power point presentation for hero in world literature class

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Luo Mythology Luo Mythology The Tale Of Luanda Magere The Tale Of Luanda Magere

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Page 1: Power point presentation for hero in world literature class

Luo MythologyLuo Mythology

The Tale Of Luanda MagereThe Tale Of Luanda Magere

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Who Are The Luo?Who Are The Luo? The Luo people originally came from Sudan and migrated The Luo people originally came from Sudan and migrated

south to the Nyanza province around Lake Victoria. Today the south to the Nyanza province around Lake Victoria. Today the areas which the Luo occupy are Migori, Homa bay, Kisumu, areas which the Luo occupy are Migori, Homa bay, Kisumu, Bondo, Rachuonyo, Nyando and Siaya Districts. The Luo call Bondo, Rachuonyo, Nyando and Siaya Districts. The Luo call themselves themselves Jo-LuoJo-Luo (the Luo people) and the language they (the Luo people) and the language they speak is speak is DholuoDholuo (the Luo Language). The word Luo is said to (the Luo Language). The word Luo is said to be related to the word be related to the word luwo, luwo, which means to follow. which means to follow. Historically it is believed that the Luo followed the river Nile Historically it is believed that the Luo followed the river Nile valley southwards in search of pasture to the shores of Lake valley southwards in search of pasture to the shores of Lake Victoria where they eventually settled. The progeny of the Luo Victoria where they eventually settled. The progeny of the Luo can be traced all the way back to Sudan. These include the can be traced all the way back to Sudan. These include the Acholi and Jo-Padhola from Uganda together with the Alur, Acholi and Jo-Padhola from Uganda together with the Alur, Dinka, Anyuak and Shiluk from Sudan (Miruka 1).Dinka, Anyuak and Shiluk from Sudan (Miruka 1).

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Luo Philosophy and ReligionLuo Philosophy and Religion . The religious beliefs of the Luo are centered around . The religious beliefs of the Luo are centered around

questions such asquestions such as “ “what will become of man after his death? what will become of man after his death? And what are the causes of man’s suffering and remedies to And what are the causes of man’s suffering and remedies to

them?” them?” Such complex questions according to the Luo, can only be Such complex questions according to the Luo, can only be

tackled by “man himself since it is only man among all tackled by “man himself since it is only man among all animals that can imitate the arts of making, or try to cure, try animals that can imitate the arts of making, or try to cure, try to change nature. The one who created them so must in some to change nature. The one who created them so must in some way be in the form of man himself. In many languages we find way be in the form of man himself. In many languages we find this man as “God”, in the Luo language he is known asthis man as “God”, in the Luo language he is known as Juoke Juoke or or NyasayeNyasaye. .

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Luo Philosophy and ReligionLuo Philosophy and Religion

Luo religious thought holds the following Luo religious thought holds the following fundamental ideas: fundamental ideas:

1. The entire universe was created by and continues 1. The entire universe was created by and continues to be sustained by the supreme being.to be sustained by the supreme being.

2. Everything that happens does so because it was 2. Everything that happens does so because it was willed to be so by the supreme being.willed to be so by the supreme being.

3. Man is the centre of all creation, and all things 3. Man is the centre of all creation, and all things were given to him by the creator. (Ayayo 166)”were given to him by the creator. (Ayayo 166)”

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The Luo Concept of God and the The Luo Concept of God and the UniverseUniverse

The concept of The concept of Nyasaye Nyasaye as an omnipresent deity is referred to as an omnipresent deity is referred to among the Luo as among the Luo as NyakalagaNyakalaga. .

In Luo mythologym In Luo mythologym Nyasaye Nyasaye as the creator of the universe is as the creator of the universe is known as known as Nyasaye-JachwechNyasaye-Jachwech, which means , which means NyasayeNyasaye-the -the molder. molder.

The Luo therefore believe that The Luo therefore believe that Nyasaye Nyasaye is the supreme essence is the supreme essence that created the sky (polo), the earth (piny) as well as various that created the sky (polo), the earth (piny) as well as various other terrestrial elements that are useful to man. “It should be other terrestrial elements that are useful to man. “It should be emphasized that the concept of the supreme being, the divine emphasized that the concept of the supreme being, the divine creator, has been, among the Luo, part of an orally transmitted creator, has been, among the Luo, part of an orally transmitted wealth of proverbs, songs, prayers, myths, religious wealth of proverbs, songs, prayers, myths, religious ceremonies and various rituals of daily life ceremonies and various rituals of daily life

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Nyasae and the Concept of JuokNyasae and the Concept of Juok The land of the spirits is referred to by the Luo as The land of the spirits is referred to by the Luo as piny juok.piny juok. According to Luo mythology, a person rejoins According to Luo mythology, a person rejoins piny juokpiny juok in the in the

after life. This land is believed to be located either bellow the after life. This land is believed to be located either bellow the sea or bellow the earth. The Luo myth of genesis recounts how sea or bellow the earth. The Luo myth of genesis recounts how originally man came from the underworld through a hole. originally man came from the underworld through a hole.

