Discuss the Political, Social and Economic Organization of the Abagusii Community ABAGUSII
They are a Bantu-speaking who originated in the Congo Forest which is presently known as the present day democratic Republic of Congo. They then settled in the fertile highlands of Kisii, Gucha and Nyamira Districts of Nyanza Province. The migration is believed to have been due to inter-group conflicts, food scarcity, overpopulation and soil for farming which was exhausted.
Political Organization Leadership at family lever rested in the lands of the family head. He settled disputes affecting members of his family. Clan elders handled cases involving different families and were headed by the most senior member of the leading family. He presided over serious matters affecting the clan.
A court settled disputes between two clans. It dealt with matters such as theft, murder, rape and disrespect to elders. Punishment includes fines in the form of goats or cows.
The Abagusii also had chiefdoms made up of several clans, which United to counter-attacks from their
neighbours. Each chiefdom was headed by a chief (Omugambi), assisted by a council of clan elders.
The elders acted as ‘middlemen’ through whom people could communicate their wishes and grievances to the chief. The position of the chief was hereditary.
The Omogambi served the interests of the community without favour or Prejudice. He led clan members in communal sacrifices and social activities such as the planting and harvesting of crops. He also performed political functions.
Social organization The Abagusii lived in family unit, headed by a family member, called the family head. Several related families formed a clan, headed by clan elders who formed a council. The role of the council of elders was to settle disputes between families.
A number of clans formed sub-communities headed by clan elders. All the sub-communities formed the Abagusii community. Whereas clan members were descendants of a common ancestor, sub-communities and the entire Abagusii community came from different ancestors.
The Abagusii were also organized into age groups and age-grades. An age-grade was made up of people who were circumcised together. Members of the same age-grade treated one another as real brothers and helped each other in times of need.
They believed in the existence of a supreme god, ‘engoro’ who was the creator of everything. They offered sacrifices to him during special occasions like initiation ceremonies and religions festivals and when there were problems like illness and draught. They worshipped him through their ancestral spirits.
Economic activities The Abagusii practiced crop farming. They grew many food crops including maize, sorghum, yams, peas, beans, millet, cassava, bananas and sweet potatoes.
They also kept livestock, cattle, goats and sheep were kept for meat and milk. They also kept poultry.
Trading was also a main economic activity among the Abagusii. They traded with their neighbours especially the Luo and the Abaluhya. The Luo supplied them with livestock, cattle, salt, hides, fish, drums, poison for arrows, spears and potatoes. In return, the Abagusii supplied the Luo with grain, hoes, axes, spears, arrowheads, razors, soapstone, soapstone dust, baboon skins, pipes, bowls and carvings of animals and birds.
The Abagusii were also involved in iron-working, which they kept secret to avoid competition from their neighbours. They made iron implements such as hoes, spears , axes and arrow heads. They also made ornaments.
They mined soapstone on the hilltops. They used is dust to decorate their faces during ceremonies. Some was sold to the Luos who used to decorate faces of their heros. It was used for making pots, pipes, bowls and carvings.
They also depended on hunting and gathering to supplement the other economies. They hunted wild game for meat and skins. They also collected wild fruit roots and vegetables.
Present status The Abagusii have improved in that most of them are now literate and industries have now come up and the practice of female circumcision has also fade away due to literacy and awareness.
Finally, I think the Abagusii which is my ethnic community is a lucky one in that food is available at all times and some are transported to urban towns, so all in all I think I belong to an awesome community with awesome people.