You're an Animal!! Part One: On the Boma

On the average Luhya boma (homestead/compound/place where all the sons and their fams live cozied up to Mama) you will find a bizzunch of smelly critters. All for use of some kind, even if it only seems as lawnmowers. Let's start at the top, with the bigg'uns and work our way down, shall we? Let's.

Mooooooo... Moooooo.... MOOOOO... Have a cow, man! Cows, "ngombe" in Swahili, are on almost every single boma around. They are kept for milk, and almost never used for meat, as the things cost some 10,000/= and no one has the refridgeration needed to store all that meat. There's two kinds: traditional and dairy. The traditionals are weird looking and called “zebu” - bony, big sharp horns and a floppy hump on the back of their neck. I don't have the slightest clue what that hump does, so... yea. The dairy cows are more what you see when you think 'cow'. Well, not really the black and whites, but the shapes the same, ya know? Trads are cheaper, but don't give nearly as much milk. Maybe only a few cups a day. Dairys give a few litres, so you can sell to your neighbors and make some cash - it's 10/= for a cup, 20/= for a bottle (maybe 1/2 litre?). Trads can eat Anything and will be taken out to graze, or mow the lawn. Dairys are snots, requiring napia grass, which is either bought or grown in the shamba. Also, as an fyi, cows like mango and banana peels, but not passion fruit rinds, cabbage, or pineapple. Store that away, just in case.

Next down from a cow is either the sheep or the goat. These aren't always around, and I think they are kept for meat, though the idea of goat milk is starting to build. I’m really curious about this one. Rumor is it’s healthier for humans than moo milk, but I think it’s a matter of taste. (B just told me that they sell camel milk at Nakumatt. I think he’s trying to get me to buy it, but, uh… No. Seriously, where the hell does camel milk come from?? Mum, Dad, stop reading this, I think it’s getting nasty.) Bl does an awesome mbuzi imitation, and now I laugh every time I pass one on the bush.

The sheep are totally ugly, with fatty tails that wag uncontrollably. They make weird noises, not baaaaas like you think. More like someone screaming. Kinda freaky, if you aren’t expecting them. And they are definitely are NOT for wool. Why would you have sheep and not get wool? These are the lawnmowers I was talking about.

Uhh... what’s next? Ah, yes, god, how could I forget?? CHICKENS!! Kuku, kuku, kuku!! The Luhyas luv these little guys. They’re everywhere. And most families bring the kukus in at night, to sleep in the house. When a visitor comes along, they race out to the yard and slaughter a kuku to show their appreciation. So, me, I’m really vocal about how I Don’t eat the kuku, so they don’t have to waste 200/= on a mzungu who won’t appreciate.

It’s damn entertaining, though, living in a land of beasts. Walk through the bush and BAAAAA, suddenly there’s a goat hollerin’ at ya. Or, you carry a stick to thwack the cows and move them out the way. It sure keeps the commute interesting!