The crying stone of Ilesi, some African myths are real.
The
Crying Stones of Ilesi located in Kakamega County of western Kenya is about 18 miles or 30 km north of the Equator. Kakamega County is
Kenyas second most populous county after Nairobi and was so named because the
word kakamega translates roughly to pinch in the Kiluhyah African language. Kakamega
was used to describe how white European colonists would eat the Kenya national
food dish ugali.
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| Dry your tears dear Ilesi |
To
the Luhya tribe of Kakamega, who are mainly farmers and fishers, the 131 foot
or 40 meter Crying Stone of Ilesi will forever be a sacred and a revered part
their everyday lives because it has supernatural powers.
The stone is a place of rituals, healing, resolution, cleansing and sacrifice. Luhya tribe believes that when the stone cries it is sign that good things are about to happen. When there is drought, the Luhya performs rituals to bring rain.
The stone is a place of rituals, healing, resolution, cleansing and sacrifice. Luhya tribe believes that when the stone cries it is sign that good things are about to happen. When there is drought, the Luhya performs rituals to bring rain.
Luhya legend has it, a wife left her husband
for another man and the heartbroken husband has not stopped crying to
this very day. Scientists believe the Ilesi stone cries because a large
depression behind the smaller stone collects water and from time to time cascades
down the large stone giving the impression of the stone weeping. However, scientists explain the Ilesi stone cries no more in the rainy season and in times of drought because of locals planting eucalyptus trees around the stone. Eucalyptus trees are invasive trees in Kenya, sucking up the
groundwater around the stone. The heartbroken husband has therefore stopped
crying for the moment.
Some myths are real, it
is difficult to separate myths from the facts about the Crying Stone of Ilesi when the Luhya tribe of Kakamega believes the stone has other worldly powers.
