ARE LUOS CONNECTED TO KALENJINS

Oct 13, 2014 Editor Kisumu News Editorial, Kisumu, Life Style, National 0

Are Luos connected to Kalenjins? History has it that various communities share their ancestry from the Larger Luo including the Lang’o of Kenya and Uganda. The luo community are part of the Nilotic people that separated from the South East group of tribes in about 3000 BCE. About 10 centuries ago, this group of people occupied the now South Sudan Which was back then known as Bahr-El-Ghazal .

It’s not however very clear the reasons for their movement to the various countries in which they later settled in. Though some reasons cited include search for resources population bulge, the Arab conquest. Noted also is that various cultural changes, language modifications and pronunciations took place as the groups moved away from the mother home, however similarities can be matched in a big way to show their closeness.

Pokot Women trekking through the Kenya outback

On this day today these groups of the Luo community are found in various countries under various names and linguistic organization which borrow from one another in a big way no matter their distances from each other. In Ethiopia there are the Anuak or Anywak or Agnwak or Anywaa who live along the Banks and Rivers of South Western area of Ethiopia.

In Northern Uganda and North Eastern Congo various Luo speakers settled namely Acholi, Alur and Jonam. Jopathola or Pathola settled in Eastern Uganda. Presently it is believed that a good population of the Luos have settled in Tanzania in areas adjacent to Nam Lolwe (the lake Victoria)

Various groups also share their ancestry to the Luo including Shilluk (South Sudan), Pari (South Sudan), Thuri (South Sudan), Alur (Uganda and DRC), Acholi (South Sudan and Uganda, Lang’o (Uganda), Kumam (Uganda), Jopadhola (Uganda), Jo Luo (Kenya and Tanzania), Anuak (Ethiopia, Sudan), Mabaan (South Sudan), Funj (Sudan), Jumjum (South Sudan), Blanda Boore (South Sudan), Jonam (Uganda) and Chope (Uganda).

Maasai Men in Ngorongoro, Tanzania

By the 1840s, the Luo had a tight-knit society with leadership from Ruodhi, or regional chiefs.

Here is a list of various Ker’s and the periods they put through their kingship on the Luo People

Chronologically how past Ker (King) served

Ramogi Omollo Nam

Nilotic people evolved at DONG’ NAM 2nd BCE

Sin Akuru Kuku Lubanga

Before moving to various countries Sin Akuru Lubanga had twelve wives and three sons, namely Lioletuk Dyang’ (Okwath – Dhiang’) are the present East Nilotes which includes Turkana, Samburu, Maasai etc.

The other wife was Podho Koma (Opiyo) – River Lake or Jii speakers (Aywak, Collo or Shilluk, Atuek, Dinka, Naath or Nuer, Acholi, Alur, Lan’go, Padhola and Luo).

Pok Buni (Odongo) – South Nilotic (Highland Nilotes) – Pokot, Kony, Aabaot, Elgeyo, Turgen, Marakwet Bandi and Kipsigis.

In the kingship the descendants of Opiyo moved North of Dog Nam under Kwarwa, Podho mar Ariyo 1450 BCE in Alap mar Atung’, but Ohinga or Hembko (Kar Atung – presently Khartoum Sudan).