Luos have remained true to their ancient cultured despite the invasion of Western civilization.
Most of their traditions have remained intact, though they have not shied away from letting go of harmful ancient practices.
1. Inherited women are buried outside the fence
When a woman is married off, she becomes the daughter of her husband's people and is referred to as 'Migogo' by her people.
This limits some of her actions back at her parent's home and is expected to spend most of her time at her new home among others.
She is also expected to be buried at her husband's home in the unfortunate event that death strikes.
In the event that she divorces her husband, is chased away, or decides to exit her marriage and comes back and dies at home, then she is buried near the fence, on the outside.
This is because she had already left the boundaries of the homestead and cannot rest within the home.
2. Your mother in law is your grandmother
In most cultures around Kenya, ones husband's mother is her mother in law, but that is not the case when you get married in Luo Nyanza.
Instead, in Nyanza, the mother of one's husband is referred to as their grandmother or 'Dani' and not a mother in law.
But the mother of a man's wife is referred to as 'Maro'.
3. Firstborns live at the gate
Firstborn Luo males are not wanted anywhere near the centre of their father's homestead and are instead required to build their 'Simba' (a young man's hut) at the entrance of the homestead.
This is because they are considered the strongest men in the family and are therefore paraded on the front line in case of an attack on the homestead.
The father's house is built at the centre of the homestead facing the gate.
#hivisasaoriginal.