If Mount Suswa is the undercover mountain, then Mount Homa is the mountain that stands out. This carbonatite volcano has become the center around which life in Homabay Town pivots. The mountain holds a place of distinction for its longevity, its cultural riches and the depth of history found within its unique geological makeup.
Both the bay and the county are named in honour of this mountain of significance. To the Luo, Mount Homa is known as Got Marahuma. “The famous mountain” has been focal to the legends of this area, including the tale of Lake Simbi and the village which sank due to the selfishness of its people. Without Mount Homa, culturally-packed locations like the Rusinga Island would not have formed within the Winam Gulf it cradles. Even Lake Victoria would not be the same without this mountain girding it in the south.
Mount Homa is an old mountain, prehistoric in fact. It is also one of the few volcanos in the world of its kind. These volcanos erupt with the coldest lava known to mankind. Yes, you read that right, cold lava. Because of its temperature and the geological makeup, its color varies greatly from the usually amber, glowing substance we see flow from most volcanos. While Mount Homa has not erupted in a very long time, we know scientifically, that if it did, its lava would be black. But, careful! The black, seemingly “cold” lava still burns at temperatures of 500°C.
Because of its age, the artefacts which were discovered on this island have enabled us to gain a wealth of information about the people who lived on this mountain thousands and thousands of years ago. Among these artefacts were tools from the Oldowan class. Though they seem incredibly crude to us, the prehistoric people of Mount Homa saw them as high end technological advancement! They were used for any purpose that could be served by a mallet or a hammer. As the oldest recognizable tools in history, these were probably the first innovations of their time in Mount Homa. That is, the first we know of.
Thanks to the artefacts of the Homa peninsula, which is formed by Mount Homa, increased knowledge of early man isn’t the only thing we possess. In addition to this, the bones, shells, and hides of the animals preserved from that time also give us insight as to what the earth might have been like. Fortunately, the remains found in this area were preserved well enough that they could be reconstructed. Using these reconstructions, archaeologists are able to make much more accurate observations about the Mount Homa of the past.
With all its distinctive features, we can recognize the truth within Mount Homa’s title of “The Famous Mountain.” Like the archaeologists who use fossils to tell stories of the past, we are drawn to learning by the mountain. By the tools found there, we know to be human is to be inspired to innovate. Just as the legends that find their origin in Mount Homa, we continue to fan our flame for creativity and the preservation of our stories.
