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Luo mourning - I seek to understand.
Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/13/2010 Posts: 869 Location: Nairobi
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I have been asking about this from my Luo friends and relatives but no one seems to give me a conclusive answer. When a prominent person dies in Luo land, there is a lot of people moving to the streets with twigs and a lot of loud mourning and also rushing to the deceased home. Anyone can go. Often very fast! I ask this because when police move in to 'quell the chaos' social media goes a-buzz about how the rest of us should learn how Luos mourn. More recently I also saw something new during Kajwang's funeral. The chasing away death run. Were all these done traditionally or it is a current phenomenon? What is the significance? Can ANYONE go into the home of the deceased? Most of the Luos I have talked to say it is hyped, happens more if you were a person of means. The funerals I have attended there did not have that kind of display (they were not prominent people though. How can we be more empathetic? ....above all, to stand.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 9/23/2009 Posts: 8,083 Location: Enk are Nyirobi
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Ms Mkenya wrote:
I have been asking about this from my Luo friends and relatives but no one seems to give me a conclusive answer.
When a prominent person dies in Luo land, there is a lot of people moving to the streets with twigs and a lot of loud mourning and also rushing to the deceased home. Anyone can go. Often very fast!
I ask this because when police move in to 'quell the chaos' social media goes a-buzz about how the rest of us should learn how Luos mourn.
More recently I also saw something new during Kajwang's funeral. The chasing away death run.
Were all these done traditionally or it is a current phenomenon?
What is the significance? Can ANYONE go into the home of the deceased?
Most of the Luos I have talked to say it is hyped, happens more if you were a person of means. The funerals I have attended there did not have that kind of display (they were not prominent people though.
How can we be more empathetic?
Luos do everything with pomp, be it mourning, graduations, weddings, Gor winning or just having a good time at Carnivore  Life is short. Live passionately.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/13/2010 Posts: 869 Location: Nairobi
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@Sparkly, I understand the celebration bit of the 'Happy moments'. Funerals is what's a little intriguing to me. ....above all, to stand.
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Rank: User Joined: 1/20/2014 Posts: 3,528
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You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp). Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Formal education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune - Jim Rohn.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/13/2010 Posts: 869 Location: Nairobi
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Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Hmm... I am getting more lost, the highlights may help. What I know of Tero Buru is mainly in relation to wife inheritance. Please shed some light? ....above all, to stand.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 11/9/2009 Posts: 2,003
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Ms Mkenya wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Hmm... I am getting more lost, the highlights may help. What I know of Tero Buru is mainly in relation to wife inheritance. Please shed some light? Ai, I thought Tero Buru is for airports that haven't never been landed.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/13/2010 Posts: 869 Location: Nairobi
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radio wrote:Ms Mkenya wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Hmm... I am getting more lost, the highlights may help. What I know of Tero Buru is mainly in relation to wife inheritance. Please shed some light? Ai, I thought Tero Buru is for airports that haven't never been landed. @Radio you are worse than me.. at least I know more than you do . Have a seat __/ we learn together ... ....above all, to stand.
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Rank: Elder Joined: 10/9/2008 Posts: 5,389
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Ms Mkenya wrote:
I have been asking about this from my Luo friends and relatives but no one seems to give me a conclusive answer.
When a prominent person dies in Luo land, there is a lot of people moving to the streets with twigs and a lot of loud mourning and also rushing to the deceased home. Anyone can go. Often very fast!
I ask this because when police move in to 'quell the chaos' social media goes a-buzz about how the rest of us should learn how Luos mourn.
More recently I also saw something new during Kajwang's funeral. The chasing away death run.
Were all these done traditionally or it is a current phenomenon?
What is the significance? Can ANYONE go into the home of the deceased?
Most of the Luos I have talked to say it is hyped, happens more if you were a person of means. The funerals I have attended there did not have that kind of display (they were not prominent people though.
How can we be more empathetic?
You can read <<THIS ACADEMIC PAPER ON THE RITUALS>> for info.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 2/21/2012 Posts: 1,739
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sparkly wrote:Ms Mkenya wrote:
I have been asking about this from my Luo friends and relatives but no one seems to give me a conclusive answer.
When a prominent person dies in Luo land, there is a lot of people moving to the streets with twigs and a lot of loud mourning and also rushing to the deceased home. Anyone can go. Often very fast!
I ask this because when police move in to 'quell the chaos' social media goes a-buzz about how the rest of us should learn how Luos mourn.
More recently I also saw something new during Kajwang's funeral. The chasing away death run.
Were all these done traditionally or it is a current phenomenon?
What is the significance? Can ANYONE go into the home of the deceased?
Most of the Luos I have talked to say it is hyped, happens more if you were a person of means. The funerals I have attended there did not have that kind of display (they were not prominent people though.
How can we be more empathetic?
Luos do everything with pomp, be it mourning, graduations, weddings, Gor winning or just having a good time at Carnivore ..INCLUNDING LANDING? Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God..
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/3/2007 Posts: 1,635
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Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Good points It might also help to point out that such 'robust' confrontation of death is not a uniquely Luo phenomenon. It is something shared widely across Africa (Achebe, Amadi etc) wrote about this quite a bit. Some communities were quite extreme in this, where for instance, the homestead where death has visited is destroyed, or - rare - animals or even young men and women are sacrificed to 'escort' a Chief who has died. "The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
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Rank: User Joined: 8/15/2013 Posts: 13,237 Location: Vacuum
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Wakanyugi wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Good points It might also help to point out that such 'robust' confrontation of death is not a uniquely Luo phenomenon. It is something shared widely across Africa (Achebe, Amadi etc) wrote about this quite a bit. Some communities were quite extreme in this, where for instance, the homestead where death has visited is destroyed, or - rare - animals or even young men and women are sacrificed to 'escort' a Chief who has died. I propose we sacrifice Lady admin to escort Fidel! If Obiero did it, Who Am I?