It is from the basis of this belief that the Luo sometimes buried It is from the basis of this belief that the Luo sometimes buried their dead within the reach of a river or a lake, so that the soul their dead within the reach of a river or a lake, so that the soul (chuny) could more easily return to its point of origin.(chuny) could more easily return to its point of origin.

Nyasae and Juok are one and the same person.Nyasae and Juok are one and the same person. The spiritual being, The spiritual being, Juok, Juok, is normally a totality of spirits, is normally a totality of spirits,

souls, shadows, and ghosts. souls, shadows, and ghosts. Juok Juok manifests itself either manifests itself either through a living organism, i.e. a totem or through a vision, through a living organism, i.e. a totem or through a vision, natural phenomena, or dreams. The ancestor spiritual being, natural phenomena, or dreams. The ancestor spiritual being, JuokJuok may dwell in a large rock may dwell in a large rock

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Nyasae and The Concept of JuokNyasae and The Concept of Juok From the concept of From the concept of Juok,Juok, we can observe that the Luo spirits we can observe that the Luo spirits

belong to a dualistic world view which assumes that dual belong to a dualistic world view which assumes that dual characteristics of man exist, i.e. characteristics of man exist, i.e.

his spiritual element, and its bodily counterpart were created his spiritual element, and its bodily counterpart were created as such and grow in the same ratio. The infinitely oldest of as such and grow in the same ratio. The infinitely oldest of them all isthem all is Juok Juok. .

He represents the very belief on age as the accumulation of He represents the very belief on age as the accumulation of knowledge and wisdom. He is the wisest, the one who has knowledge and wisdom. He is the wisest, the one who has knowledge beyond our knowledge. knowledge beyond our knowledge.

He is the source of supernatural power and the one with the He is the source of supernatural power and the one with the highest power. The divinities of the underworld are highest power. The divinities of the underworld are personifications of personifications of JuokJuok’s activities and manifestations of ’s activities and manifestations of natural spirits and heroes including mythological personalities, natural spirits and heroes including mythological personalities, and of all other forces derived from and of all other forces derived from JuokJuok.’ (173).’ (173)

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The Luo Myth about the Origins of The Luo Myth about the Origins of DeathDeath

As the creator of all things physical and metaphysical As the creator of all things physical and metaphysical Nyasaye Nyasaye is also the creator of death. The Luo therefore believe that is also the creator of death. The Luo therefore believe that death reflects death reflects Nyasae’sNyasae’s wisdom, since how could life go on wisdom, since how could life go on without death? The earth would soon be filled up.without death? The earth would soon be filled up.

There would not be enough pastures for the cattle, not enough There would not be enough pastures for the cattle, not enough land on which to build houses, not enough fields to cultivate. land on which to build houses, not enough fields to cultivate. According to a common saying:According to a common saying:

When a child is being trained or educated it may think that When a child is being trained or educated it may think that that it is being maltreated, but an adult understands the that it is being maltreated, but an adult understands the purpose. In the same way one must see the relationship purpose. In the same way one must see the relationship between between NyasayeNyasaye and his creation, including man and his creation, including man

These beliefs and philosophies are mythologicaly explained in These beliefs and philosophies are mythologicaly explained in Luo oral narratives (e.g. the chameleon who condemned man Luo oral narratives (e.g. the chameleon who condemned man to death.)to death.)

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The Role of Oral Literature in Luo The Role of Oral Literature in Luo SocietySociety

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The Role of Oral Literature in Luo The Role of Oral Literature in Luo SocietySociety

Siwindhe: Regular Siwindhe: Regular children’s tales were children’s tales were told heretold here

Simba: Bachelor hutSimba: Bachelor hut Duol: This is the main Duol: This is the main

mens only hut. Tales of mens only hut. Tales of Bravery were told here Bravery were told here

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The Tale of Luanda MagereThe Tale of Luanda Magere

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KisumuKisumu

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Agakhan HospitalAgakhan Hospital

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Kit MikaeKit Mikae

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Nyamgondho Son of Ombare and Nyamgondho Son of Ombare and Simbi NyaimaSimbi Nyaima