Kenya’s veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga, is set to be laid to rest in Bondo, Siaya County, with both state and traditional rites planned in his honour.
The State Funeral Committee announced that Raila’s interment will follow Anglican Church traditions. However, as a respected Luo elder and statesman, several traditional ceremonies unique to the Luo community have already been initiated to honour his 'passage to the ancestral world'.
Death Announcement
The first step, according to Luo custom, is the announcement of death, locally known as Tero Ywak, which is a ritual that marks the beginning of mourning. Traditionally, the wife of the deceased is the first to announce the death through wailing before others join in.
During this time, drums are beaten, and messengers are sent to neighbouring homes to spread the news, with the time of announcement often depending on the age, gender and social standing of the deceased.
Body Preparations
Once the death is announced, family members and elders proceed to prepare the body by washing and dressing it in clean, often formal or traditional attire. This task is performed by close relatives of the same gender, after which the body is laid in the house or a specially prepared hut where mourners can pay their last respects.
Night Vigil
Night vigils, known as arita, follow soon after. According to Luo customs, family members, friends, and villagers gather to mourn, sing dirges, and recount the life and achievements of the deceased.
As per the customs, fires are lit outside the house, known as magenga, to keep mourners warm and symbolically provide warmth to the spirit of the deceased. The vigils then continue until the day of burial, with relatives remaining at the homestead throughout.
During the vigil night, usually on the eve of the burial day, the body is taken to specific areas/houses in the compound.
If the man died in the parents' homestead, the body is first taken to the mother's house before dawn, or if the man had established his homestead, he also has to be taken inside his house.
Burial Ceremony
According to Luo customs, because burials could be done inside houses, the grave is usually dug on the right side of the main house for men and the left for women.
The event is led by a senior elder or clan leader, who oversees prayers, speeches, and traditional blessings during which libations may also be poured to appease ancestors and ensure the safe passage of the deceased’s spirit.
Appeasing Spirits (Tero Buru)
One of the most important post-burial rituals is Tero Buru, a ceremony performed to cleanse death from the homestead.
It is, however, important to note that this was done in two phases, before the burial and after the burial.
Men and boys, accompanied by cattle and goats, used to parade around the compound, blowing horns and singing war songs.
The ritual, which dates back generations, is meant to drive away evil spirits, honour the deceased’s spirit, and demonstrate unity within the community, according to Luo customs.
Shaving Ceremony
After the burial, relatives observe the shaving ceremony (liedo), usually held four days later, where the spouse and children of the deceased are shaved first, symbolising purification. This was usually done by the elder sister of the deceased and could be done along water bodies, such as rivers, to signify the purification process.
Succession
In accordance with traditional Luo customs, succession or inheritance follows soon after the burial, where a close male relative may symbolically 'inherit' the widow, not necessarily for marriage, but to preserve the deceased’s homestead and maintain family continuity. This practice, though less common today, still carries cultural importance in many Luo families.
Grave Maintainance
As time passes, the family continues to honour the deceased through grave maintenance and remembrance ceremonies, just like in modern contemporary cultures. These are often conducted on anniversaries or major family gatherings where offerings, songs, and communal feasts are held to keep the elder’s memory alive and to ensure peace within the lineage.
The Luo community believes that death does not mark the end of existence but rather the transition into the ancestral world. Through these rituals, the deceased is welcomed among the ancestors, who are thought to protect and guide the living.
