Luo

:This article is about Luo people of Kenya.For the history of Luo people of Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, see Luo history and for their languages, see Luo languages. For the Chinese surnames, see Luo (surname)

Related Topics:
Sudan - Uganda - Kenya - Tanzania - Luo history - Luo languages - Luo (surname)

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The Luo are a people of Kenya, they live on the shores and hinterland of Lake Victoria. They speak the Dholuo language, which belongs to the Western Nilotic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. They are famous for, and proud of, their own egalitarian ideology. The Luo are one of the few tribes in Kenya that do not practice ritual circumcision of males as initiation. Traditionally, children had their six front teeth knocked out at initiation. This ritual is rare these days.

Related Topics:
Kenya - Lake Victoria - Dholuo language - Western Nilotic - Nilo-Saharan - Egalitarian - Ritual - Circumcision - Initiation

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The ancestors of the Luo were pastoral nomads who migrated south from Sudan towards the end of the 15th Century (see Luo history). The Luo first settled in central Uganda, but were gradually pushed southwards and eastwards by encroaching Bantu migrants. Remnants of this are evident in the Jopadhola, Lango, Acholi, Kumam and Alur populations of Uganda, who speak Luo languages. Intermarriage was common and the Luo were influenced by the Bantu-speaking tribes they came in contact with.

Related Topics:
Pastoral - Nomads - Sudan - 15th Century - Luo history - Uganda - Bantu - Jopadhola - Lango - Acholi - Kumam - Alur - Luo languages

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By the 1840's, the Luo had a tight-knit society with ruoths or regional chiefs. In 1915 the Colonial Government sent Odera Akang'o, the ruoth of Gem, to Kampala, Uganda. He was impressed by the British settlement there and upon his return home he initiated a forced process of adopting western style of "schooling, dress and hygiene". This resulted in the rapid education of the Luo in the English language and ways.

Related Topics:
1915 - Colonial Government - Kampala - Uganda - English

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The Luo tribe was instrumental in the fight for Kenya's independence, with Oginga Odinga, a Luo leader, becoming the first Vice President of independent Kenya. Barack Obama - an African-American Senator in the United States - traces his lineage through his father to the Luo. The most prominent Luo politician today is Raila Odinga, the son of Oginga Odinga. He is the Minister of Roads and Public Works and is widely credited with enabling Mwai Kibaki to win the last presidential election through the support of his Liberal Democratic Party.

Related Topics:
Kenya - Oginga Odinga - Barack Obama - Raila Odinga - Mwai Kibaki - Liberal Democratic Party

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