The Luo, (also spelled Lwo) are several

ethnically An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

and

linguistically Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...

related Nilo-Semitic ethnic groups that inhabit an area ranging from

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...

and

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

, through Northern

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

and eastern Congo (DRC), into western

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, and the

Mara Region Mara Region (''Mkoa wa Mara'' in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of . The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of El Salvador. for El Salvador at The neigh ...

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

. Their

Luo languages The dozen Luo, Lwo or Lwoian languages are spoken by the Luo peoples in an area ranging from southern Sudan to western Ethiopia to southern Kenya, with Dholuo extending into northern Tanzania and Alur into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ...

belong to the

western branch Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that ...

of the Nilotic language family. The Luo groups in South Sudan include the Shilluk, Anuak, Pari, Acholi, Balanda Boor, Thuri and

Luwo The Luwo (also called Jur Chol and Luo of Bahr el Ghazal) are a Nilotic ethnic group that live in the western parts of South Sudan. They are part of a larger group of ethno-linguistically related Luo peoples of East Africa. They speak the Jur lan ...

. Those in Uganda include the Alur, Acholi, Jonam and

Padhola The Adhola people, also known as Jopadhola, are a Nilotic peoples, Nilotic ethnic group of Luo peoples that live in Tororo District of Eastern Uganda and comprise about eight percent of the country's total population. They speak Adhola language ...

. The ones in Kenya and Tanzania are the Joluo (also called Luo in Kenyan English). The Joluo and their language Dholuo are also known as the "Luo proper" by Kenya based observers, even though their dialect has more Bantu loan words than the rest. The level of historical separation between these groups is estimated at about eight centuries. Dispersion from an alleged Nilotic core region in

is presumed to have been triggered by the turmoil of the

Muslim conquest of Sudan The Islamization of the Sudan region (Sahel) encompasses a prolonged period of religious conversion, through military conquest and trade relations, spanning the 8th to 16th centuries. Following the 7th century Muslim conquest of Egypt and t ...

. The migration of individual groups over the last few centuries can to some extent be traced in the respective group's

oral history Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people wh ...

Origins in Sudan

The Luo are part of the

Nilotic The Nilotic peoples are people indigenous to the Nile Valley who speak Nilotic languages. They inhabit South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Among these are the Burun-sp ...

group of people. The Nilotes had separated from the other members of the East Sudanic family by about the 3rd millennium BC. Within Nilotic, Luo forms part of the

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

group. Within Luo, a Northern and a Southern group is distinguished. Dholuo is part of the

Southern Luo Southern Luo is a dialect cluster of Uganda and neighboring countries. Although Southern Luo dialects are mutually intelligible, there are six ethnically and culturally distinct varieties which are considered to be separate languages socially. P ...

group. Northern Luo is mostly spoken in South Sudan, while Southern Luo groups migrated south from the

Bahr el Ghazal Bahr el-Ghazal (Arabic بحر الغزال , also transliterated ''Bahr al-Ghazal'', ''Baḩr al-Ghazāl'', ''Bahr el-Gazel'', or versions of these without the hyphen) may refer to two distinct places, both named after ephemeral or dry rivers. Chad ...

area in the early centuries of the second millennium AD (about eight hundred years ago). A further division within the Northern Luo is recorded in a "widespread tradition" in Luo

: the foundational figure of the Shilluk (or Chollo) nation was a chief named ''Nyikango'', dated to about the mid-15th century. After a quarrel with his brother, he moved northward along the Nile and established a feudal society. The

Pari people Pari (also spelled Paeri) is an ethnic group in South Sudan. They also call themselves Jo-Pari (people of Pari). Pari oral history says the people migrated from the north and west to Lafon County in Equatoria Province, where they lived in six vill ...

descend from the group that rejected Nyikango.

