After a three-month hiatus, I’ve decided to bring back The World’s Superstitions series! They were (and still are!) quite popular posts and I think we can learn much about different cultures by bringing them back to latinAbroad 😀 So! Today we travel to Africa, pass by the Masai Mara & get a list of Kenyan superstitions!

Photo: Kevin Walsh, WikiCommons

Kenyan superstitions are generally known to be myths created in order to protect families from disease and bad behaviors. But, as with superstitions in much of the world, others simply reflect many cultural values and beliefs (good or bad). I have added additional explanations and notes respectively.

* Ladies, watch your hubbies drinking closely at night! Because if he drinks out of a bottle or “vessel” at the wee hours and then forgets to cover it, his soul will dive into it!

* Want countless of blessings? Then never sweep at night! According to Kenyan superstitions, sweeping under the moonlight will chase blessings away. An underlying truth about this superstitions (or so Kenyans say) is that it make sense because by sweeping, you may throw away something of value that was dropped unwillingly. Makes sense…but in my case, I actually find things when I sweep! Oh well…I agree to disagree 😉

* Another man behavior to watch: Don’t let him go to bed with dirty feet. Or else? The devil will come at night and lick his tootsies (ewww…)

* Speaking of man behavior, if you wish to know if your man is lying (about anything), just watch where he drinks his water from. Is it the bathroom faucet? Uh-oh! (Note: In reality, this superstition was invented in order to keep people from drinking contaminated water)

* Mwenye kula miguu ya kuku atakuwa daima katika mwendo tu – “He who eats a fowl’s legs will become a wanderer” (awesome, now I know what to give the man I wish to marry! (*evil grin* bahaha…)

* Mothers, don’t ever leave your babies unattended! According to Kenyan superstitions, if a baby is left alone inside a room, the devil will possess him/her. Another interesting cultural fact is that many Kenyans believe Albinos are “victims” of this type of “neglect” and are now “changelings”

Photo: Angela Sevin, WikiCommons

* Another tip to mothers: Overly affectionate with your bundle of joy? Make sure you don’t kiss him/her as he/she sleeps. Why? Kenyans believe it will make the baby grow conceited!

* Kupiga uluzi ni kuita shetani – “To whistle is to call the devil” (YIKES! Many of my friends are so so screwed here…)

* And let’s see if you recognize this one: Seeing a black cat at night means bad omen. Oh! We’ve heard that one before… 😉

* Careful when handing scissors to a Kenyan – simply don’t do it directly. Huh? Put them on the table instead for your Kenyan friend to pick them up. Why, you may ask? According to Kenyan superstitions, if scissors are handed directly to someone, it means a sign of hatred toward that person!

* Want to get married later in life? Then follow one of the door Kenyan superstitions: Make it a habit to sit on the doorstep! Kenyans actually wanted to discourage any waiting by the door so telling this to kids would prevent them from doing so. In my case though? The total opposite! (I’m so doing this now..)

* Another door-related superstition: “He who eats while standing on the door-step
will be knocked down by a devil” (another superstition invented to discourage the bad habit of hanging by the doors)

* Kuzaliwa na vidole sita ni mabruki – “To be born with six fingers Is to have good fortune”

Photo: SvonHalenbach, WikiCommons

And that shall be all for Kenyan superstitions (source: mwambao.com)! Next Monday I’ll post a brand new list of superstitions from a [surprise] country. Interested on knowing more about a particular place? Suggestions for future posts are more than welcome! 😉 Just contact me or tweet me. Until then, Tutaonana!

Previously featured countries:
Puerto Rico
India
France
Australia
Palestine
Mexico
Egypt
Iceland

Got more Kenyan superstitions? Share them in a comment below!