5 SHOCKING TABOOS IN THE KISII COMMUNITY
Taboos practised in the Kisii community
Methuselah Omwagi
4199
There are number of traditionally forbidden practices among the kisiis, it is therefore upon those hailing from the community to be knowledgeable of this taboos lest you pick yourself a curse unknowingly or get shunned by the entire community.
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Here is what to avoid engaging in as a kisii:
- Circumcised men are forbidden from entering the master bedroom
By virtue of being circumcised, a kisii boy is thereby considered an adult. Therefore, the practice marks the end of walking or looking into your parents’ bedroom. Nonetheless your sister's bedroom is also out of bounds. This practice aims at instilling a sense of maturity and respect for those around them especially Close family members. - Visiting your mother-in-law's place far too often
Kisii traditions and Customs bars’ the son-in-law from visiting is mother-in-law regularly. Breaching this taboo shows a sign of disrespect to both your wife and mother-in-law. Has a married kisii man, you are expected to avoid circumstances that could lead you to meet with your mother-in-law regularly unless it is necessary or unavoidable. - Girls wearing trousers and revealing clothes
Wearing short skirts, see-through clothes, and tight garments that display your body shape such as trousers, is severely forbidden among kisii girls. Furthermore, wearing this prohibited clothes in front of your elders especially your father is even worse. This taboo seeks to prevent stimulated sexual desire among close relatives which can cause incest.
- Pregnant women are not allowed to set eyes upon the Dead
Expectant couples were barred from participating in funeral activities.
A man whose wife is pregnant, was not allowed to engage in grave-digging,
Also the pregnant wife was not supposed to look at the casket of the deceased.
The ancient kisiis believed that childbearing was very precious, and therefore maintained a great significance in the entire process of expectancy. - Fathers entering their sons house
According to the Kisii culture and traditions, it was considered an abomination for the father to step into his son's house. They believed that fathers who breached this taboo were not better than those who slept with their daughter-in-laws.This taboo was mainly aimed at retaining the Independence of the son and lessening interference of the father in the son's affairs, while at the same time maintaining respect between Father and Son.
