From The Editor

The end-of-year holidays are here and Nairobi cannot understand the fervor that is seizing Machakos country bus as our people rush to return to the great waters, intoxicated by memories past Christmases made in Nyanza and the smell of kith and kin.

Let me try to explain, it is called ‘Risambwa’, a spirit of the lake that suddenly sizes you like a sudden storm and will twirl and rage until it thunders itself into the depth of the lake in song and dance, boat races and wrestling to gods older than the annual Christian tradition.

This spirit inspired our people through ancient time, creating a rich legacy of ancients who trusted their gut and ancestors to lead our people in honour of the providence of Lake Nyanza

In this issue we revisit the story of one such leader, Paul Khasamba Namwonja Mukudi one of my great ancestors, who ruled Nyanza and parts of Western provinces when they were still considered Kavirongo, named after the small gulf at the north east tip of Lake Nyanza.

We explore how these annual cultural get together could end up defying Kenya’s social political future as the old tribal dynasties reconnect.

We also dissect the cultural nuances of Aluo, Raila Amollo Odinga’s funeral rites and the curious case of his sister wielding traditional instruments of power, and pose if this could re-elevate matriachy back to its place in society. We live in a society that discriminates women yet we are constantly reminded without our mothers there would be no homesteads.

In fact in my own childhood it was the women who organized these Christmas parties and once the matriarchs died, the old homes were overran with dereliction. In this issue I explore my twin heritage across intermarriages in the royal houses of Nyanza as we begin a journey tracing my heritage and the coincidences that have made it happen, as I make a return there not only to find those Christmas memories but to collect the rich story of our heritage as the old royalty among our people.

We also review Francis Okomo Okello’s book the Concert of Life that reveals the lineage of Ramogi from Nam Lolwe to Sudan and reflect how these old lineages still hold sway beneath the current turmoil in politics.

The call has come for our people, will they answer? And in these tough economic times when transport inflation becomes prohibitive, will this Christmas offer our people an exodus from the city due to the high costs of making the return trip and the realization that Nairobi is not all it had promised to offer.