The Luo Tribe
The lake and fishing tribe of Kenya
The Luo tribe is Kenya's 3rd largest ethnic group after the Kikuyu and Luhya tribes, making up approximately 12% of the Kenya population.
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Luos are a Nilotic people also found in smaller numbers in Uganda and Tanzania in the regions around Lake Victoria. The Lango and Acholi tribes of Uganda are considered as clans of the Luo tribe since their language is similar to the Luo language, dholuo.
Historians believe that the Luo and other Kenya nilotic tribes originally came from the Nile regions of Sudan, entering Kenya through Northern Uganda. Upon their arrival in Kenya, Luos settled in the present day Nyanza province, where they neighbor the Kisii, Luhya and Kipsigis tribes.
Luo Culture, Lifestyle & Religion
Luo people are among the few Kenya tribes that traditionally do not circumcise their males as an initiation to manhood. Instead, in Luo traditions, initiation involved the removal of six front teeth - three each from the upper and lower jaws.
Another unique Luo custom was wife inheritance, whereby if a man dies, one of his brothers or close relative would inherit the man's widow and meet all her marital requirements. Luo mourning ceremony, tero buru, is still widely practiced. This is a unique, elaborate and dramatic ceremony that symbolizes the departure of a loved one.
While most Luos today are christians, many still uphold most of their traditional cultural customs. This is especially true for those living in the rural areas. However, some Luo cultural practices regarded as retrogressive are slowly fading away, such as wife inheritance. More recently there have been efforts to promote male circumcision among the Luo, Teso and Turkana people, to help curb the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Perhaps one of the most interesting and noticeable attribute common among the elite, educated or urban Luo people is their flamboyant character and sense of style in addition to their polished and eloquent command of the English language, otherwise known as The Queen's English.
Political history of the Luo
Under British colonial rule, the Luo people, unlike other Kenya tribes, did not have their land taken from them. However, through their political participation, Luos played a key role in the attainment of Kenya's independence. Two prominent Luo politicians of that era were Ochieng Aneko and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
In the late 1960's, vice president Jaramogi Odinga - the most influential Luo politician then - had political differences with President Jomo Kenyatta. Jaramogi quit from the government and formed an opposition party - the Kenya People's Union. Since that time, the Luo people became the strongest voice in opposition politics in Kenya.
The Odinga family is today the most influential in Luo politics even after the death of Jaramogi Odinga in 1994. Raila Odinga, the second son of Jaramogi Odinga is the Prime Minister of Kenya, under the current grand coalition government.
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Other famous Kenya - Luo people
Some other well-known Luo people include the late Tom Mboya, the late Robert Ouko, Washington Jalang'o Okumu and James Orengo. The late father of Barack Obama, America's Democratic President-Elect(2008), was from the Luo tribe.
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The Luo tribe has traditionally produced many scholars and other learned persons, some of whom have graduated from very prestigious colleges around the world. As a result, Luo professionals are dominant in almost every area of the Kenyan economy, business and government, serving as university professors, doctors, engineers and lawyers.
Luo Economic Activity & Food
In rural areas of Luo Nyanza, fresh- water fishing in Lake Victoria is the most important economic activity. The fish is consumed locally while some, especially the nile perch is exported to Europe and other countries. Thus fish and Ugali are the staple food of the Luo tribe. Agriculture, especially sugarcane and cotton farming, is also practiced in other areas where Luos live.
The culture of Kenya
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Discover Kenya's ethnic food and other foods found in Kenya
Kenya recipes - popular ethnic Kenya food you can cook at home