Ethiopia

The Anuak are a Luo people whose villages are scattered along the banks and rivers of the southwestern area of Ethiopia, with others living directly across the border in South Sudan. The name of these people is also spelled Anyuak, Agnwak, and Anywaa. The Anuak of South Sudan lives in a grassy region that is flat and virtually treeless. During the rainy season, this area floods, so that much of it becomes swampland with various channels of deep water running through it. The Anuak who live in the lowlands of Gambela are

Luo people The Luo of Kenya and Tanzania are a Nilotic ethnic group native to western Kenya and the Mara Region of northern Tanzania in East Africa. The Luo are the fourth-largest ethnic group (10.65%) in Kenya, after the Kikuyu (17.13%), the Luhya ( ...

. These have accused the current Ethiopian government of encroachment. The government's oppression has affected the Anuak's access to education, health care, and other basic services, as well as limiting opportunities for the development of the area. The Acholi also spelt Acoli, another Luo people in South Sudan, occupy what is now called Magwi County in Eastern Equatorial State. They border the Uganda Acoli of Northern Uganda. The South Sudan Acholi numbered about 10,000 on the 2008 population Census.

Uganda

Richard Buchta - Portrait of an Acholi man

In the 1500s, a small group of Luo known as the Biito-Luo (Paluo), led by Labongo encountered Bantu-speaking peoples living in the area of

Bunyoro Bunyoro or Bunyoro-Kitara is a Bantu kingdom in Western Uganda. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central and East Africa from the 13th century to the 19th century. It is ruled by the King ('' Omukama'') of Bunyoro-Kitara. The cur ...

. These Luo settled with the Bantu and established the Babiito dynasty, replacing the Bachwezi dynasty of the

Empire of Kitara The Kingdom of the Banyakitara, also known as Union of Kitara (Union of Chwezi) or Chwezi Union, and better known as the Kitara Empire, was an empire in East Africa. It existed in the region from around the early bronze age to about 500 C.E. ...

. According to the legends, Isingoma Mpuga Rukidi (Grandson to Labongo), the first in the line of the Babiito kings of

Bunyoro-Kitara Bunyoro or Bunyoro-Kitara is a Bantu kingdom in Western Uganda. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central and East Africa from the 13th century to the 19th century. It is ruled by the King ('' Omukama'') of Bunyoro-Kitara. The cur ...

, was the twin brother of Kato Kimera, the first king of

Buganda Buganda is a Bantu peoples, Bantu kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Baganda, Baganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day East Africa, consisting of Buganda's Districts of Uganda, Central Region, inclu ...

. These Luo were assimilated into the Bantu's society and lost their language and culture. Later in the 18th century, other Luo-speaking people moved to the area that encompasses present-day South Sudan, Northern Uganda, and North-Eastern Congo (DRC) – forming the Alur, Jonam and Acholi. Between the middle of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, some Luo groups proceeded eastwards. One group called

(or ''Jopadhola'' - people of Adhola), led by a chief called Adhola, settled in Budama in Eastern Uganda. They settled in a thickly forested area as a defence against attacks from Bantu neighbours who had already settled there. This self-imposed isolation helped them maintain their language and culture amidst Bantu and Ateker communities. Those who went further a field were the Jo k'Ajok and Jo k'Owiny. The Ajok Luo moved deeper into the Kavirondo Gulf; their descendants are the present-day Jo Kisumo and Jo Karachuonyo amongst others. Jo k'Owiny occupied an area near Got Ramogi or Ramogi hill in Alego of Siaya district. The Owiny's ruins are still identifiable to this day at Bungu Owiny near Lake Kanyaboli. The other notable Luo group is the Omolo Luo who inhabited Ugenya and Gem areas of Siaya district. The last immigrants were the Jo Kager, who are related to the Omollo Luo. Their leader Ochieng Waljak Ger used his advanced military skill to drive away the Omiya or Bantu groups, who were then living in present-day Ugenya around 1750AD.

