Amba mutalya is a Bukusu circumcision song that is sung often one night before the day preceding circumcision. It is belongs to the category of Bukusu circumcision songs known as kimyenyakye khulanga or songs for calling. These songs are performed during khulanga when basinde visit their clan members and friends inviting them to grace their occasion.
Meaning
Amba mutalya instills courage to basinde encourages the initiate to embrace mutalya, while parsing the initiates relations and clan. It is a feel good song full of positivity whose simulating rhythm is set by the tune of chinyimba which the initiates strikes as they dance through the village.
Lyrics to amba mutalya
This song follows the soloist (call) – audience (response) pattern. The lyrics in normal text are the soloist words, while those in bold are the response from the audience.
Bali nikhwembilisia bulai mutalya kuno khusuna mungaki nekhwlao amba mutalya Enje chelechenje kumumu kufwa mulamwa kasenda engubo amba mutalya Enje chelechenje kumumu kufwa mulamwa kandabula engubo amba mutalya Bali ututu munyanga echo, khusuna mungaki nekhwilao amba mutalya Bali nacha khusikulu sia bolingo nacha khukhesia nende Wele amba mutalya Bali nekhwembilisia busa mutalya kuno bulusya bosi nebengila amba mutalya Bali khwimbilisia lundi Ah webale oyee amba mutalya Khwimba mutalya kwe baluyia Ah webale oyee amba mutalya Embalu ye buluyia musibala muno bali Mango papa wakirera amba mutalya Bali ututu bali ututu munyanga echo bali Mango papa wakirera amba mutalya Nalangilisha lundi nalanga bona khane nalanga nende omubofu amba mutalya Nakhesia kwana kukhana kwanja khukhona kuli kumbafu,stiupidi khane Mango akubolele amba mutalya Kuli kumbafu, stiupidi khane ukimwi eli munda amba mutalya Bali ututu bali ututu munyanga echo khane ututu eli ne liloko amba mutalya Bali kwimbilisia lundi Ah webale oyee amba mutalya Khwimba mutalya kwe baluyia Ah webale oyee amba mutalya Kuno mutalya nawe oloba Ah webale oyee amba mutalya
References
- Kariithi, F., 2020. Politeness a Critical Aspect in Bukusu Traditional Circumcision Songs. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 8(5).
