A history of the Luo of South Nyanza 1590 - 1930

Abstract

A history of the Luo of South Nyanza" is the outcome of a study of the Luo peoples of South Nyanza. The fieldwork was carried out between 1976 and 1978. The luo people occupy the area which is politically divinded ..LuLu Mbita, Roma Bay, Karachuonyo, Kabondo/Kasipul, Ndthiwa and Migori constituencies. However, in certain areas such as Mbita and Migori constituencies, the early inhabitants were basically Bantu speakers and through a process of cultural assimilation, some of these people today speak Dholuo and are grouped as the Luo. • The people of Migori constituency are an amalgamation of many ethnic groups and this work does not cover them. Among them are the Abakuria whose history has been provided by Abuso. The Luo country, on the other hand, comprises the Kanyamwa, Kabwoch, Kwabwaw'i, Kanyikela, Kanyidoto, Karungu, Kadem, Karachuonyo which is further ", sub~divided into Lower and Upper Karachuonyo, the latter being composed of Kabondo and Kasipul. Then there are other areas and these are Kanyada, Kochia, Kagan, Gem, Kamagambo, Sakwa and Kanyamkago. All these areas are in the mainland South Nyanza.