12/02/2022
LUO HISTORY....
JOKA-OWINY PART 1: ORIGIN AT TEKIDI
The history of Joka-Owiny goes back to Tekidi (Tiekidi) at Ramogi Hills. The Cluster has membership in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.
In Kenya, it comprises:
1. Owiny-Karuoth
2. Jo-Kaugagi
3. Mur and
4. Nyala
5. And their assimilated groups-
(a) Karapul, and
(b) Kanyaboli.
From the onset, I have to confess that the oncoming series will ultimately focus on Joka-Owiny of Kenya. This is despite most of their people being in Uganda.
But then, my endeavour to trace their roots from Rwot Owiny the First, more than a thousand years ago, will also shed good light on the entire community and outline their place in the Luo family vis-a-vis the larger and dominant Jo-ka-Jok Cluster.
In particular, I will finalize by indicating how Joka-Owiny fought, exterminated Jokombekombe Bantus, won, lost to Ugenya and how many of their members were absorbed by Alego (Jo-ka-Jok) and how and why Alego maligned and slandered Joka-Owiny.
As a teaser, you may read my much earlier posts on Ugenya and on Owiny Sigoma.
THE BEGINNING
Many have pestered us to trace the Luo history "from the very beginning". But this was traced in the UNESCO "General History of Africa". For the better part of the past 15,000 years of River Lake Nilotic and Nilotic history, Luo was just a family then Clan called Didinga.
Didinga Clan only 'recently' began referring to themselves as "Luos" approximately 1,500 years ago, during the chieftaincy of the wise and beloved leader Luo 1(the First).
From 11,000 BCE until the destruction of Kemet two thousand years ago, the Nilotic people occupied the Nile valley where they practiced their civilization.
This is thus a longer project for another day.
DOG NAM
The generally accepted beginning of "Luo" is thus at a place called Dog Nam, which is next to a large water body. The exact location of Dog Nam remains a mystery.
Having studied all those great people, I am persuaded that our cradle land was by Lake Turkana and not Bar el Ghaza, by the Nile.
BY THE LAKE
At Dog Nam, Didinga people were led by Sinakuru Kuku Lubanga, a half man-half god character.
Kuku Lubanga had three sons:
1. Boni
2. Olila
3. Koma (later named 'Lwo/Luo")
Luo inherited the chieftaincy and was so loved for his competence and wisdom that all Didinga people started calling themselves "Jo-Luo". Didinga name was abandoned.
Luo had three sons:
1. Olum (from first wife/mikayi- Alipere)
2. Okang
3. Dermor (both from the second wife- Amolo)
The community split into two after a famine broke out.
Olum party went to Tiekidi (Agoro Hills).
Okang and Dermor and their supporters went to Wipacho.
The split was caused by a contention raised by Amolo's sons after she consulted a different fortune teller.
Olum had four sons:
1. Ochola (born during 'chola' after Luo's death)
2. Luru
3. Luo 2 (the Second, named after Luo I).
4. Coo-pe
Tekidi and Wipacho Luos continued visitation and communication.
At Tekidi, Ochola and Luo 2 parted ways after Ochola forced Luo 2 to kill his son and retrieve a bead. (See a lengthy post on the sad tale of "the Spear and the Bead").
Luo 2 migrated and formed Jo-ka-Jok ("People of God") cluster of Luos. This Cluster has membership in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. In Kenya, they include Alego, Karachuonyo, Kasipul, Kabondo, Kanyamwa, Kabuoch, Karungu, Kadem and parts of Seme and Nyakach.
Pajook, Parajok and Padhola of South Sudan and Uganda are part of this.
Luru and Coo-pe also left.
Ochola led Tekidi with competence after the death of Olum.
Ochola begot Abam, who begot Kwor "meaning "bitterness after the fallout").
Kwor was so competent and wise, people at Tekidi began calling themselves "Jo-Lukwor".
In Lukwor/Tekidi emerged a wise leader called Opii. He was the first Luo King. He received the Luo Social Order in a dream from God and then asked all Luo clans and settlements to adopt (see post's on Luo Social Order).
Opii was succeeded by his son Chua Agoda, who was succeeded by his only son Olum Layer.
Layer was succeeded by his son Odong Oburi, who was succeeded by his son Koko, who was succeeded by his son Chua Mera, who was in turn succeeded by his son Obwor, who was succeeded by his son Chua Omal.
"JOKA-OWINY"
Chua Omal was succeeded by Owiny who became the greatest king of Tekidi. Tekidi people abandoned the name Lukwor and began calling themselves Joka-Owiny.
