rethinking_relationships:researchers:antony_njoroge|Antony Njoroge<\/a><\/span><\/p>* Object name:<\/span> beer drinking straw * Reference No:<\/span> 6.12.65\/76 * Cultural group:<\/span> Luhya * Local name:<\/span> lusekhe * Material:<\/span> reed, raffia<\/p>Comments<\/h3><\/p>
This is a straw made from bamboo reeds and is used to drink busaa<\/span> traditional beer). Busaa<\/span> is drunk from a communal pot during circumcision, marriage, dowry payment, and funerals, among other occasions. It plays an important role in the traditional Luhya cultures. It is prepared from maize meal and finger millet fermented over a period of two weeks.<\/p>The lusekhe<\/span> is made of long curved tubes made from reed and covered with decorative raffia plaiting. The distal end is provided with a strainer of raffia. After fermentation, Busaa<\/span> contains a considerable amount of coarse particles originating from the maize meal and finger millet malt. These are usually removed prior to consumption by straining. Traditionally, this is achieved using filters which have been attached to lusekhe<\/span> through which the beer is sucked from a pot. Using such straws, a group of people, sometimes as many as 60, drink from the same pot of busaa<\/span>.<\/p>These communal beer parties were social gathering opportunities which were vital in maintaining social solidarity or ritual restoration among the various Luhya communities. Hence, it was rare for anyone to drink alone without inviting friends or relatives.<\/p>
The beer was poured in a pot which was placed at the centre of the seated group. Men sat around this pot in a circular pattern and inserted their drinking straws in it. Since they gathered around and drunk from the same pot, this was a good example of their solidarity. And, as they continued siphoning, the beer level in the pot was kept optimum by the host's wife who dispensed more beer to maintain the alcoholic content and hot water to warm it appropriately upon request.<\/p>
As these men drunk the beer, they also shared their daily life experiences and some of their family or clan problems. And, any person who had problems in his household expressed his views for appropriate advice and decisions. On such occasions, a man with unbecoming moral character was admonished accordingly. In fact, if one was suspected and proved to be adulterous this was one of the occasions whereby errant men were reprimanded and warned to desist from their evil deeds and encouraged to practice fidelity. Thus busaa<\/span> drinking did not only provide an occasion for entertainment, but, also an opportunity for learning and acquiring the expected communal norms.<\/p>There were some rules to be followed while using lusekhe<\/span>. For example, nothing should also be passed on top of lusekhe<\/span>. If for example you wish to hand a jacket to someone sitted deep inside the house, you will hand it to the person right at the door, he will then pass it to the next person under the straw like that till it gets to the owner. This is done this way to avoid someone from mischievously poisoning the beer.<\/p>Among the Batsotso subtribe, the king was buried in the grave with a small pot of beer with a drinking straw going to the king’s mouth.<\/p>"
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