5/31/24, 11:50 PM Suba people (Kenya) - Wikipedia

Suba people (Kenya)

The Suba (Abasuba) are a heterogeneous Bantu group of
Abasuba
people in Kenya with an amalgamation of clans drawn from
their main tribes Ganda people, Luhya people, and Soga who Total population
speak the Suba language that is closely similar to the Ganda 157,787[1]
language spare some lexical items borrowed from [[Luo.[2][3] Regions with significant
Their population is estimated at 157,787, with substantial populations
fluent speakers. They migrated to Kenya from Uganda and Kenya
settled on the two Lake Victoria islands of Rusinga and
Languages
Mfangano, others also settled on the mainland areas including
Gembe, Gwassi, Kaksingri of Suba South and Migori and are Kisuba • Kiswahili
believed to be the last tribe to have settled in Kenya. The Religion
immigrants to present-day Subaland trace their ancestry African Traditional Religion •
among Ganda people, Luhya people, Soga people, and the Luo Christianity
people. The evidence supporting this is the fact that some Suba
Related ethnic groups
groups speak languages similar to Luganda, Lusoga and the
Luhya. The Suba groups tracing ancestry among the Kenyan Luhya, Bagisu, Suba-Simbiti
tribes preceded those groups from Uganda in present-day
Subaland and are the numerous and influential ones. Those groups from Uganda are mostly
concentrated in Rusinga and Mfangano islands with small pockets of them being found in mainland
Kenya. Linguistically, the Suba are highly influenced by the neighbouring Luo, to the point of a
language shift having taken place among large portions of the mainland Suba. As a result, their own
language has been classified as endangered.[4] Despite this language shift, the Suba have kept a
distinct ethnic identity. The Rusinga Festival is held in December of every year as a cultural festival
to celebrate and preserve Suba culture and language.[5]

A community cultural festival known as Rusinga Island Cultural, Religious and Arts Festival
popularly known as RICRAF is an annual community event which celebrates the cultural heritage
of the indigenous Abasuba peoples of Rusinga Island, celebrates the island's archeological
significance and gives the islanders a platform to showcase cultural arts and industry.

The Abagirango (Suna Girango) is another group that is usually erroneously grouped together with
the Abasuba of Suba South and Suba North, since they also call themselves Abasuba. But, this is
because Girango had a son named Musuba (Suba) and this Musuba had many children than his
other brothers, for instance, Tegi and Gire hence descendants of Musuba calling themselves
Abasuba meaning Musuba's people. Suba clans in Suna include Simbete, Sweta, and Wiga; and they
have a clear and distinct ancestry that goes back to forefathers who crossed red Sea from Misri as
illustrated below:

Ragwe<--Siora<--Montheya<--Girango<--Musubaabs

Their language is also distinct and very different from the Olusuba language spoken by the
Abasuba of Homa Bay County. The Suna people speak the Ekisuba/Egesuba language which is the
same language spoken by their brothers the Suba people (Tanzania). Currently, those who claim to

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speak Ekisuba actually speak igikuria (bunchari dialect) which is the same language as the
Ekisuba/Egesuba spare the name difference.

General Information
There are also people in Tanzania (Tarime, Musoma and Rorya Districts, Mara Region) who call
themselves Suba, and are part of the Abagirango since their language and cultural heritage is the
same.[6]

The Suba people who settled on the islands include smaller clans called the Eluzinga or'Chula',
meaning the people of the islands. This group includes the following clans: Waware, Awakiwanga
(Kaswanga), Wanyama, Waregi, Awamasengere (Kamasengere), Wasaki and Awangoze (Ngodhe),
while others were called the Awibuang'ano/Awaivuang'ano (Mfangano/Fang'ano). This group
includes Wakula, Wasamo, Wagimbe, Wiramba who are related to Awakiimba (Kakiimba),
Awisokolwa and Waozi. Other groups also poured into Mfangano due to the pressure from
advancing Luos in Central Nyanza especially in areas around Imbo Naya. They settled in Mfangano
and they include; Wayokia, Wakisasi/Awakisori, Wakiara/Wakiala. Others include Kamreri,
Kayanja and Waondo who are found in Mirunda Gembe Suba North. Other clans began forming
when the people did much more expansion onto the islands. For example, there are other clans
whose clan names were distinguished by their new geographic location.

