 Luo location in East Africa | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 18,596,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Congo (DRC) | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity;Traditional religions;Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherNilotic peoples EspeciallyAtuot,Burun,Dinka,Jumjum, andNuer |
TheLuo (also spelledLwo) are severalethnically andlinguistically relatedNilotic ethnic groups that inhabit an area ranging fromSouth Sudan andEthiopia, through NorthernUganda and easternCongo (DRC), into westernKenya, and theMara Region ofTanzania.[1] TheirLuo languages belong to thewestern branch of theNilotic language family.
The Luo groups in South Sudan include theShilluk,Anuak,Pari,Acholi,Balanda Boor,Thuri andLuwo. Those in Uganda include theAlur,Acholi, Jonam andPadhola. The ones in Kenya and Tanzania are theJoluo (also calledLuo in Kenyan English).
TheJoluo and their languageDholuo are also known as the "Luo proper" by Kenya based observers, even though their dialect has more Bantu loan words than the rest.The level of historical separation between these groups is estimated at eight centuries. Dispersion from an alleged Nilotic core region inSouth Sudan is presumed to have been triggered by the turmoil of theMuslim conquest of Sudan.[2][3] The migration of individual groups over the last few centuries can to some extent be traced in the respective group'soral history.
The Luo are part of theNilotic group of people. The Nilotes had separated from the other members of theEast Sudanic family by about the 3rd millennium BC.[4] Within Nilotic, Luo forms part of theWestern group.[5]
Within Luo, a Northern and a Southern group is distinguished.Dholuo is part of theSouthern Luo group. Northern Luo is mostly spoken in South Sudan, while Southern Luo groups migrated south from theBahr el Ghazal area in the early centuries of the second millennium AD (about eight hundred years ago).
A further division within the Northern Luo is recorded in a "widespread tradition" in Luooral history:[6] thefoundational figure of theShilluk (or Chollo) nation was a chief namedNyikango, dated to about the mid-15th century. After a quarrel with his brother, he moved northward along the Nile and established a feudal society. ThePari people descend from the group that rejected Nyikango.[7]
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TheAnuak are a Luo people whose villages are scattered along the banks and rivers of the southwestern area of Ethiopia, with others living directly across the border in South Sudan. The name of these people is also spelled Anyuak, Agnwak, and Anywaa. The Anuak of South Sudan lives in a grassy region that is flat and virtually treeless. During the rainy season, this area floods, so that much of it becomes swampland with various channels of deep water running through it.
The Anuak who live in the lowlands ofGambela areLuo people. These have accused the current Ethiopian government of encroachment. The government's oppression has affected the Anuak's access to education, health care, and other basic services, as well as limiting opportunities for the development of the area.
The Acholi also spelt Acoli, another Luo people in South Sudan, occupy what is now called Magwi County in Eastern Equatorial State. They border the Uganda Acoli of Northern Uganda. The South Sudan Acholi numbered about 10,000 on the 2008 population Census.
In the 1500s, a small group of Luo known as theBiito-Luo (Paluo), led by Labongo encountered Bantu-speaking peoples living in the area ofBunyoro. These Luo settled with the Bantu and established the Babiito dynasty, replacing the Bachwezi dynasty of theEmpire of Kitara. According to the legends, Isingoma Mpuga Rukidi (Grandson to Labongo), the first in the line of the Babiito kings ofBunyoro-Kitara, was the twin brother of Kato Kimera, the first king ofBuganda. These Luo were assimilated into the Bantu's society and lost their language and culture.
Later in the 18th century, other Luo-speaking people moved to the area that encompasses present-day South Sudan, Northern Uganda, and North-EasternCongo (DRC) – forming theAlur,Jonam andAcholi.
Between the middle of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, some Luo groups proceeded eastwards. One group calledPadhola (orJopadhola - people of Adhola), led by a chief called Adhola, settled inBudama in Eastern Uganda. They settled in a thickly forested area as a defence against attacks from Bantu neighbours who had already settled there. This self-imposed isolation helped them maintain their language and culture amidst Bantu and Ateker communities.
Those who went further a field were the Jo k'Ajok and Jo k'Owiny. The Ajok Luo moved deeper into the Kavirondo Gulf; their descendants are the present-day Jo Kisumo and Jo Karachuonyo amongst others. Jo k'Owiny occupied an area near Got Ramogi or Ramogi hill in Alego of Siaya district. The Owiny's ruins are still identifiable to this day at Bungu Owiny nearLake Kanyaboli.
The other notable Luo group is the Omolo Luo who inhabited Ugenya and Gem areas of Siaya district. The last immigrants were the Jo Kager, who are related to the Omollo Luo. Their leader Ochieng Waljak Ger used his advanced military skill to drive away the Omiya or Bantu groups, who were then living in present-day Ugenya around 1750AD.
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Between about 1500 and 1800, other Luo groups crossed into present-dayKenya and eventually into present-dayTanzania. They inhabited the area on the banks ofLake Victoria. According to theJoluo, a warrior chief namedRamogi Ajwang led them into present-day Kenya about 500 years ago.
As in Uganda, some non-Luo people in Kenya have adopted Luo languages. A majority of theBantuSuba people in Kenya speakDholuo as a first language and have largely been assimilated.
The Luo inKenya, who call themselvesJoluo ("people of Luo"), are the fourth largest community in Kenya after theKikuyu,Luhya andKalenjin. In 2017 their population was estimated to be 6.1 million. In Tanzania they numbered (in 2010) an estimated 1,980,000[1]. The Luo in Kenya and Tanzania call their languageDholuo, which is mutually intelligible (to varying degrees) with the languages of the Alur, Acoli, and Padhola of Uganda, South Sudan and Jo Nam or Alur of Congo.
The Luo (or Joluo) are traditional fishermen and practice fishing as their main economic activity. Other cultural activities included wrestling (yii or dhao)kwath for the young boys aged 13 to 18 in their age sets. Their main rivals in the 18th century were the Lango, the Highland Nilotes, who traditionally engaged them in fierce bloody battles, most of which emanated from the stealing of their livestock.
The Luo people of Kenya are nilotes and are related to the Nilotic people. The Luo people of Kenya are the fourth largest community in Kenya after theKikuyu and, together with their brethren in Tanzania, form the largest singleethnic group in East Africa.
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This includes peoples who share Luo ancestry and/or speak a Luo language.
