The Luo are among the leading communities in the nation, both in terms of population and political domination.
Members of this community have several nicknames they use to refer to each other.
The nicknames are common among the youth, but once in a while, you will find the elderly teasing each other using nicknames.
Here are some of the common nicknames used by members of the Luo community:
1. Onagi
Onagi is among Luo nicknames which remains unknown to many other Kenyans, yet largely used by members of the community.
It translates to people who have their teeth uprooted, a rite of passage that was previously practiced in Luo Nyanza.
The tradition included uprooting six lower teeth as a rite of passage, which has now been largely abandoned for circumcision.
2. Nyikwa Ramogi Ajwang
This is another of the nicknames Luos use to identify themselves with. It translates to 'grandchildren of Ramogi Ajwang'.
Ramogi Ajwang is considered the founder of the community and the man believed to have been the first one to occupy Luo Nyanza.
3. Jokanyanam
It translates to 'people from the lake', given that Luos hail from regions surrounding Lake Victoria, better known as Nam Lolwe to them.
At the same time, others refer to themselves as Joluo, a name that though used by majority of Kenyans, is actually a Luo word and not a Swahili one.
It refers to people of Luo, Luo being the land occupied by members of the group.