The clan that predominantly lives the closest to Lake Victoria and is the bigger of the sub groups is
the people that go by the name Awigassi or Gwasii and they happen to reside upon the Gwasii Hills,
Gwassi and Wakula are related since their forefathers Kiboye and Witewe were brothers before
escaping to the east after a revolt in the Bagandan Kingdom in the year 1700. Waware were also
involved in this struggle. Other groups that reside on a hill are the Uregi who reside on the Uregi
Hills of Meari which is a town in the Nyanza province as well as Awangoe residing in the Ungoe
Hills. The Awakune or Kaksingri clan live along the lake from Gingo to a small fishing village called
Sindo to Ragwe and Ngeri, and they are closely related with Uregi who live in the Uregi Hills since
their forefathers came from the same home. Today many people in the islands and the highlands
subsequent to Lake Victoria still retain the original Suba dialect that is the Olusuba that is closely
related to the Ganda language, and Lusoga although it is heavily influenced by the bigger Dholuo
and Kuria in some areas through interaction. As a result of that interaction, the Olusuba has
borrowed a significant amount of lexical items from Dholuo and Kuria that were absent in the
original Luganda-like Olusuba dialect.

Further information upon the tribesmen's expansion remained unclear pretty unclear considering
that the Niger-Congo family has the largest number of dialects within Africa. Distinguishing the
different dialects become rather difficult because they all predominantly use the noun class system.
With that being said it has become rather unclear as to how deep into Kenya the Suba people
managed to travel being as distinguishing them from other dialects becomes harder and harder as
the language is slowly being influenced by its neighboring language, Luo. Suba scholars have taken
the initiative to rewrite the History and more information is now available.

Other Suba speakers are found in the Southern shores of the Lake in Muhuru Bay. They are
generally called Muhuhuru People and they also speak the Suba language. Some pockets of Uregi,
Gwassi, and Kaksingri are also found in Muhuru Bay in Migori county.

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Even the greater Suna people who based in Migori county usually identify themselves as Suba and
are linguistically and culturally distinct and are unconnected to the Abasuba from Suba district. The
Suna people are a heterogeneous group that comprises Luo and splinter tribes from the Kuria. The
Suna have however integrated clans originally part of the Olusuba speaking Suba such as Waware,
Wiga and Kaswanga into their various sub-groups. The Suna people are the Abagirango or Girango
people who call themselves Abasuba because Girango had a son named Musuba (Suba) and not
because they are related to the Olusuba speaking Suba of Homa Bay County who are descended of
migrants from Buganda and Busoga that entered Kenya through Rusinga and Mfangano Islands by
boats.

However, the correct name for the Suna people is ABAGIRANGO although they are referenced as
Suna/Suba-Girango to distinguish them from the Olusuba speaking Suba of Homa Bay County who
are distinct in terms of heritage from the Abagirango. The term Suba was originally used by Luos to
refer to splinter tribes from their main tribes of Kisii, Kuria and Luhya and the term later became
the name of the Olusuba speaking people of Homa Bay County who migrated from Uganda escaping
the expansion of the Buganda Kingdom. They settled in Kenya as refugees and they had a well
formed and a very organised language, political system and economic activities. The Suba in Suna
Migori County, Kenya refers to a heterogeneous people of Luo, and Kuria. A clear evidence of this is
a town named Suba Kuria in Migori County, Kenya. The Suna Abasuba include the Wasweta
(Kadika, Katiga, Kakrao,), Wasimbete (Bahiri kiberi, Bahiri ng'ong'o, bahiri Nkena, Miaro, Nchogu)
and Wiga (Wakwena, Nyasasi, Wanje, Nyathocho, Kamsuru).

