In Luo culture, a funeral is not complete without rituals to celebrate the departed and drive away the spirits of the dead. Tero Buru is one such ritual.
It is one of the Luo traditions performed at the funeral of an elderly person or prominent figure in the community, before the body of the deceased is taken to the grave for burial.
During the ceremony, elders and selected youths take a herd of cattle to the home of the deceased where the animals are then driven crazily around the home.
Those involved in the ritual usually wear traditional war regalia, which includes hides and sisal hats.
They also carry twigs while wearing the famous akala (tyre) sandals.
The mourners run around the homestead of the deceased, some holding the horns of the already charged animals and run with them while singing dirges and chanting war songs.
All the while, the homestead is full of dust which is referred to as ‘buru’ in Dholuo.
In cases where the body has been placed in the house of the deceased, one or two bulls are shoved inside the house to drive away spirits.
After all this, the herd of cattle is driven towards the nearest water body — mostly rivers or lakes — where the evil spirits are believed to be destined for.
After the dust settles, the villagers return to the homestead and drink traditional brewed alcohol while singing and dancing around the casket.
While the former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha fits the stature of an elderly and prominent Luo leader who has died, the Gem Luo Council of Elders has ruled out this common ritual at his funeral because of his Christian values and foreign wife.
However they will allow only one ritual known as Sigweya. It refers to chanting done by individuals who also invoke the name of the deceased recalling the fond memories they have of the departed. This is what Raila Odinga usually does in the funerals of prominent Luo persons while carrying a fly whisk and later chants ‘Jowi, jowi, jowi’
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