People and their cultures

Sipi Falls

Near Mount Elgon where we have the great Sipi falls, we have two big ethnic groups living there. The Sabiny and the Bamasaba famously known for female and male circumcision respectively.

The Sabiny are part of the kelenjin tribe that streches into Kenya. They believe the Mountain is their home and the word "elgon" is corrupted from the Sabiny word "Kayel-konyo". The word "Masaba" is interpreted as "Musopu" meaning "up in the forest".

It is believed that the Sabiny and Bamasaba came together as one from Ethiopia. However, the Sabiny became interested in livestock and occupied the lowlands of the Mountain slopes which were suitable for grazing while Bamasaba took to cultivation and stayed in the upper slopes of Mt. Elgon.

Identified cultural valves resolve around caves in the Mountain, which are important as homes, burial sites for fore-tellers or prophets and for cultural ceremonies such ass circumcision, naming children and those performed when twins are born to be blessed and cleansed. Visit Uganda to experience this great history and cultural.

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