ABANYALA BA KAKAMEGA


Abanyala ba Kakamega: Names of grass species.

Abanyala ba Kakamega have names for various grass species found within their environment.
    TYPES OF GRASS IN OLUNYALA (K).
    The following are the  names of the variousgrass species known among the Abanyala ba Kakamega.
    1. Amakata- phragmite karka. Used by children in making flutes.
    2. Amakale makhasi- sorghum arundinaceum 
    3. Amakale masacha-Hyperrhenia rufa, cymbaria 
    4. Amasakhwe
    5. Amasinde- refer to owukusinde.
    6. Amatware- bead reeds. Found near rivers.
    7. Ebaye nawule- eleusine indica. 
    8. Ebisera-
    9. Emuli- echinochloa pyramidalis or antelope grass. Good for house making. House made from these were held in high esteem. 
    10. Esikabembe-
    11. Esikondi-
    12. Esikondo- chloris goyana or rhodes grass. 
    13. Esipwoyo- Bothriochloa insculpta
    14. Esiyeri- brachiaria brizantha 
    15. Namawo- pennisetum polystachion
    16. Nasiwumbu- chloris roxybarghiana
    17. Olubembe- imperata cylindrica 
    18. Olubindu- Sporobolus pyramidalis. The root is used in the treatment ear problems, swelling on skin and boil. The leaves also help to stop bleeding from cuts. 
    19. Olukhafwa- star grass 
    20. Olukhalasi- rollboellia cochinchinensis 
    21. Olumbuku- digitaria scalarum 
    22. Olung'eresi- leersia hexandra 
    23. Olupwoyo- bothrichloa insculpta
    24. Olusanyi- panicum maximum
    25. Olusere- swamp reeds  
    26. Olusesirari- phragmite karka.
    27. Olusiaka- penniselum purpureum
    28. Olusinyande- seleria incrassata 
    29. Olutiro- coix laryma-jobi
    30. Olwendo- salaria sphacealata 
    31. Olukuku- pycreus nitidus 
    32. Oluwonga- thatching grass of Hyperrherna pilgerana ssp. 
    33. Oluyiambo- papyrus reeds. Used for making baskets and eyiambo (jambi)
    34. Omwoka- Cyperus kyllingiella, Kyllinga alba
    35. Olumunyi- Echinochloa pyramidalis
    36. Omuchuwa- Water reed used to make traditional salt called omunyu omufume
    37. Omutombwe- Typha Latifolia.
    38. Oweywe- laudetia kagerensi 
    39. Owuchale-
    40. Owukondi- planted in lawns
    41. Owukusinde- cymbopogon nardus. Mostly used for making brooms, sieving milk and snakebite antidotes 
    42. Owusubangira- eragroslus curvula 
    43. Owusuuna- crabgrass. 
       
    44. Owutikhi- Themeda triandra
    45. M

    USES OF GRASS
    1. Grass as animal feed- cattle, goat, sheep's, donkeys and goats fed extensively on grass.
    2. Grass for medicine- most grass species were good in treating skin deseases, stamachache and wading off evil spirits.
    3. Grass for building- thatching of houses was done using specific varieties of grass.
    4. Grass for sitting on- good compound lawn were made from specific grass.
    5. Grass for making household items- ropes, head rings, bedding, hats and other household items were made from grass.
    6. Grass for fire- setting up fire started with the use of grass..

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