Their original language is Ekisuba/Egesuba which has several dialects such as sweta, simbiti, surwa,
kine, etc. Currently, they speak a language that includes a combination of Kisuba and Egikuria
language – that is the bunchari dialect, and many of the communities interact freely with the Suba
people in Tanzania (Surwa, Sweta, Simbiti, Hacha, Nguruimi, Kine etc.) and the Kuria (Rianchoka,
Banchari, Batimbaru etc.) people. Clans of Suna people; Wasweta, Kadika, Wiga, Wanje, Katiga,
Kakaeta, Kanyameda, Wasimbete, Wakwera, Wanyara, Kamn'go'ngo

2010.

Culture
The culture of the Suba People is very distinct from those of the Luo. The Suba people practice
circumcision as an initiation process from boyhood to adulthood. Mostly boys are circumcised. In
some clans, even girls are circumcised. Suna Girango circumcision process is very similar to their
neighbors the kuria even the saro names, for instance, Nginaro, Misungu, Gitang'osa, Kirina, etc.

Clans had roles assigned to them such as circumcision, animals sacrifices and dispute settlements.

Subas were also involved in rain Making sacrifices such as animal sacrifices to appease the gods and
clan spirits called Emisambwa singular Omusambwa in Suba District. These were carried out in
special shrines which can still be found across Suba such as Utende, Kwitutu, Mungusa and Kiboye
Shrines. Subas also revered snakes such as the Python and they believed that Clan spirit dwelled
amongst them. An example is given of the spirit of Gumba in Rusinga and Mungusa of Kaksingri.

Dowry included 30heads of Cattle but this also depends upon the purity of the lady to be married.
A lady with a child would attract lower number of heads of cattle. Her age mates would accompany
her with songs to her new home and celebrate. Alcohol made from Sorghum and Cassava was
served as a form of celebration. Ladies also decorated their tummy with special drawings.

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During funerals there were gifted elders who would carry Engawvo a type of shield and a long spear
and Chant around the homestead while adorned with twigs.

Suba people also practiced rock art as witnessed in the caves of Kwitone in Gulwe Mfangano.

The Suba people are cattle farmers- a culture that they borrowed from the Luos. Even though the
Luo no longer keep large herds of cattle, the Suba still keep cattle in large numbers. This is
especially common in Migori District in Suba west division where cattle rustling between Kurians
and Girango people is common. Subas also loved sport fishing where there was a special species
they went for. The Abasuba also commonly practice polygamy, some of the members of the clan
are named to have had even ten wives.

Language barrier
One of the biggest issues relating to the Suba language declination is the sole fact that Kenya
viewed the language as inferior. The education system is teaching English and Luo to the newer
generations of Suba children thus impairing the possibilities of the language to come back.[7 ] Some
even say that the fluent language speakers are middle-aged and have yet to establish a system to
rebuild the language so that it may take proper footing as one of Africa's many languages, thus it
has established a language status of at risk. Many blame the elders as they do not take proper
measures to ensure the language's existence by teaching their young ones from an early onset. The
biggest concern deriving from the pressures of reviving the language is the fear that their children
will begin to build an identity crisis while attending school, considering that it is taught in either
English or Luo.[8]

Other than the Rusinga Festival, one of the most recent efforts to preserve the dying language has
been the production of a Bible in Suba.[9] Efforts to translate the Bible into Suba started as early as
1988, but it was only completed in 2011.

Notable Suba people

Tom Mboya
Mbadi John Ng'ongo, politician
Ezekiel Odero, televangelist
Philip Ochieng, journalist[10]
Millie Odhiambo, politician[11]
John Henry Okwanyo, politician

S.F. Onyango Mbeo, politician

Michael George Okeyo, ambassador

Further reading
Silvery, Ochola Gaa. 2015 'In Search of the Abasuba Identity 'African People
Jenkins, Orville Boyd. (January 1997). The Suba of Kenya and Tanzania—A Cultural Profile. (n.d.).
http://strategyleader.org/profiles/suba.html
Johnson, Steven L. 1980 'Production, Exchange, and Economic Development Among the Luo-
Abasuba of Southwestern Kenya.' Unpublished PhD Dissertation, Department of Anthropology,
Indiana University.