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Rank: Elder Joined: 6/17/2008 Posts: 23,365 Location: Nairobi
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Swenani wrote:Wakanyugi wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Good points It might also help to point out that such 'robust' confrontation of death is not a uniquely Luo phenomenon. It is something shared widely across Africa (Achebe, Amadi etc) wrote about this quite a bit. Some communities were quite extreme in this, where for instance, the homestead where death has visited is destroyed, or - rare - animals or even young men and women are sacrificed to 'escort' a Chief who has died. I propose we sacrifice Lady admin to escort Fidel! Asi! As has been explain up there, a prominent person gets 'tero buru before and after burial. ..."Wewe ni mtu mdogo sana....na mwenye amekuandika pia ni mtu mdogo sana!".
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/3/2007 Posts: 1,635
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Swenani wrote:Wakanyugi wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Good points It might also help to point out that such 'robust' confrontation of death is not a uniquely Luo phenomenon. It is something shared widely across Africa (Achebe, Amadi etc) wrote about this quite a bit. Some communities were quite extreme in this, where for instance, the homestead where death has visited is destroyed, or - rare - animals or even young men and women are sacrificed to 'escort' a Chief who has died. I propose we sacrifice Lady admin to escort Fidel! I think the normal practice was to sacrifice a maiden. Could we offer Kysse? "The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
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Rank: User Joined: 1/20/2014 Posts: 3,528
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Wakanyugi wrote:Swenani wrote:Wakanyugi wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Good points It might also help to point out that such 'robust' confrontation of death is not a uniquely Luo phenomenon. It is something shared widely across Africa (Achebe, Amadi etc) wrote about this quite a bit. Some communities were quite extreme in this, where for instance, the homestead where death has visited is destroyed, or - rare - animals or even young men and women are sacrificed to 'escort' a Chief who has died. I propose we sacrifice Lady admin to escort Fidel! I think the normal practice was to sacrifice a maiden. Could we offer Kysse? I hear (gossip world) that he enjoyed ......... so could we sacrifice @swenani for the good of wazua to be blessed!!!! Formal education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune - Jim Rohn.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 7/3/2007 Posts: 1,635
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Othelo wrote:Wakanyugi wrote:Swenani wrote:Wakanyugi wrote:Othelo wrote:You need to read Luo kitgi kod timbegi to understand some of these shinnanigans (sp).
Chasing away death is there in majority of ATH&C! The luo version is Tero Buru which can be done before or after burial depending on age and status of the deceased! Good points It might also help to point out that such 'robust' confrontation of death is not a uniquely Luo phenomenon. It is something shared widely across Africa (Achebe, Amadi etc) wrote about this quite a bit. Some communities were quite extreme in this, where for instance, the homestead where death has visited is destroyed, or - rare - animals or even young men and women are sacrificed to 'escort' a Chief who has died. I propose we sacrifice Lady admin to escort Fidel! I think the normal practice was to sacrifice a maiden. Could we offer Kysse? I hear (gossip world) that he enjoyed ......... so could we sacrifice @swenani for the good of wazua to be blesse d!!!! No comment "The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." (Niels Bohr)
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Rank: Member Joined: 11/1/2012 Posts: 290
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Try being in Kisumu CBD on a Friday afternoon.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/13/2010 Posts: 869 Location: Nairobi
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DN2 in todays Daily Nation has also helped me understand a little more. ....above all, to stand.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 5/13/2010 Posts: 869 Location: Nairobi
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Vallerrie wrote:Try being in Kisumu CBD on a Friday afternoon. My colleague told me the same thing.. he offered to take me there lol. ....above all, to stand.
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/3/2014 Posts: 1,063
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I don't known much about the luo culture but something has been bothering me since I lost a very close friend of mine and went to his burial in Rongo. I understand that people must celebrate your life when you are gone but why should you leave the family more miserable? My friend came from a humble background was the bread winner in the family and he was taking care of his parents and siblings. When the mourners came to condole the family,they ate all the 'assets' the family had-goats,cows,maize in the name of celebrating his life.The parents couldn't afford to pay the school fees and we had to have a fundraiser as friends to see them through school. A culture should be done away with if it doesn't add value to society. Consistency is better than intensity
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Rank: Elder Joined: 6/17/2008 Posts: 23,365 Location: Nairobi
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PeterReborn wrote:I don't known much about the luo culture but something has been bothering me since I lost a very close friend of mine and went to his burial in Rongo.
I understand that people must celebrate your life when you are gone but why should you leave the family more miserable?
My friend came from a humble background was the bread winner in the family and he was taking care of his parents and siblings.
When the mourners came to condole the family,they ate all the 'assets' the family had-goats,cows,maize in the name of celebrating his life.The parents couldn't afford to pay the school fees and we had to have a fundraiser as friends to see them through school.
A culture should be done away with if it doesn't add value to society.
Okay.....they ate all of them? Numbers? ..."Wewe ni mtu mdogo sana....na mwenye amekuandika pia ni mtu mdogo sana!".
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