Kenya and Tanzania

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Luo dansers in krijgskostuum tijdens de Eldoret Agricultural Show TMnr 20014319

Between about 1500 and 1800, other Luo groups crossed into present-day

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

and eventually into present-day

. They inhabited the area on the banks of Lake Victoria. According to the Joluo, a warrior chief named Ramogi Ajwang led them into present-day Kenya about 500 years ago. As in Uganda, some non-Luo people in Kenya have adopted Luo languages. A majority of the

Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...

Suba Suba may refer to: Groups of people *Suba people (Kenya), a people of Kenya **Suba language *Suba people (Tanzania), a people of Tanzania * Subha (writers), alternatively spelt Suba, Indian writer duo Individual people *Suba (musician), Serbian- ...

people in Kenya speak Dholuo as a first language and have largely been assimilated. The Luo in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, who call themselves ''Joluo'' ("people of Luo"), are the fourth largest community in Kenya after the

Kikuyu Kikuyu or Gikuyu (Gĩkũyũ) mostly refers to an ethnic group in Kenya or its associated language. It may also refer to: * Kikuyu people, a majority ethnic group in Kenya *Kikuyu language, the language of Kikuyu people *Kikuyu, Kenya, a town in Cent ...

Luhya Luhya or Abaluyia may refer to: * Luhya people * Luhya language Luhya (; also Luyia, Luhia or Luhiya) is a Bantu language of western Kenya. Dialects The various Luhya tribes speak several related languages and dialects, though some of them are ...

and

Kalenjin Kalenjin may refer to: * Kalenjin people The Kalenjin are a group of tribes designated as Highland Nilotes and are descended from Maliri people ''(thus related to Daasanach of Ethiopia.)'' The Kalenjin are cousins with Datooga people of Tan ...

. In 2017 their population was estimated to be 6.1 million. In Tanzania they numbered (in 2010) an estimated 1,980,00

The Luo in Kenya and Tanzania call their language Dholuo language, Dholuo, which is mutually intelligible (to varying degrees) with the languages of the Alur, Acoli, Kumam, and Padhola of Uganda, South Sudan and Jo Nam or Alur of Congo. The Luo (or Joluo) are traditional fishermen and practice fishing as their main economic activity. Other cultural activities included wrestling (yii or dhao) for the young boys aged 13 to 18 in their age sets. Their main rivals in the 18th century were the Lango, the Highland Nilotes, who traditionally engaged them in fierce bloody battles, most of which emanated from the stealing of their livestock. The Luo people of Kenya are nilotes and are related to the Nilotic people. The Luo people of Kenya are the fourth largest community in Kenya after the

and, together with their brethren in Tanzania, form the second-largest single

ethnic group An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

in East Africa. This includes peoples who share Luo ancestry and/or speak a Luo language. * Acholi (Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya) * Alur (Uganda and DRC) * Anuak (Ethiopia and South Sudan) * Blanda Boore (South Sudan) *

Jopadhola The Adhola people, also known as Jopadhola, are a Nilotic ethnic group of Luo peoples that live in Tororo District of Eastern Uganda and comprise about eight percent of the country's total population. They speak Dhopadhola, (a Luo language), ...

(Uganda) *

Jumjum Mabaan is an ethnic group in South Sudan. Most of its members are Muslims. The number of persons in this group is at about 50,000. They speak Mabaan, a Nilotic language. They live in the Upper Nile. Culture The Mabaan people are mostly farmers ...

(South Sudan) *

Jur Beli The Jur Beli (also, Jurbiel and Beli) are an ethnic group living in South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bor ...

(South Sudan) * Joluo (Kenya and Tanzania) *

(South Sudan) * Pari (South Sudan) * Shilluk (South Sudan) * Thuri (South Sudan) * Balanda Boor (South Sudan) *Cope/Paluo people (Uganda)

Notable Luo people

* Aamito Lagum, Ugandan international fashion model and winner of the first '' Africa's Next Top Model'' *

Achieng Oneko Ramogi Achieng Oneko (1920–2007) was a Kenyan freedom fighter and a politician. In Kenya, he is considered as a national hero. He was born in Tieng'a village in Uyoma sub-location in Bondo District in 1920 and educated at Maseno School. Det ...

