Opposition Chief Raila Odinga has maintained that the ongoing Luo Cultural Festival is not meant to sideline other communities.
Mr Odinga, who was the chief guest at the opening of the festival dubbed “Piny Luo” being held in Siaya County, stated that the event was only meant to celebrate the Luo culture and ensure the younger generation understood their roots.
Mr Odinga appreciated the fact that the event was being held at a time when there is a resurgence of nationalist aspirations.
“The emerging multinational aspirations do not seek to undermine the national project in their host countries but rather to harness the linguistic, cultural and social fabric upon which most nation-states were built,” said Mr Odinga.
Aside from sharing the history of the Luo community, Mr Odinga ventured into continental issues saying how colonialists ensured that states were engineered from above through artificially created boundaries.
The consequences of these colonial boundaries, he said, were the fragmentation of cohesive lingual and cultural communities, which were dismembered, separated and distributed among different states to satisfy colonial ambitions for socio-economic control and exploitation.
“Despite these divisions, pre-colonial African ‘nations’ have demonstrated remarkable resilience, continuing to thrive across nationalities imposed upon them by colonial powers,” said Mr Odinga.
Mr Odinga spoke at Migwena Cultural Sports Ground where he officially opened the fourth edition of the Piny Luo festival bringing together Luo Nation from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Present were Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Mr Opiyo Wandayi, Governors James Orengo (Siaya), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Siaya senator Dr Oburu Oginga, and a host of members of the National Assembly.
Also present in the festival that was attended by thousands was Roots Party Leader George Wajackoyah, United Democratic
Alliance Party Secretary General Mr Hassan Omar and Chairman of the Luo Council of elders Ker Odungi Randa.
He narrated the history of the Luo and how they ended up in Got Ramogi in Kenya having migrated from South Sudan.
Luos from across Africa and the diaspora also joined the gathering, at the foot of Got Ramogi — the revered shrine of the Kenyan Luo — to reflect on “the state of the Luo nation” in the spirit of unity in diversity.
“We are also joined by non-Luo participants, who have come to celebrate alongside Luos, embracing unity and shared heritage that transcends national borders,” said Mr Odinga.
Siaya Senator Dr Oginga said his father and Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was passionate about Luo unity not for the purposes of Luo culture only, but also in business.
Dr Oginga and the opposition Chief narrated how their parents met at Migwena during the sports and cultural events.
“My mother was a guest runner in the race and beat all the competitors, attracting the attention of Jaramogi. My father said she wanted to see her and therefore sent emissaries to her and the rest is history,” said Mr Odinga.
Politics also featured in the event, with some leaders touching on the ongoing debate surrounding abductions of anti-government critics.
“Raila is a great Kenyan because of what he stands for. You will find that anytime we have made a decision to work with partners, Raila will never allow you to do what is wrong. I am glad that when it came to the issue of abductions, he spoke plainly and did not mince his words,” said Mr Orengo.
Mr Wajackoyah also touched on the abduction issue asking Mr Odinga to talk to the president over the disappearances.
He pointed out that the greatest asset the Luo community has is the sense of justice adding that many people from the community including Tom Mboya, Jaramogi and Argwings Kodhek stood tall for justice.
"We are gathered here not to preach exclusivity like other people preach about mountains. We believe in unity and diversity and that is what is going to make us great," said Mr Orengo.
He added that the fact that President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni will be attending is a testimony that it is an all-inclusive festival.
The cultural festival embraces a multifaceted theme: fostering unity in diversity, not only among Luos across national borders, but also among diverse national groups unified by their shared African identity.
Over the three days, Luo people will celebrate their traditional cuisines, rediscover and adapt the cultures to modernity, engage in games and enjoy art, music and festivities cherished by their forefathers.
They will also deliberate on the state of the Luo nation and chart a way forward in a rapidly changing world.
The festival will then end with the official opening of the Siaya Stadium where members of parliament from the region will play against Piny Luo combined in a curtain raiser match before the main match between Kenya’s Gor Mahia and Kitara FC from Uganda.
