KAVIRONDO, the general name of two distinct groups of tribes, one Bantu and the other Nilotic, who dwell in the valley of the Nzoia River, on the western slopes of Mount Elgon, and along the north-east coast of Victoria Nyanza. Both groups are immi grants, the Bantu from the south, the Nilotic from the north, the Bantu the first comers. The Nilotic tribes appear to have crossed the lake to reach their present home, the country around Kavi rondo Gulf. The Bantu "are practically the most northerly repre sentatives of that race" (Hobley). Their further progress north was stopped by the southward movement of the Nilotic tribes, who in turn were checked by Elgumi people from the east, them selves probably of Nilotic origin. Both groups of Kavirondo are physically fine, the Nilotic stock appearing more virile than the Bantu. The Bantu Kavirondo are divided into three main groups —the Awa-Rimi, the Awa-Ware and the Awa-Kisii. By the Ni lotic Kavirondo their Bantu neighbours are known as Ja-Mwa. The generic name for the Nilotic tribes is Ja-Luo. The Bantu Kavirondo call them Awa-Nyoro. The two groups have many characteristics in common. A characteristic feature of the people is their nakedness. Among the Nilotic Kavirondo married men who are fathers wear a small piece of goat-skin, even when Euro pean clothing is worn. Among the Bantu Kavirondo married women wear a short fringe of black string in front and a tassel of banana fibre suspended from a girdle behind, this tassel having at a distance the appearance of a tail. Hence the report of early travellers as to a tailed race in Africa. The Nilotic Kavirondo women wear the tail, but dispense with the fringe in front. Some of the Bantu tribes practise circumcision, the Nilotic tribes do not. Patterns are tattooed on chest and stomach for ornament. Men, even husbands, are forbidden to touch the women's tails, which must be worn even should any other clothing be wrapped round the body. The Kavirondo are independent and honest. They prac tice polygamy. Among the Bantu tribes a man has the refusal of all the younger sisters of his wife as they attain puberty. The Nilotic Kavirondo practise exogamy. Girls are betrothed at six or seven, and the husband-elect continually makes small presents to his father-in-law-elect till the bride reaches womanhood. Pre marital intercourse is permitted. Among the Bantus if the girl be not found a virgin on her wedding day, she is sent back to her parents, who have to return the marriage price, and pay a fine.
The wife's adultery was formerly punished with death, and the capital penalty was also inflicted on young men and girls guilty of unchastity. Among the Bantu Kavirondo the usual minimum price for a wife is forty hoes, twenty goats and one cow, paid in instal ments. The Nilotic Kavirondo pay twenty sheep and two to six cows. If a woman dies without bearing children, the amount of her purchase is returnable by her father, unless the widower con sents to replace her by another sister. The women are prolific and the birth of twins, a lucky event, is celebrated by feasting and dances. Among the Bantu Kavirondo the mother of twins must remain in her hut for seven days. Among the Nilotic Kavirondo the parents and the infants must stay in the hut for ten days. If a Bantu mother has lost two children in succession the next child born is taken out at dawn and placed on the road, where it is left till a neighbour, usually a woman friend who has gone that way on purpose, picks it up. She takes it to its mother who gives a goat in return. A similar custom prevails among the Nilotic tribes. Names are not male and female, and a daughter often bears her father's name.
The Kavirondo bury their dead. Among one of the Bantu tribes, the Awa-Kisesa, a chief is buried in the floor of his own hut in a sitting position, but at such a depth that the head pro trudes. Over the head an earthenware pot is placed, and his prin cipal wives have to remain in the hut till the flesh is eaten by ants or decomposes, when the skull is removed and buried close to the hut. Later the skeleton is unearthed, and reburied with much ceremony in the sacred burial place of the tribe. Married women of the Bantu tribes are buried in their hut lying on their right side with legs doubled up, the hut being then deserted. Men of the Bantu tribes are buried in an open space in the midst of their huts in the Nilotic tribes, a man may not be buried in the same house as his wife if she has pre-deceased him. A child is buried near the door of its mother's hut. A "mourning," a cord of banana fibre, is worn round the neck and waist. The chief chooses, sometimes years before his death, one of his sons to succeed him, often giving a brass bracelet as insignia. A man's property is divided equally among his children.