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It’s match day in Kakamega County in western Kenya, known locally as the home of bullfighting, where two bulls are brought face to face in a dusty field as thousands of people cheer.
The derby is a rematch between a relative newcomer Bull Shakahola, named after the forest where more than 400 people linked to a cult died in 2023, and another named Promise who has been a long-time favourite, having lost only a handful of matches in 10 years.
The tradition of bullfighting is deeply rooted among the Luhya community in Kakamega County, Kenya. It started as a form of entertainment and celebration after the harvest season and has now evolved into a sport that attracts thousands of youth, some of whom even place bets on social media platforms. During the matches, two bulls face off within five minutes and after one escapes the other is declared the winner. The bulls have not been injured intentionally.
Sociologist Kathleen Anangwe, lecturer at the University of nairobiattributed the growing interest in bullfighting to the need for socialization and the high rate of unemployment, which stands at about 9% according to official figures. At least one labor rights group estimates that youth unemployment remains very high.
According to Anangwe, sports is contributing to the economy, promoting unity and social cohesion. Through bullfighting, young people create a way to bond and use matchsticks to sell items such as snacks and bull chasing sticks.
“Young people are interested in identity, ‘Who am I?’ And authenticity. bullfighting Gives them that opportunity,” Anangwe said.
getting ready to fight
A few hours before the match, the Shakahola bull is given his daily dose of a mixture of Napier grass, water and traditional herbs, which is believed to make him stronger than his peers, according to the young man who has fed him for three years. Before being transported by truck to the battlefield, he is pampered and pampered in a hidden shelter behind his master’s house, away from the public eye.
His owner Josaphat Milimo talks to the bull as part of a traditional ritual, encouraging him to take on his opponent within five minutes. The elders announce the victory of Shakahola by beating the ground with their sticks filled with traditional herbs.
Today’s match is a rematch after Shakahola lost to Promise almost two years ago. His boss believes this is his chance to take revenge and win the match.
As the bull leaves the shelter to be loaded onto a waiting truck in the hot morning sun, hundreds of people on motorcycles follow him as they shout and wave their chasing sticks to keep the bulls away – part of the spectacle that begins outside the arena before the match even begins.
long awaited rematch
At the battlefield, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away, thousands of people wait anxiously as Shakahola and Promise arrive with fanfare, accompanied by fans carrying flags bearing their photographs. Vendors proliferate stands, selling sticks and refreshments. The bulls are encouraged by their respective stick-waving fans.
Shortly after, the circles open up and the bulls face each other head-on. They blow their horns and tear up the ground. Dust swirls around them, blurring the view for those close to the action.
Brenda Milimo, 20, niece of Shakahola’s owner, watches, cheering. she has become a tiktok Sensation as a fan of bullfighting, and often travels by bus from Nairobi to Kakamega, a 4.5-hour journey to attend such major matches.
“Bullfighting is in my blood,” she says.
In the past, he has wagered up to 1,500 Kenyan shillings ($11) despite being unemployed.
“We do betting through social media and word of mouth, but I am sure that soon there will be a website for bullfighting betting as it is becoming very popular among the youth,” she says.
For other spectators, like David Gitou, who came from central Kenya, experiencing the bullfighting tradition is new.
“I have enjoyed it and I want to encourage my relatives to come and experience this wonderful tradition,” he says.
About three minutes in, the match was over as Promise walked off the field with blood stains on his skin.
This is Shakahola’s victory, and the crowd begins to sing and dance to the traditional drums, carrying its owner on their shoulders.
“I am very happy,” says Joseph Milimo. “Last time I was cheated of victory and this time I was prepared.”
