Bagisu
Encyclopedia
The Gisu people, or Bagisu (people of Bugisu sub-region
), alternately Gishu, Masaba, or Sokwia, are a tribe of the Masaba nation of eastern Uganda
, closely related to the Bukusu people
of Kenya
. Bagisu live in the mainly in Mbale District
of Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon
.
The Gisu speak a dialect of the Lumasaba language called Lugisu, which is fully understandable by other dialects, and is also understood by the Bukusu.
Global African Village, an all-volunteer non-profit organization in Ontario, Canada, and Buffalo, New York, was developed in 2007 to improve life for the impoverished Gisu people. Its primary goals are to improve wells, to provide child care, and to create a health-care post. The founding members of Global African Village are Sebastian Wanzama-Piro, Sharon Green, and Maura Fioroni..
ritual called the Imbalu. The ritual is held every two years during August.
Bugisu sub-region
Bugisu sub-region is a region in Eastern Uganda that consists of the following districts:* Bududa District* Bulambuli District* Manafwa District* Sironko District* Mbale District...
), alternately Gishu, Masaba, or Sokwia, are a tribe of the Masaba nation of eastern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, closely related to the Bukusu people
Bukusu people
The Bukusu are one of the seventeen Kenyan tribes of the Luhya Bantu people of East Africa. Calling themselves BaBukusu, they are the largest tribe of the Luhya nation, making up about 17% of the Luhya population...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Bagisu live in the mainly in Mbale District
Mbale District
Mbale District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after the largest city in the district, Mbale, which also servess as the main administrative and commercial center in the sub-region.-Location:...
of Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu and west of Kitale.- Physical features :It is the oldest and largest solitary volcano in East Africa, covering an area of around 3500 km²....
.
The Gisu speak a dialect of the Lumasaba language called Lugisu, which is fully understandable by other dialects, and is also understood by the Bukusu.
Global African Village, an all-volunteer non-profit organization in Ontario, Canada, and Buffalo, New York, was developed in 2007 to improve life for the impoverished Gisu people. Its primary goals are to improve wells, to provide child care, and to create a health-care post. The founding members of Global African Village are Sebastian Wanzama-Piro, Sharon Green, and Maura Fioroni..
Rituals
The Gisu undergo a circumcisionCircumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
ritual called the Imbalu. The ritual is held every two years during August.