20/11/2025
Luhyaland superstitions 101,
When leaving homestead for the day activities that are full of anxiety, Luhya people held some superstitions vividly, some that I learnt at an early age, mostly from my mum, ridiculous as they sounded they were adhered to in so many quarters religiously so. Here are some that I can remember;
1. When you're ready to leave and outside the door, if you meet a man, you're half lucky if you don't greet him, more so by hand, but if you happen to meet a woman, go back and pray then get out. If you've met no one, voila! It's gonna be a great day!
2. If you meet a cat, throw cursewords at it to remove bad omen on your way
3. If it's at night and you meet or spot a leopard, you've been sent protection by gods, no one or anything will harm you.
4. Still at night you spot an owl perched at any tree in the homestead, someone is going to die very soon amongst people you know.
5. If you spot a snake, your ancestors are looking for your ear for something
6. If one stumbled it was very bad omen, moreso with his left foot.
7. And in the event one stumbled on his right foot twice in succession, he would return home.
8. If one stumbled with both feet in succession, it meant that two different troubles were in store.
9. If upon leaving home you started sneezing and there was a sick person you were visiting, it meant that the person will heal from their sickness on your visit
10. If your palm was itching someone you were planning to visit is yearning to see you and mentioning it
11. If you left homestead to visit and the chicken in shimwero escaped to the open, that was a bad omen
12. If you were delivering a cow(s) as bride price and they defecated before reaching the destination that was a bad omen for the looming marriage and required cleansing
Which ones have you heard of or know of?
