Traditionally, in the Bukusu community in Bungoma, women are not allowed to eat the chicken gizzard, locally known as imondo, it’s only
reserved for Men.
The gizzard is considered a very precious, sacred part of the chicken, reserved exclusively for the head of the household, male elders or respected male guests.
Its a sign of symbolism, eating the gizzard symbolizes authority, power and headship. Historically, it was a major taboo for a woman to consume it. Doing so could result in serious reprimand, accusations of greed or according to elders, more extreme interpretations, it was believed to cause issues with marriage fertility.
Women were assigned other parts of the chicken, such as the legs, wings or neck. However, while still a strong, ingrained cultural norm in many rural areas, this tradition is increasingly flouted in modern times, especially in urban settings where chicken is bought in parts, leading some to disregard these traditional prohibitions. May be it’s the reason why marriages in the cities such as Nairobi, dont last long. Women eat the gizzard instead of the men who’re the head of families. Bukusu culture strictly forbids women from eating the gizzard.
