Why Covid-19 could not dehorn Ikolomani bulls

Bullfighters from Ikolomani Constituency in Kakamega South over the weekend literally took the bull by the horns, disregarding Covid-19 guidelines and turning up for a mouth-watering contest.

When word spread about the fight between the two champion bulls – Khavere from Itenyi village in Shinyalu and Mpabe from Malinya – villagers thronged the Malinya stadium to cheer, dance and mingle after months of keeping to their homes without taking part in the favourite pastime.

Bullfighting is a popular sport among the Idakho and Isukha communities but since the first case of coronavirus infection was reported in the county on March 13, 2020, the fights, which usually attract large crowds, were put on hold.

During the Saturday fight, those who turned up for the contest neither wore face masks nor observed social distancing, exposing themselves to the risk of being infected with the killer coronavirus.

Mr Daniel Luchebeleli, a resident of Lubao, said when he heard about the fight between the two champion bulls, he arrived at the grounds early to watch the thrill.

Ferocious fight

“People came from different villages to cheer Mpabe, the new kid on the block.  We were all looking forward to a win by Mpabe but unfortunately, Khavere took just five minutes to silence Mpabe in the ferocious fight,” lamented Mr Luchebeleli.

The fight attracted the elderly and the young, women and men, who were beckoned to the venue of the contest by the pulsating beat of the traditional Isukuti drums.

They cheered as the bulls sized each other and prepared to charge and tear into each other in the usually bloody and brutal duel that at times ends up in the death of the weaker bull.

At the end of the Saturday contest, the owner of the winning bull pocketed Sh20,000. The fight attracted one of the largest crowds seen at the Malinya grounds.

Owners of the bulls, who have been struggling to tame the animals for the last six months after the Ministry of Health announced measures restricting gatherings in public places to contain the spread of coronavirus infections, could not hold it any longer.

Secretly organised

They secretly organised the contest at Malinya grounds and settled on the two bulls considered to be the most popular because of their prowess in battling their rivals.

Mr Bonventure Munanga, an official of the Kakamega County Bullfighters Association, said the owners of the bulls were tired of spending time trying to control their restive animals, which had not taken part in any fights for the last six months.

“We are aware of the guidelines about social distancing to contain the spread of coronavirus but bull owners are tired of waiting for the government to reopen the country,” said Mr Munanga.

Shortly after the two bulls showed up at the Malinya grounds, villagers trooped in from different directions, armed with sticks to cheer the animals.

Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who is the patron of the bullfighters association, asked the owners of the bulls not to risk by staging the contests which attract large crowds.

“I want to ask my people not to take a gamble with their lives because coronavirus is a deadly pandemic that can spread fast if they fail to observe the Ministry of Health guidelines. They need to avoid trooping to the bullfighting grounds until the situation has normalised,” said Dr Khalwale.

Bulls restive

But Mr Munanga claimed that the restive bulls had turned destructive, attacking the owners and those who groom them because of not participating the fights.

“These bulls are well fed and taken care of and that’s why they have become so restive. If one does not release them to go and fight, they could even charge at a person and injure them seriously,” said Mr Munanga.

Villagers in Ikolomani said bullfighting means a lot to the community and they had turned up at the Malinya grounds to release emotions they had bottled up for the last six months.

But Dr Khalwale said those taking part in the bullfights are misleading ordinary villagers who might end up bearing the brunt of the coronavirus infections.

“We have officially put the bullfight contests on hold and what happened on Saturday is quite unfortunate. We are asking the residents of Ikolomani and Shinyalu not to be reckless by mingling in bullfighting grounds since that could expose them coronavirus infections,” said Dr Khalwale.

But owners of the bulls said they are prepared to take risks and organise another contest at the Malinya stadium to promote a sport that is at the heart of their traditions.