5th Piny Luo Festival Opens in Migori, Celebrating Culture, Unity and Development
They called for innovative approaches to cultural transmission, including storytelling, mentorship, and structured community programs.
Social transformation was also touched upon, specifically with regard to the financial burden imposed by lavish funeral rites, with a call to review social practices in light of modern-day economic realities. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The Piny Luo Festival, the fifth edition, opened on Monday at Rongo University in Migori County, and is expected to bring together politicians, cultural custodians, scholars, and the general public. The festival is set to take place annually.
The event will run until the 17th of December and aims at enhancing unity within the Luo ethnic group, as well as cultural preservation and economic empowerment. The estimated number of people belonging to the Luo ethnic group is over 25 million people distributed in different African nations.
The Piny Luo Festival offers an occasion to celebrate Luo identity, to trace our ancestral roots, and to reinvest our shared identity into ensuring our shared cultural heritage for posterity. The organizers of the opening ceremony called for the community to expand how they think of identity, not just names and ancestry, but to share a common vision founded on values, history, growth, and shared responsibility.
ODM Party leader and Sen. for Siaya, Dr. Oburu Oginga, who was the chief guest at the event, said for lasting unity among the Luos, there has to be peace, tolerance, and understanding among them. “Honesty, loyalty, generosity, and inclusion can never be overemphasized,” said Dr. Oginga.
Dr. Oginga observed that through embracing differing views and expressions, the community is able to make their collective progress and achieve greater success and prospering in life. He stated that the festival provides a significant platform for reflection on cultures and the fight to improve livelihoods within the Luo nation.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko urged the Luo community to be proud of the vibrant and progressive cultures that they possess. He noted that although there are ceremonies that are dated and should be discontinued, the traditions should be incorporated to fit into the new lifestyle. Migori County Governor Ochilo Ayacko reiterated that the event provided an essential venue where the community could effectively harness their cultures to drive sustainable development.
Chairperson for the ODM Party and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also repeated the same appeal for unity and said that peace, tolerance, and inclusiveness should form a huge part of the Luo people’s identity. She said that the diverseness of the Luo people in terms of ideas and expressions is a major asset that brings collective prosperity to their lives.
They also spoke about their concerns regarding the exposure of the next generation to cultural heritage being reduced. They have appealed for new ways of engaging the next generation with their cultural heritage.
Economic empowerement was also a prominent focus, with speakers urging a renaissance in agriculture, small-scale businesses, and home industries to help boost economic development in the region of Nyanza. Social transformation was also touched upon, specifically with regard to the financial burden imposed by lavish funeral rites, with a call to review social practices in light of modern-day economic realities. In addition to the dialogues, the festival will promote cultural tourism by visiting Senye Beach and Thimlich Ohinga, which is recognized by UNESCO as a site of heritage. Organizing the festival at Rongo University is also anticipated to uplift the innovation and academic stature of the institution.
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