I Attempted to Speak the 17 Luhya Languages of Kenya: Do They Really Belong Together?

Рет қаралды 2,174

11 ай бұрын

So, how vast do the Luhya speaking people in Kenya stretch? You have heard the term 'Luhya nation' and have probably been wondering how big the said nation is. Well, in this video, I attempt to speak the 17 Luhya languages as we talk about them to see how related they are, linguistically. Do they deserve to be grouped under the same tribe? Do they have a unifying dialect? Let's find out.
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Check out my other videos on this channel here: / @luhyalanguageandculture
Check out my other videos on this channel here: / @luhyalanguageandculture
Examining The Many Luhya Subtribes: Do They Really Belong Together? #luhyalanguage #kenyantribes
Luhya language and culture

Пікірлер: 70

@kerinkellynerdcorner 10 ай бұрын

Hello 👋 I am an American of North/West/East African ancestry. And my East African Ancestry is mostly Luhya🎉🎉It has taken me 55 years to find my people 🥹🧬So Yes, I have joined, or Subscribed to your channel.🤗 I have so much to learn dear Sister! And I will spend up to the very last of my days reconnecting to the Diversity and Languages of our people. I am so grateful and proud 🥹 🙌🏼🙌🏽🙌🏾🙌🏿

@washburn182 10 ай бұрын

@kerinkellynerdcorner, welcome long-lost kin. We are hiding out in the western region of Kenya. Very proud and culture rich people, the Luyha are. Same language with diverse accents just like in America

@luhyalanguageandculture 10 ай бұрын

Hello Kerin, welcome aboard. Please excuse my late welcome. It’s good to have you here as part of us. It’s never to late to learn a new language and find your way home😊

@edilahluvisi3066 4 ай бұрын

There are not 17 there are either 18 or 21

@isaacmtange3460 24 күн бұрын

Iam a luhya from vihiga iam a maragoli thank you for the insght

@isaacmtange3460 24 күн бұрын

And bukura

@aggreykadima1155 Ай бұрын

Marama similar to kisa and wanga. My experience, marama is softer and slower. Wanga (my dialect) is kinda faster and rougher in pronunciation. My opinion.

@omarsakwa-zs2zy 7 ай бұрын

Congrats nekesa....sakwa from busia 🇰🇪 Kenya

@luhyalanguageandculture 7 ай бұрын

Thank you Sakwa

@fanfullenambani25 11 ай бұрын

Most Luhya subtribes dialects are similar, only pronunciation, intonation etc is different with exception of the Bukusu Language which is abit too native or distinct.

@marumbuc.akayange1499 3 ай бұрын

Maragoli also sounds distant from the rest. Closer to Kiganda

@doctormun3621 26 күн бұрын

I'm waiting for the time when AI will understand all these differences

@indayamulembe 11 ай бұрын

I hold the opinion that luyia people belong together and what unites luyias is the language notwithstanding their differences. Language difference is common:Like English, we have British, American, Canadian, and Australian versions of English, so the language unites all these English men. Examples in British what is called an apartment, becomes a flat in the USA.Totally different altogether. The foot path in the UK becomes pavement in the USA, the same scenario among the abaluyia:baba among abamarachi becomes tata among kina Haggai Isanya. The problem is that the luyia is nolonger taught in schools otherwise we would be understanding each other well.There's a saying"LUYIA IS RICH"this is because of these many vocabularies. Luyias shouldn't be borrowing vocabularies from luos because they have more than enough.

@luhyalanguageandculture 11 ай бұрын

Sure thing! Luhya is indeed rich. And the fact that it's not taught in school must be the reason some of it's dialects don't understand each other. It can be tough trying to learn a language that nobody sat you down to teach you it's rules like we are taught English and Swahili in school. So we just speak what we found people speaking. Great obseravation.

@washburn182 11 ай бұрын

With an ambassador like you educating us, we now discover the words you hear Luyhas speak that sound so different are actually not that different. Words like Lira Liange in Marachi, in Maragoli we say Lita Liange. When you sound out "Lira" in Marachi I can detect a hidden "t" in there. That is where the maragoli's get the Lita. 'Zunguza' I think is universal in Vihiga and Kakamega subtribes (I stand corrected). Doreen, your channel is very necessary and very educational, especially words comparison. I have learned so much. By the way, the Maragoli say Umulina for friend, and 'Noho' for Or

@luhyalanguageandculture 11 ай бұрын

You have educated me me for sure. I learn everyday. For instance, I didn't know the Maragoli say Lita liange like the samia and Nyala. Also the word Noho is common among the Wanga and other Luhyas of Kakamega. Through such videos, I'm surely learning what I didn't know.

@kimsaarunga989 10 ай бұрын

IN LULOGOLI R IS T..MURWE MUTWE, LIRA LITA

@luhyalanguageandculture 10 ай бұрын

@@kimsaarunga989 same to samia

@ogana_M 17 күн бұрын

@@kimsaarunga989 . Just like in my language Samia.

