HOW COVID-19 HAS DISRUPTED THE SPORT OF BULLFIGHTING IN THE LUHYA COMMUNITY

Bullghting is a well-known cultural sport practiced by the luhya community especially those from the Isukha and Idakho dialects. 

Lovers of this sport converge every weekend in Kakamega County at Khayega and Malinya grounds to enjoy it. 

The sport not only acts as an entertainment venture but also generates revenue for bull owners because after every fight the owner of the winning bull goes home smiling with some cash.

Apart from that, it attracts tourists who visit the county to specifically watch bullfighting.

All these has been disrupted since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Kenya, a situation that made the government to declare a national wide curfew and lockdown in the most affected Counties as a measure to help curb the spread of the pandemic. 

Michael Amukanga a bull owner from Khayega says its challenging since Corona Virus was announced in the country.

“Feeding the animal is a big problem. Feeds prices have gone high. Whatever we were buying like Napier and others farm feeds prices have been increased because people have to minimize on the little they have.” 

He adds that treatment is another issue where prices for medicine used like deworming, multivitamins and others have gone up and availability of the same in the local markets is not adequate.

Amukanga says social distancing has affected the game for they no longer go for the bullfighting activity because maintaining the 1.5 metre distance is difficult; adding that the situation is wanting since some bulls get hostile when they don’t fight for long and may end up harming the farmer. 

For the commercial aspect of Bullfighting he says they are loosing for the money they could have fetched from the games is no longer there.

“My bull called Prince is just like an employee idling at home and getting a salary. We feed it and no benefit.’’ he laments saying that those who look after the bulls for them have lost their jobs for there is no money to pay them salary.

During the game, he says some fans bet and others sing and dance Isukuti to earn cash but now because of Covid-19 things are different.  

Amukanga says that Bullfighting is about friendship where they meet people from all walks of life and make friends during the activity but Corona Virus has stopped all these. 

“When we go for the games we meet new people but now our making of new friends is affected. Our friends have lost relatives and have been faced with some issues that needs friends to step in and help. But due to social distancing rule and the fear of Coronavirus we have to stay at home to avoid crowds, “he says.

He owns a bull named Prince which he says is an upcoming champion and emphasizes on the fact that ladies are never part of Bullfighting for traditionally its reserved for men only. 

“Bullfighting has been men only business. Ladies only support them even if they own a bull, it's handled by men. Most of the time they will remain at home to welcome the men and the bull after a fight. You will hear then singing and dancing when the bull has won.”

Covid-19 pandemic has really affected us when it comes to the sport of bullfighting for we can no longer organize matches which used to happen every weekend, says Davis Ingoi famously known as Chui.

Davis who owns an upcoming bull called Rinyula (uproot) from Khayega,Shiruli adds that the bulls poses a threat for they have stayed long without fighting.

“These bulls are now a threat to the owners given that they are not engaging in any fights three months now since the pandemic restrictions began in the country. It’s dangerous when a bull eats and doesn’t fight for this strength makes it violent and can easily attack and harm the owner or even anyone around it.” he says.

He says saying that feeding the bulls is very expensive and since they don’t engage in the sport, getting money to purchase the feed is hard.

Davis says since there are no fights due to the pandemic, income avenues have been blocked and livelihoods for many people who depend on this sport affected.     

When invited for a match he adds, the winning team gets between ksh 15,000 to ksh 20,000 a month.

Edwin Kweyu a bullfighting sport lover from Malinya, Kakamega County says the effects of the pandemic is very adverse because the government restrictions put in place can’t allow them to gather and enjoy the bulls fight.

Just like football matches, he says he has missed bullfighting sport and he is really praying that infections of the Virus reduce for life to normalise.

He adds that the bulls are always violent when they don’t fight and end up destroying their stable and also harm the herdsman.

Before the pandemic was reported, Kakamega County was planning to hold a Cultural Festival under the Ministry of Social Services, youth, sports and culture slated for late March 2020 but now postponed to a later date.(Kakamega county website)