THE LUO ORIGIN OF MAN

Forget Adam & Eve

Our ancestors never believed in the existence of man as potrayed by science or religion. They had their own myths and legends to account for their origin. One of the most fascinating Kenyan myth is that of the Luo community.

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According to an account given by Gor Ogada (Gor Wuod Ogada nyakwar Ogalo) popularly known as Chief Gor Mahia K'Ogallo of Kanyamwa to Charles Hobley the first administrator of Kavirondo...

...Apodho was the father of all mankind & he appeared on earth together with the sun,the wind, and the moon.He brought with him to earth a spear, a shield and fire.
Buffaloes & the cattle came out of the sea,probably Nam Lolwe (today's Lake Victoria) & were hearded by mankind.

But one day the buffalo broke away & took to the forest refusing to become tame like the cattle.Gor Mahia went on to narrate that,after Apodho's arrival on earth,he ordered the moon to kill an ox,but the moon refused.He then told the sun & the wind,but they also refused.

So he killed the ox himself with a blow from his fist. Thereafter, he offered some meat to the sun, the wind and the moon but they all refused to eat. Sensing Apodho's anger, the moon, the sun, and the wind fled back to the heavens where they have stayed ever since.

Apodho always told his children that he had left a beautiful country in heaven where people were all bright like fire, and that when they died,they would all go and meet these bright people.

According to Gor Mahia, Mbuga the eldest son of Ramogi, was the first member of Luo tribe to migrate southward into Kavirondo(Nyanza) followed by his brothers.

Upon arrival they found the Kavirondo Bantus (Luhyas were known as Kavirondo Bantus) had occupied the whole land, but they gradually drove them back.

K'Ogallo also explained that the Bantus of Nyanza were descendants of a person called Mugirango while the Maasai's were descendants of one young Luo man who strayed away.

The young man had been sent to herd cattle, but absconded and disappeared into the forest. One woman crept away and joined him, and together they became progenitors of the Maasai.He gave this as a reason why the Maasai eat herbs and drink milk to this day.

On the Nandi and the Kipsigis,he explained that they were descendants of Alang'o the son of Ramogi (Luo ancestor, who was also the grandson of Apodho).It was Ramogi,who taught the Luos the custom of mixing cow's urine with the milk,according to Gor Mahia.

All other people on earth including Europeans were descendants of Rajwogi.

Ever heard Raila Odinga claim Luos are related to both Luhyas, Kalenjins, Maasais and Europeans? This where he got the mythology.