3. LUO SETTLEMENTS AND HOME STRUCTURES

When the Luo moved into their present territory, there was a lot of warfare between competing groups and therefore a need to defend settlements from attack. Such defences around settlements were either earthworks ( gunda bur ) or stonewalls ( ohinga ). These were usually made in a curve around the living area, and sometimes enclosed several hundred houses ( udi ).

It is thought that with the improvement in security, particularly after the establishment of colonial rule, the Luo began to make individual family homesteads ( dala ) and spread out in villages ( gweng' ) over a larger area of gently undulating land.

The round homestead (dala ) was the settlement unit for a family and was fenced by thickly-grown euphorbia trees (ojuok ) and thorn brush to keep away enemies, intruders and wild animals.

The homestead had a main entrance (rangach ) and other smaller private or secret entrances (rot ). Inside the homestead was a well-defined layout of huts (udi ) and granaries (dero ) surrounding the central cattle pen (kul ).

The huts, especially that of the senior wife were elaborately built but the most important area was the veranda ( agola ), built by extending the thatched roof supported by pillars. It is here that most domestic activities took place including grinding flour, cooking, keeping poultry and small or young domestic animals.

Luoland (Luo Country)

Ceremonies