Bravado and pride, the key tenets of the Luo

OgwaluMapesa · 2011-08-29T08:42:00+00:00

If you dont have a friend from the lakeside, you are missing out on a serious part of what makes Kenya They have a flamboyant nature and sense of style founded on three tenets, pakruok (self praise), nyadhi (bravado) and sunga (pride). he fans who prefer to be referred to as followers don replica jerseys emblazoned with names denoting the three tenets .It is not uncommon to find a fan putting on a jersey inscribed with the writings reading owad gi agwambo (Agwambos brother), Wuod Gem (I hail from Gem) denoting that the wearer is proud of his birth place while wuoyi mosomo (highly educated) indicating the wearers high level of education. This is in addition to their polished and eloquence in command of the English language, otherwise known as The Queens English. The Luo tribe also brags of many professionals dominant in nearly every area of Kenyas economic sectors and policy making. owever, scholars from this region maintain that the communitys sense of pride and self-praise are undertaken in good faith. Prof Ouma Onyango, a history lecturer at Maseno University says the communitys chest-thumping is not done out of arrogance but as appreciation to the efforts they have invested to attain their achievements. "Luos will always appreciate anything that has been achieved out of honest and sincere efforts. They do not confine praises only to their family members and relatives but will spread it to all those who are worthy of praise," says the don. While drinking in places where the traditional nyatiti (five- stringed lyre) is played, a part of the session involves the revellers paying the nyatiti player a fee to be given a brief mention of their achievements after which a song is composed instantly about them. Peter Kimani from Central Kenya says, "If you dont have a friend from the lakeside, you are missing out on a serious part of what makes Kenya." "These brothers of ours are the most versatile of our tribes. They pride themselves in being the hardest working and most learned in Kenya. They can be found in large numbers in all social groupings, from the manual labourers in the quarries to university halls the world over, they are found everywhere," he says. Kimani says his good friend Calistus MakOdhiambo jokingly tells him that Luos go to school to become learned while the rest simply receive an education. Issues of class and social position are very important among the Luos and they will rarely cross barriers. The common questions to ascertain where one belongs include where did you go to school or who was your teacher and who are your classmates now. Appreciated by others Nairobi-based psychologist Paul Maranga says there is nothing wrong with self-praise if it is not done in excess. "There is nothing wrong in praising yourself if you have done something really good. It is praising yourself in front of other people that is wrong, because people might think you are bragging about your achievements and qualities, sort of blowing your own trumpet in front of others, which I guess no one likes," he says. "When you appreciate yourself you will be appreciated by others. You cannot appreciate something about another person unless it reflects something you appreciate about yourself. Building your self-confidence and ability to manage work and your relationships will empower you to give your best effort. Maranga says praising oneself for a job well done and encouraging oneself to do better will give one a greater sense of empowerment. "The more confident you feel about yourself and your abilities, the less you will need to be validated by others," he adds.Xinhua-

Thread starter OgwaluMapesa
Start date Aug 29, 2011

OgwaluMapesa

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Bravado and pride, the key tenets of the Luo

OgwaluMapesa

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