History books are a gem.
This book accounts for the Luos of Kenya, giving brief history accounts while naming the who is who in the Luo clans.
The parts that I found intriguing were the beginnings of every chapter where the author spills the beginnings of each clan.
The book is rich in history about the Luo, albeit briefly.
Luos or dholuo-speaking people are spread all over east and parts of central Africa and it is great to note that as the title suggests, this book is about the Luo of Kenya.
The author makes this clear in the formative chapter by starting with Ancient Luo History where he delves into their spread from Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
In Kenya, 8-4-4 taught us the four Luo sub-groups or cluster of clans i.e. Joka-Jok, Jo-Komolo, Jo-kowiny and Luo-Abasuba. The last, being more of Bantu (Luhyas from Uganda) than Nilotic. Anyways, that’s my opinion.
Nevertheless, it is in the folklore that the author shares, where one’s appetite is whetted, as the stereotype about Luos as fierce defenders of justice comes to the fore.
If you want a book that gives you an overdose of Luo swag in its glory, then Stephen Osieyo does it.
It is a collector’s item that should be on every Kenyan shelf.
Buy the book from Nuria Store.