, independence freedom fighter and politician (Kenya) * Adongo Agada Cham, 23rd King of the Anuak Nyiudola Royal Dynasty of Sudan and Ethiopia *

Ayub Ogada Job Seda (1956 – 1 February 2019), better known as Ayub Ogada, was a Kenyan singer. He was a singer favoring the nyatiti (an eight-stringed lyre with its origins credited to the Luo, a tribe in Nyanza Kenya) as his characteristic instrument. ...

, singer, composer, and performer on the

nyatiti The nyatiti is a five to eight-stringed plucked bowl yoke lute from Kenya. It is a classical instrument played by the Luo people of Western Kenya, specifically in the Siaya region south of Kisumu. It is about two to three feet long with a bowl ...

, the Nilotic lyre of Kenya *

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

, 44th President of the United States, of Luo descent through his father, Barack Obama, Sr. (American) *

Barack Obama Sr. Barack Hussein Obama Sr. (; 18 June 1934 – 24 November 1982) was a Kenyan senior governmental economist and the father of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. He is a central figure of his son's memoir, '' Dreams from My Fa ...

, economist, Harvard University graduate, father of previous U.S. President

(American) *

Bazilio Olara-Okello Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929 – 9 January 1990) was a Ugandan military officer and one of the commanders of the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) that together with the Tanzanian army organized the coup d'état that overthrew Idi Amin ...

, former Senior Army officer, deceased (Ugandan) who led the rebellion that gave Tito Okello the Presidency * Betty Oyella Bigombe, former Ugandan politician, a senior fellow at the U.S Institute of Peace *

Lubwa p'Chong Lubwa p'Chong (20 August 1946 – February 1997) was a Ugandan playwright and poet. He founded and edited ''Nanga'', the magazine of the National Teachers College, Kampala, and edited ''Dhana'', the Makerere University literary magazine. His poet ...

, was a Ugandan play write and author who was responsible for many publications in the 1970's and 1980's. *

George Cosmas Adyebo George Cosmas Adyebo (18 June 1947 – 19 November 2000) was a Ugandan politician and economist who was Prime Minister of Uganda from 1991 to 1994. Adyebo became Prime Minister on 22 January 1991, succeeding Samson Kisekka Samson Babi Mulu ...

, was a Ugandan politician and economist who was Prime Minister of Uganda from 1991 to 1994. *

Daniel Owino Misiani Daniel Owino Misiani (22 February 1940 – 17 May 2006) was a Tanzanian-born musician based in Kenya, where he led the Shirati Jazz collective. He was known as the "King of History" in Kenya; overseas and in Tanzania, he was known as "the grand ...

, was a Tanzanian musician from Mara Region. He was known as the "King of History" in Kenya; overseas and in Tanzania, he was known as "the grandfather of benga", of which he pioneered. *

David Wasawo Professor David Peter Simon Wasawo (17 May 1923 – 4 February 2014) was a Kenyan zoologist, conservationist, and university administrator. After studying at Uganda's Makerere University he earned an M.A. at the University of Oxford and a PhD at ...

, University of Oxford trained Zoologist and the first African Deputy Principal of Makerere University College and Nairobi University College * Divock Okoth Origi, is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liverpool and the Belgium national team. He is the son of former Kenyan professional footballer Mike Origi. (Belgian) *

Dennis Oliech Dennis Oguta Oliech (; born 2 February 1985) is a Kenyan retired professional footballer who played as a striker. As a member of the Kenya national team, he became his nation's second all-time goalscorer, behind William "Chege" Ouma (35 go ...

, football player, the most successful Kenyan footballer of his time"The world's most wanted young players". The Guardian. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2013. *

George Ramogi George Ramogi (1945–1997) was a Kenyan musician, who empowered the traditional luo ''benga and rumba'' genre of music. Ramogi was known for his spur of the good life and his notable appearances at bars and clubs in western Kenya- Nyanza region. ...

