AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF LUO TRADITIONAL VIEW ON THE CONTEMPORARY LUO-MUSLIM CONCEPTUALIZATION OF DEATH IN KENDU BAY, KENYA

Abstract

This study has attempted to investigate the impact that Luo traditional view has on the contemporary Luo Muslims conceptualization of death. The study consists of eight chapters. In the introductory Chapter one, a discovery is made on how the triple religions (Christianity, Islam and ATR) have interacted with each other in Africa. A specific reference touching on the origin and the spread of the Luos from their homeland in South Sudan to Kenya and in Kendu Bay in particular has been made. The contact of the Luos in Kendu Bay with Islam has also been narrated. In Chapter Two, a review has been made on the exisiting material by different authors. The center of focus is on how different communities view death and the practices accompanying it. This review has been done with the view of seeing how different communities that have become Muslims in Africa cope with the changes. A special reference in the study of the Luos has made in the light of the event of death of S.M. Otieno that occurred in 1986. In Chapter Three, data was collected from a group of sixty-five Luo Muslims residing in the town of Kendu Bay. Ethnographic research method was used. Data was analyzed using Kim’s Synthetic Trinagular Approach, STA. From this approach, a theoritical approach that provides a description of Luo traditional elements in LuoMuslim perception of death was developed. Chapter Four explains how Islam has influenced the Luo-Muslim traditional view of death. The teachings are centered on the meanings and causes that Luo Muslims give to death, and the kind of rituals that they follow right from the time somebody dies to the time he or she is buried and after. The Chapter has also sought to explain the outcome that Islamic teachings bring on the Luo-Muslim view of death. Chapter Five basically deals with the elements of Luo tradition in the Luo-Muslim perception of death. In looking at the Luo traditional elements, the Luo-Muslim funeral was first divided into three stages: initial, middle and later stage. The three domains that emerged from those three stages are the total, partial and non-Islamic domains. In each stage also, similarities and differences between Islamic and Luo traditional elements. Chapter Six views the effects of Luo traditional elements on Luo-Muslim understanding of death and its related practices. The influences were viewed in each stage of the Luo-Muslim funeral. In each stage also, the elements of continuity and discontinuity of the Luo-Muslim view of death and its related rituals were explored. Chapter Seven deals with the synthetic conceptualization of death among the contemporary Luo Muslims in Kendu Bay. The chapter is divided into two. The first part describes the religio-cultural characteristics and themes underlying Luo-Muslim views of death. The second part highlights the Luo-Muslim conceptualization of death as reflected in the funerals of the Luo Muslims. Chapter Eight gives a summary of the findings, and recommendations. The need to keep due diligence to the past and present orientation of the Luo Muslims has been underlined. The Islam that Luo Muslim practice is contextual. There is therefore need to differentiate Islam from a Muslim when conducting a research in any Muslim context.