Kisii tribe
Carvers of Kisii Soapstone
The Kisii tribe (also known Gusii tribe) are a bantu ethnic group who occupy Kisii highlands in Nyanza, Western Kenya, an area sandwiched between the luo and luhya tribes. Their highlands are also one of the most densely populated and fertile areas of Kenya. The Kisiis constitutes the sixth largest ethnic group comprising about 7% of the national population. Kisii, their ethnic language is also traditionally known as Ekegusii. Their closest tribe among the bantus is the Meru tribe who have almost similar language and culture.
The fertile Gusii highlands
Kisii land is very fertile and often wet most the year, making it a rich agricultural area. As a result, Kisiis are one of the most economically successful tribes of Kenya, alongside the Kikuyu tribe. Due to high altitudes and favorable climate, the Kisii tribe have exploited their land growing cash crops, mainly tea, coffee and pyrethrum. They also do a lot of domestic farming and supply their communities and the rest of Kenya with agricultural foodstuffs for local consumption. Traditional foods grown by the Kisii people in their rich highlands include maize, millet, sorghum, yams, pumpkins and green vegetables. Bananas are a popular fruit in Kisii land and are often found growing along the constantly flowing river-beds. With all the intensive farming taking place on the densely populated Kiisi land, very little free land remains.
History of the Kisii
The ancestral Gusii population entered western Kenya from Uganda and then moved on from the foothills of Mount Elgon towards their present lands. On the way, for two generations, they stayed at Goye Bay, by Lake Victoria before they moved to the Kano plains and later, to their present location due to the expansion of the Luo and the Maasai tribes. During the migration, Kisii family units become more inclusive and interdependent, forming clans each headed by a clan leader, who was in charge of making decisions on behalf of the clan. A family head was still responsible for making the daily decisions in and around his homestead.
Culture & lifestyle
Besides farming possible Kisii tribe also keep livestock in their crowded farmlands. Due to civilization, education and economic power, the Kisii people have undergone drastic cultural changes. Kisii was one of the Kenya tribes that practiced mandatory female circumcision. Although this ritual has since been out-lawed, it still persists but not as frequent as was traditionally. Kisii boys continue to be initiated into adulthood and into the Gusii as a group by circumcision.
Kisii families tend to be very large and socially cohesive, with families living close to each other and sharing daily activities such as cooking and farming. By custom, men are allowed to marry more than one wife and are considered more authoritative, almost "King" to their women.
The Gusii are known for their soapstone carvings, basketry and pottery. The soapstone or kisii is found in the Tabaka Hills of Western Kenya near Kisii town. A soft and easily worked stone, it comes in a variety of colors ranging from cream and lavender to black. It is then carved into various products of art such as vases, trays, food bowls and African animals which are then polished and decorated before being sold in malls, galleries, art and crafts shop around Kenya. The Kisii women weave storage baskets and granaries which are used to store potatoes, grains, as well as in the farms for tea harvesting. The Kisii stool, a seat embedded with colored beads and decorative patterns is a symbolic craft product of the Kisii people.
Religion & Faith
More than 80% of Kisii today are Christians with a few still practicing traditional religion. Gusii believed in a supreme God called Engoro whom they believed created the universe and was the source of all life. Death was considered "unnatural" and brought by witchcraft. They believed in medicine men and spirits of their ancestors. Today, witchcraft is still feared in Kisii communities.
Food
Typical Kisii food include ugali meal made from sorghum and millet, Matoke (cooked green bananas), green vegetables and fermented milk.