, musician (Kenya) *

Erinayo Wilson Oryema Erinayo Wilson Oryema CPM (1 January 1917 – 16 February 1977) was Uganda's first African Inspector General of Police (1964–1971), Minister of Land, Mineral, and Water Resources (1971–1974) and Minister of Land, Housing and Physical Planni ...

, Uganda's first African Inspector General of Police, Minister of Land, Mineral, and Water Resources and Minister of Land, Housing and Physical Planning, (Uganda) *

Geoffrey Oryema Geoffrey Oryema (16 April 1953 – 22 June 2018) was a Ugandan musician. In 1977 after the murder of his father, Erinayo Wilson Oryema, who was a cabinet minister in the government of Idi Amin, he began his life in exile. At the age of 24, and a ...

, the son of

, who fled to France upon his father's assassination and became a world renowned singer, composer and performer. *

Grace Ogot Grace Emily Ogot (née Akinyi; 15 May 1930 – 18 March 2015) was a Kenyan author, nurse, journalist, politician and diplomat. Together with Charity Waciuma she was the first Anglophone female Kenyan writer to be published.Mike Kuria, ed. ''Ta ...

, educationist (Kenya) *

Henry Luke Orombi Henry Luke Orombi (born 11 October 1949) in Pakwach, North Western Uganda, is a Ugandan Anglican bishop. He served as Archbishop of Uganda and Bishop of Kampala from 2004 until his retirement in December 2012, two years earlier than expected. H ...

, Archbishop of the church of Uganda * Hezekiah Oyugi Ogango, former provincial administrator and internal security in Kenya * Prof.

Henry Odera Oruka Henry Odera Oruka (1 June 1944, Nyanza Province – 9 December 1995, Nairobi) was a Kenyan philosopher who is best known for "Sage Philosophy". It was a project started in the 1970s in an attempt to preserve the knowledge of the indigenous thin ...

- philosopher *

James Orengo James Aggrey Bob Orengo is a Kenyan lawyer, a well known human rights activist and politician who is the current governor for Siaya County. He is also one of the few Kenyan lawyers who have attained the professional grade of Senior counsel in t ...

, Senate Member in Kenya and a Senior Counsel in Kenya. He is also known for the Second Liberation fight in Kenyan politics *

Janani Luwum Janani Jakaliya Luwum (c. 1922 – 17 February 1977) was the archbishop of the Church of Uganda from 1974 to 1977 and one of the most influential leaders of the modern church in Africa. He was arrested in February 1977 and died shortly after. A ...

, former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda *

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (October 1911 – 20 January 1994) was a Luo (Kenya), Luo chieftain who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He later served as Kenya's first Vice-President of Kenya, Vice-President, and t ...

- independence fighter, first Vice President of independent Kenya *

Johnny Oduya David Johnny Oduya (born 1 October 1981), is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is of Kenyan Luo descent on his father's side. Oduya is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the ...

, a defenseman for the

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...

of the

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John Okello John Gideon Okello (October 26, 1937 – ) was a Ugandan revolutionary and the leader of the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964. This revolution overthrew Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah and led to the proclamation of Zanzibar as a republic. Biography Y ...

, Ugandan revolutionary from Alebtong who was the leader of the

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in 1964 that overthrew Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah and led to the proclamation of

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as a Republic *

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, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, notorious rebel group in Uganda *

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, journalist (Kenya) *

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, was a Ugandan

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and the first Olympic champion from his country. *

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, epidemiologist, died while fighting to eradicate the ebola pandemic in northern Uganda *

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, Kenyan author, politician, columnist, and attorney. He is a barrister and a solicitor in Toronto, Canada. *

Musa Juma Musa Juma Mumbo (December 6, 1968Daily Nation, March 18, 2011/ref> – March 15, 2011) was a rumba and Benga musician from Kenya. He was born to the second wife of his father, a policeman, and into a family of 18 children. He grew up in Homabay wh ...