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Johnson, Steven L. 1983 'Social Investment in a Developing Economy: Position-holding in

Western Kenya.' Human Organization 42(4): 340–46.
Johnson, Steven L. 1979 'Changing Patterns of Maize Utilization in Western Kenya.' Studies in
Third World Societies 8: 37–56.
Johnson, Steven L. 1988 'Ideological Dimensions of Peasant Persistence in Western Kenya.' in
New Perspectives on Social Class and Socioeconomic Development in the Periphery,' ed.
Nelson W. Keith & Novell Zett Keith, New York: Greenwood Press.
News From Africa. (April 2002). Languages: Living on borrowed time. (n.d.).
http://www.newsfromafrica.org/newsfromafrica/articles/art_7865.html
Okoth-Okombo, Duncan (1999) 'Language and ethnic identity: the case of the Abasuba', Kenya
Journal of Sciences (Series C, Humanities and Social Sciences) 5, 1, 21–38.
Heine, Bernd & Brenzinger, Mathias (eds.) (2003) 'Africa', in UNESCO Red Book of Endangered
Languages. (Suba entry (https://archive.today/20130113101636/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.p
hp-URL_ID=10478&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html))
Otieno Apiyo Caspar-Nursing and public health student Kenyatta University 2012–2016- Tujifunze
Lugha yetu (TLY) a book written in Abasuba and translated in Kiswahili.
Otieno, Jeff. (November 2010). Extinction of languages in East Africa worries Unesco. (n.d.).
https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/-/434746/1056140/-/item/1/-/ttugthz/-/index.html
Shetler, Jan Bender. (September 2010). Historical memory as a foundation for peace: Network
formation and ethnic identity in North Mara, Tanzania. (n.d.).
http://jpr.sagepub.com/content/47/5/639.abstract

See also
Rusinga Cultural Festival
Tom Mboya
Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania
Baganda

References
1. "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-
Economic Characteristics" (https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=2019-kenya-population-and-housin
g-census-volume-iv-distribution-of-population-by-socio-economic-characteristics&wpdmdl=5730&
ind=7HRl6KateNzKXCJaxxaHSh1qe6C1M6VHznmVmKGBKgO5qIMXjby1XHM2u_swXdiR).
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
2. Ayot, H. Okello (1979). A History of the Luo-Abasuba of Western Kenya: From A.D. 1760-1940
(https://books.google.com/books?id=K9JAAAAAYAAJ). Kenya Literature Bureau.
3. Jenkins, Dr. Orville Boyd. "The Suba of Kenya and Tanzania -- A Cultural Profile" (http://strategylea
der.org/profiles/suba.html). strategyleader.org. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
4. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Mfangano-Rusinga Island Complex - UNESCO World
Heritage Centre" (https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5502/). whc.unesco.org. Retrieved
21 January 2018.
5. "Rusinga festival sets island alight - PHOTOS" (https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Rusinga-festival-set
s-island-alight/1056-4241320-dr34mu/index.html). Daily Nation. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
6. Jenkins, Dr. Orville Boyd. "The Suba of Kenya and Tanzania -- A Cultural Profile" (http://strategylea
der.org/profiles/suba.html). strategyleader.org. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
7. Otieno, Jeff, "Extinction of languages in East Africa worries Unesco" (https://www.theeastafrican.c
o.ke/magazine/-/434746/1056140/-/item/0/-/ttugtiz/-/index.html), The East African, Nov. 2010

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8. Muindi, Matthias, "Languages: living on borrowed time" (http://www.newsfromafrica.org/newsfrom

africa/articles/art_7865.html), News from Africa, Apr. 2002
9. The Standard. "Abasuba New Testament finally out" (https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/200
0033458/abasuba-new-testament-finally-out). Kenya. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
10. "OCHIENG: History will drive tribalists to extinction" (https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/History
-will-drive-tribalists--to-extinction/440808-951478-12c9b5o/index.html). Daily Nation. Retrieved
21 January 2018.
11. "Extinction of languages in East Africa worries Unesco" (https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazin
e/-/434746/1056140/-/item/1/-/ttugthz/-/index.html). The East African. Retrieved 21 January 2018.

General references
Amadi Allela student at the Technical University of Kenya. www.twitter.com/allela_amadi

External links
Did you know Suba is at risk? (n.d.). http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/4789

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