Luo Inspired - Rekindling my Roots

Hey everyone, I’m Adler, and I’m so excited to welcome you to my very first blog of my new podcast Luo Inspired. To celebrate the launch of the new blog, I wanted to share the reason why I chose to start this blog and take a minute to introduce myself, and also let you know what inspired me to create this space.

So if you might have guessed by now, yes I am a Luo and I come from a wonderful place in Luo Nyanza called Asembo Piny Maber which means Beautiful land with beautiful people. Yes Please! I have a background in Journalism and I have worked in radio before so the idea of startng a blog and doing a podcast was long overdue and that’s how Luo Inspired was born. The real reason why I chose this topic is because, right now I am more than ever interested to know more about my people and culture.

I was born and raised in Nairobi and because of this, I did not have a lot of the Luo culture instilled in me. I know my Nairobians can back me up on this! Literally, because of the estate I grew up in, my next-door neighbor was never a Luo, they were either Turkana, Somali, Meru, Kamba etc. also in school it was the same case just a mixture of different cultures coming together as opposed to people who when to school in shags (village) and interacted with people predominantly from their tribe.

I remember as a kid my parents spoke to each other in Dholuo but to me and my siblings, it was either in Swahili or in English. And when it comes to Shagz wah don't even talk, because of the distance between Nairobi and Siaya, we didn't travel so often to visit our grandparents. And because of this, I have felt a cultural gap. As much as my parents were my first guardians and had to play a role in instilling culture, my grandparents and going to the village should have also played a big part. Even as an adult, I see other tribes share their culture like the Maasais with their Shukas and the Kikuyus with their Ruracio and it was only until a few years ago that I knew the name equivalent to an Introduction Marriage in Luo which is called Ayie, I mean guys, there is so much to unpack here!

Also as an aspiring mother, I want to change the narrative of children from the Luo community that are born in the Big cities or in the Diaspora who feel lost when it comes to their culture or have no idea about their history. I also want to give or rather inspire some sense of pride and nobility in association with being a Luo. There is so much to learn about our culture, so many notable events and people who have made us proud. This is a personal journey of self-discovery that I want to go into and I am inviting you to join me. So pose for a minute, look inside and ask yourself, where do I come from?

I hope you've enjoyed this small narration of my reason to start the blog and I look forward to bringing you many more captivating stories and insights.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to cultural experts, artists, storytellers, and members of the Luo community who have generously shared their knowledge and experiences with me. Your contributions have enriched our understanding and deepened our connection to our heritage.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you, my excellent readers. Your support, engagement, and enthusiasm have been truly inspiring. It is your curiosity and love for our culture that drives us to continue celebrating and preserving the beauty of Luo traditions.

If you haven't already, make sure to follow to the"LuoInspired" website and follow us on social media. We're on Instagram and Twitter @LuoInspired. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts, stories, and suggestions for future episodes. Let's continue to build a community that cherishes and celebrates the richness of Luo culture.

Remember, the power of storytelling lies in its ability to unite, educate, and inspire. So let's continue to pass down these tales from generation to generation, keeping our traditions alive and thriving.

Until we meet again, may the rhythms of Luo music guide your steps, and may the wisdom of our ancestors be a guiding light on your path. As we say in Luo, "Wuod Luo ni ma Itiegi" – A child of Luo culture is a shining star.

As always, asante sana, and goodbye!