@washburn182 11 ай бұрын

Doreen, I think we have more in common than we are different. You are cherry-picking and emphasizing the few words that differ among us. We definitely understand each other. Contradicting you a little, I think the more we talk to each other the more we understand each other. Like someone mentioned in the comments, the English language for example, has many variations, you just have to concentrate on what's being relayed. Like the commentor said, a flat in England is an apartment in North America. You catch up quickly. Take Americans for example, people in the northeast have a completely different accent from those in the Midwest and west. Those in the south, forget about it, you have to be around them for a little while before you can catch on. They sound like they are talking a different language, but it's English. Proximity- as a Maragolian, I don't have any issues understanding a Bunyore, Tiriki, Isukha, Idakho and other subtribes in Kakamega. I went to Musingu high school for about a year, where there was a good representation of all the subtribes. We all spoke Luyha at times and we understood each other with little to no issues. Listening to you talk, I don't think I would have trouble with the Marachi dialect either. They are practically the same words; we just sometimes write and pronounce them differently.

@owinomakochieng828 11 күн бұрын

The moment you'll strike a 20 minutes conversation with a Bukusu gentleman without English/Swahili intervention then I'll take your position seriously. Hon. Mudavadi and Hon. Wetangula communicate with one another in English or Swahili not because it is so cool.

@washburn182 11 күн бұрын

@@owinomakochieng828 Right off jump, ofcourse not. Mudavadi does not hang out with Bukusus, and Wetangula does not hang out with Maragolians. English/Swahili are languages of convenient. I can almost guarantee Mudavadi also speaks English/Swahili to other Maragolians. I went to school with Bukusus, it was difficult at jump, but after a while we communicated. They are Luyha languages, we just pronounce words alittle differently, eventually you catch on. It's not like when I hear Bukusus talk I could confuse them with Luos or even Kikuyus for that matter

@owinomakochieng828 11 күн бұрын

@@washburn182 You may have a point. But, Kibukusu and Kimaragoli are very different and not just in pronunciation aka accent. I am fluent in Lubukusu and my better half is a Maragoli. I understand most Luhya dialects and know very well that linguistically, Bukusu and Maragoli are distant just the way they are distant geographically. Some decades ago, there was a football team called Abaluhya and another one called Maragoli in the Kenya national football league, for a reason.

@nakimowaingo 11 ай бұрын

Representing the batura 🥰🥰

@luhyalanguageandculture 11 ай бұрын

Batura in the house. Yaaaay Nakimo!

@robertodundo2269 7 ай бұрын

What about karie?

@indayamulembe 11 ай бұрын

On elusive luyia unity, I think it's because of their own confusion and has nothing to do with sub tribes. Kalenjins comprises of 8 sub tribes that don't understand each other, but they always have a common stand on issues. Kule Pwani mijikenda-9 subtribes na wameungana.Luyias are just their own enemies.Disunity normally starts at home:same family members but they don't see each other eye to eye anyways 😑 story for another day but luyia in general is a community!luyia nation exists.

@luhyalanguageandculture 11 ай бұрын

Hapo pa confusion ndo nimekwama. Kuna kaukweli mahali.

@chikondiclement 11 ай бұрын

Get the point Acha makasiriko😂

@josephkarani9773 11 ай бұрын

Thankyou for your research on luhya words. Now my question to you is this, according to you, who do you think qualifies to be called Luhya ? And also ,why do we have some words like Mwana spread to kikuyu Lingala, kamba ?

@luhyalanguageandculture 11 ай бұрын

I think mwana spreads across because Luhya, Kamba, Kikuyu. and Lingala belong to the Bantu group.

@robertodundo2269 7 ай бұрын

All languages including English and Kiswahili have dialects some of which are very unintegible. Only standardisation can bridge the gup.

@edwinsiboe9003 11 ай бұрын

Mayi kechile

@edilahluvisi3066 4 ай бұрын

In maragoli up is mwikulu

@applicative.monad. 6 ай бұрын

Shared language(or even ancestry) is not a requirement to identify as an ethnic group. If people see themselves as belonging an ethnic group, that is enough. Luhya identity is a bit like Kenyan identity, but more organic, because most of them have shared culture, ancenstry, kinship, history, languages etc. Luhya languages can be divided into 3 or 4 groupings. Within each grouping the different dialects are highly intelligble. Dialects outside the group, are less intelligible, but still intelligible to a high degree. The groups roughly align with Busia(Marachi, Khayo Samia), Kakamega(Idaho, Isukha etc), Bungoma(Bukusu, Tachoni) and Vihiga. Maragoli are the outlier in terms of intelligibility with the other dialects. But they are Luhya, because the other Luhya are their closest relatives and they see themselves as Luhya.

@luhyalanguageandculture 6 ай бұрын

Great analysis

@herbertosawo7691 9 ай бұрын

Nyore chifwa.

@aggreykadima1155 Ай бұрын

Nomba, kose, namwe

@edwinsiboe9003 11 ай бұрын

Bukusu owefwe

@edilahluvisi3066 4 ай бұрын

In maragoli name is rita

@robertodundo2269 7 ай бұрын

What about karie?