, musician (Kenya) *

Tom Mboya Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya (15August 19305July 1969) was a Kenyan trade unionist, educator, Pan-Africanist, author, independence activist, and statesman. He was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Kenya.Kenya Human Rights Commissio ...

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Tony Nyadundo Tony Nyadundo is a musician from Kenya. He performs the '' Ohangla,'' a traditional style of music by the Luo community. He is backed by the Ohangla Boys band. He is now branded the "King of Ohangla". Early life He was born in Kal in Tanzania. To ...

, musician (Kenya) *

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, former Kenyan Minister and Member of East Africa Legislative Assembly *

Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo, also known as George Philip Ochola (1930–1990) was a Kenyan trade unionist and Member of Parliament for Ndhiwa, South Nyanza, Kenya.Makers of a nation. Ochola Mak'Anyengo the men and women in Kenya's history. DVD, V ...

, Kenyan Trade Unionist, freedom fighter and Politician *

Okatch Biggy Elly Mathayo Okatch, better known as Okatch Biggy (1954–1997) was a Kenyan benga musician. His first album "Helena Wang’e Dongo, released in 1992 brought him into the limelight. Early life Okatch (Okatch Biggy) is one of the Kenyan musician ...

, musician (Kenyan) *

Okot p'Bitek Okot p'Bitek (7 June 1931 – 19 July 1982) was a Ugandan poet, who achieved wide international recognition for '' Song of Lawino'', a long poem dealing with the tribulations of a rural African wife whose husband has taken up urban life and wis ...

, poet and author of the '' Song of Lawino'' (Uganda) *

Olara Otunnu Olara A. Otunnu (born 6 September 1950) is a Ugandan politician, diplomat, and lawyer. He was President of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), a political party, from 2010 to 2015 and stood as the party's candidate in the 2011 presidential elect ...

, former

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and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (Uganda) * Paul Lokech, was a Ugandan military General who served as a commander of the AMISON mission in Somalia and Deputy Inspector General of Police *

Raila Odinga Raila Amolo Odinga (born 7 January 1945) is a Kenyan politician, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata and businessman who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. He is assumed to be the Leader of Opposition in Kenya sin ...

, second Prime Minister of Kenya * Ramogi Achieng' Oneko, a Kenyan freedom fighter, founding fathers, politician, and part of the "Kapenguria Six" detainees * Robert Ouko, Kenyan Foreign Minister, murdered in 1990 * Thomas R. Odhiambo, pre-eminent scientist, founder of International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Kenya) *

Tito Okello Tito Lutwa Okello (1914 – 3 June 1996) was a Ugandan military officer and politician. He was the eighth president of Uganda from 29 July 1985 until 26 January 1986. Background Tito Okello was born into an ethnic Acholi family in circa 1914 ...

, former President of Uganda and Army Commander *

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (born 1968) is a Kenyan writer who is the author of novels, short stories and essays. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing for her story "Weight of Whispers". Education and professional life Born in Nairobi, Ke ...

, author (Kenya)

References

External links

Re-introducing the "People Without History"Towards a Human Rights Approach to Citizenship and Nationality Struggles in Africa
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20060903000404/http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/international/Forms/About_Kenya.pdf About Kenyabr>The Luo''History of the Anuak to 1956''
by Professor Emeritus Robert O. Collins
The pride of a people: Barack Obama, the ‘LUO’
lwanda magere) by Philip Ochieng,

Nation Media Group Nation Media Group (abbreviated as NMG) is a Kenyan media group listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. NMG was founded by Aga Khan IV in 1959 and is the largest private media house in East and Central Africa with offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tan ...

, January, 2009.
''The Shilluk People, Their Language and Folklore''
by Diedrich Westermann {{DEFAULTSORT:Luo (Family Of Ethnic Groups) Ethnic groups in Kenya Ethnic groups in South Sudan Ethnic groups in Tanzania Ethnic groups in Uganda Pastoralists

Origins in Sudan

Ethiopia

Uganda

Kenya and Tanzania

Notable Luo people

See also

References

Further reading

External links