Pottery Taboos and Symbolism in Bukusu Society, Western Kenya

Abstract

This paper investigates the taboos associated with pottery among Babukusu who predominantly inhabit Bungoma District, Western Kenya. Symbolic analysis is used to provide insights into how the people themselves conceptualize the relationship of pottery to cosmology, nature and culture. Specifically, the creation of the universe and human beings, kinship relations, human fertility and mortality are all implicated in the manner in which pottery is perceived in this society.