during wedding, initiation or funeral ceremonies they will use the bottle (soret). The bottle will be washed using a special wood called (siitett) this process is called siit and the siitett will produce sour taste ash (tei).This ash is used to speed the milk process of being sour. They will then put the milk for four days before the wedding day. On the third day they will remove the sour milk and then siit to kill any micro-organism that will cause diseases, and then the milk will be good to drink.

The Ceremony

After the preparation the bridegroom will be given food by groom’s mother and locked up there for the rest of the day.The bridegroom’s family and the groom’s family will eat in the same table but men will sit on one side and the children and women together. They will eat while talking.

They call it a day after eating and the final drink will be for the elders’ from both communities. The drink (mursik) will be poured in the ground and the rest drunk from the same bottle. That must be done during the right before realizing the groom to see the bride.

After the celebration one last ritual must be done before releasing the dowry , the groom will be taken by the elders to the hut. The elders will leave the groom to spend the night together. The groom was supposed to make love to his wife to see if she is a virgin. Early in the morning the elders and the bride groom’s family will come and see if their child is a virgin. If so the groom’s family will release the dowry and some two or three cows for the mother and a sheep.

If the girl is a virgin the dowry was paid in half and the other half will be taken every year to promote family unity. The bride’s family were given twenty sheep, twenty five goats, five bulls and seven cows in exchange with their girl. The ceremony will end with songs and dance.

Story Prepared By:
Caroline Jeptoo and Joyline Njeri
Ruaraka High School

Kamba Marriage Ceremony

In Kamba culture, the parents were the ones who chose girls for their boys for marriage. When mature, the parents examined the girl before accepting her in the family.

Before the marriage a special ceremony was conducted. The groom and his kin had to throw an important party known as “ntheo” which was the minimum threshold that demonstrated that the bride officially belonged to the man she was engaged to. This ritual is very strict such that when a woman whose husband is yet to throw the party dies, she could not be buried by her husband no matter how long they had stayed together and if he wishes to bury her, he would have to go through the ritual.

The groom had to bring at least three goats where one is a he-goat which is slaughtered. The kamba people believe that as the blood spills to the ground the bride and the groom become officially joined that very moment. The two then share a piece of soft meat as an oath that they will keep the covenant.

From there the two are free to hold a marriage ceremony whether in Christianity or traditional way.

Story Prepared by:

Onesmus Mutiso, Faith Mutheu and Josephine Kamene

RUARAKA HIGH SCHOOL

Tiriki Traditional Marriage Ceremony

Amongst the tiriki, a luhya sub tribe, traditional marriage practices occurred after the boy and the girl had decided to get marryies. Both parents were informed about their decision and if they were okay with it, the marriage arrangements would start immediately.

First they would set a day for the dowry discussion and later they would celebrate and may be the boy would be allowed to take his wife before the dowry was brought or denied to take the bride until the dowry was brought.

On the day of dowry discussion, the groom came to the girl’s home accompanied by his parents, uncles and friend. He was accompanied by his uncle because they represented the parents even in the case where one or both of the parents had passed on. On the other hand the bride was hidden and the  parents could attend the meeting alongside with the aunts and the girls friends.

When the meeting was still going on some relatives and some friends of the bride’s family would be in the kitchen preparing a meal that both families and would share if they reached to an agreement. The traditional meals that were prepared included, chicken, beef stew, ugali and busaa (a traditional brew among the abaluhyia).

When the meeting would be almost over and they have reached an agreement, the girl could be brought in the open and would happily be accepted by her groom, then the meeting would be called off and the celebration would start. After the celebration had ended, the in-laws were supposed to have gone by six o’clock. The boy would be allowed to go with the bride before the dowry was brought and they would be packed for some foods by the bride’s mother to the couple’s, in a basket that would be returned later with some food stuffs for the bride’s mother.

NB: Usually the bride price was not brought in full so as to cement the relationship of the two families.

Story Prepared by:
Silvia Khatetsia, Hadija Ashuma, Yvonne Jeiza,Salome Macreen and Rose Ondeche
Ruaraka High School