@cleopatramansa6228 2 ай бұрын

Would you like to do Luhyia and Chichewa of Malawi?

@luhyalanguageandculture 2 ай бұрын

Hi Cleopatra, pardon my late response to your comment. Oh yes! I would love to do Luhya and Chichewa of Malawi. That would be so much fun.

@herbertosawo7691 9 ай бұрын

Banyore vegetable is chifwa

@luhyalanguageandculture 9 ай бұрын

Chifwa. Wow! So it's not far from tsifwa. In fact they're almost similar

@user-ro6gc4eo5d 4 ай бұрын

What about the Bamasaba 😭😭 you didn’t mention us 😢

@user-ro6gc4eo5d 4 ай бұрын

My point exactly 😢

@luhyalanguageandculture 4 ай бұрын

Oooh this is so unfortunate that I completely forgot about the Masaba. I don’t know why most texts about Luhya subtribes forget the Masaba. I will surely include you in my next video. It wasn’t intentional

@marthakay2100 9 ай бұрын

Hey! You've not mentioned the fact that there are Basamia in Uganda with same dialects 😂

@luhyalanguageandculture 9 ай бұрын

Sure thing, there are Samias in Uganda. In fact some call them Luhyas. Hehe

@br.gabriel5746 8 ай бұрын

Omuluhya mwene ... Omshisa, namwiru ebhmasee are the pure Luhyas. Just like the Kalenjins, Mijikendas and the rest. we are many but one.

@luhyalanguageandculture 8 ай бұрын

Uli omshisa? We are indeed many but one.

@br.gabriel5746 8 ай бұрын

@@luhyalanguageandculture Orio.

@thebenedict269 7 ай бұрын

Yes we luyias we so subdivided no wonder we second to kikuyu population wise but not united at all. It is so interesting even here in USA you’ll find us luyias meeting somewhere but we speak Swahili so as to understand each other. It is kinda embarrassing.

@aggreykadima1155 Ай бұрын

My honest opinion, marachi is hybrid of wanga and khayo.

@mwashibenard2280 8 ай бұрын

Bhatirichi we speak Lutirich

@luhyalanguageandculture 8 ай бұрын

You're a real Omutirichi indeed

@davidgenesis5848 Ай бұрын

I am Samia and I find Samia and Luhya are the almost the same😂

@cleopatramansa6228 2 ай бұрын

You forgot Abanyala- they say oche

@luhyalanguageandculture 2 ай бұрын

Ooh yes! Abanyala. Oche! Oli Omnyala?

@edwinsiboe9003 11 ай бұрын

Ekhafu not ekafu

@imman_ke 5 ай бұрын

The nyala is oche, written ojie

@imman_ke 5 ай бұрын

I mean for salamu

@luhyalanguageandculture 5 ай бұрын

This is enlightening. I didn't the spelling differs from pronunciation. Thank you!

@edwinsiboe9003 11 ай бұрын

Kumubano bukusu tachoni esilotwa

@Omwami-lc4dd 2 ай бұрын

Baby find for me a beautiful wife from luhya community

@okalocornel807 9 ай бұрын

Good work, Nekesa but you need to do a little more research so that you speak with authority. For instance, it's important to know that there's a lingua Franca among the 17 dialects. I speak Oluwanga and it's understood across the board. The base Luhya is formed by about five of the dialects, namely, wanga, marama, shisa, tsotso, marachi. These 5 form almost 95% of the Luhya vocabulary. It's also important to note that Luhya dialects can be divided into about 3 major categories: Kakamega dialects are majorly intelligible, Lulogoli is modified Lwitakho, the vocabulary is similar but with different pronunciation, 2. Bukusu and navakholo luñyala form another category 3. Busia dialects Generally speaking all dialects are one language which should be understood in context. You can't know all words of any language but the meaning comes from the usage in a sentence

@luhyalanguageandculture 9 ай бұрын

Your analysis is commendable indeed and very sensible. I would love to know exactly where people conduct such research because, from experience, some of these information is very limited in terms of where to look. That is why most of my videos, I present from my knowledge and the limited information I manage to stumble on. Tell me more.

@edilahluvisi3066 4 ай бұрын

Luhya is not very different

@kimsaarunga989 10 ай бұрын

HEHE WHAT YOU DONT KNOW IS ALSO THE KIKUYUS SPEAK DIFFRENT LANGUAGES WITHIN THEMSLEVES.THE KIKUYU IN KIAMBU IS DIFFRENT FROM THE KIKUYU IN NYERI, EMBU, KIRINYAGA ETC.EVEN THE KAMBAS LUO KALENJIN MIJIKENDA ETC. THE WAY THEY DONT KNOW THE INNER LINGUISTIC DYNAMIC AMONG LUHYAS IS THE SAME WAY WE DONT KNOW ABOUT THEM AND THINK THAT THEY SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE.;UHYA LANGUAGES ARE SIMILAR BUT WITH DIFFERENT PRONUNCIATIONS. AMACHI, AMATSI, MURWE MUTWE