On Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 youths drawn from the luo communities living in the four counties of Homabay, Siaya, Kisumu and Migori in Kenya engaged in various sporting activities at Wich Lum Beach in Bondo town, Siaya County in Kenya.
The event that included boat race and wrestling competitions was graced by key dignitaries including the South Sudan Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Others were Governors James Orengo, Dr. George Mbogo Ochilo Ayako of Migori County, Prof Anyan’g Nyon’go of Kisumu and Gladys Wanga of Homabay.
It started with a boat race competition that had four teams from the luo dominating counties in Kenya and followed by the wrestling session.
Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda will on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 jointly close the annual luo cultural event at Jaramogi Odinga Odinga Stadium in Siaya County, Kenya.
Grace Adhiambo, the spokesperson of the 4th Piny Luo festival organizing committee said, sporting and cultural activities like tradition dances are key event of the celebration and it’s meant to encourage youth into harnessing talents, promoting unity and physical fitness among them.
According to Adhiambo, the 2024 festival is being celebrated under the theme: Spirit of the Luo nation, Luo unity in diversity and in the Luo Diaspora.
The luo communities later held a dialogue at Got Rwamogi in Bondo town where the first luo group is believed to have entered Kenya from.
During the session, several elders including Prof. Bethwel Ogot, Dr. John Olara Otunu addressed the cultural enthusiasts.
Prof. Ogot, a renown luo elder in his pre-recorded message, appealed to Luo communities to strictly preserve their rich cultural values and encourage youth to embrace cultures. He appealed for peaceful coexistence among all the luo communities spread in Africa with other ethnic groups.
Governor James Orengo of Siaya County who is the host for this year’s festival said the cultural aims at bringing all the Luo communities together in a huge attempt to preserve their rich cultural values.
A total of 30 chiefs and delegates from Acholi tribal group, and 16 clan elders from Lango and others from Uganda are participating in this year’s luo festival.
The 2025 luo festival will be held in Migori County.
Luo festival often attracts representations from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda and it is meant to inspire celebrations of the rich luo cultural heritage through various sporting and cultural activities.
