A reader shared with us the origin of omwami. Omwami is a title that showers honor, respect and even reverence (sometimes deceitful praise) to whomever it’s bestowed upon.
Our article on the meaning of omwami looked at the common understanding whenever someone is called omwami. Chief, boss, leader and more we’ve come to know as the meaning of this Luhya word. But even as I have witnessed as this bit of Luhya language and culture crosses over to become part of contemporary Kenyan lingo and existence, I have been at loss where it all started.
Have you ever asked yourself who the first (person to be called) omwami was? Is omwami an ‘original’ Luhya word, or did it cross over from another language? More importantly, for linguists and purists, which dialect of the collection of languages today termed as Luhya does the word omwami originate from? Is it Lubukusu? Maybe Lulogoli? Or an understated contribution from the other smaller fifteen houses of mulembe?
Thanks to our reader, a Twitter used named Murogoli (@Murogoli1), we found answers to some of these questions.
Omwa was the ancient leader of Maragoli clans. It’s the Luo who thereafter nicknamed Jamwa (slaves) ‘Omwami’. [A word] which comes from Logoli’s ancient leader of Gulu and Kitara [kingdoms] in Uganda; [home to Maragolis] before Luos took over the entire place
Twitter user named @Murogoli1 reply to the post: Meaning of omwami in Luhya: Revealing 9 different interpretations, some you know, most you don’t – from the respect due to a king to humble gratitude
Searching for the origin of omwami, building a case for a God King
If you were to listen to a native Lulogoli speaker today, you are most likely to hear them say ‘mwami’ rather than ‘omwami’. They kill the ‘o’ sound at the beginning. ‘Mwami’ is the local leader often the chief, but most likely the assistant chief who is closer to the people. ‘Mwami (baba)’ during prayer refers to God (The Father). I use these two common examples from everyday Lulogoli to stress a revelation.
If indeed the origin of omwami is as stated above, the possibility of a God King among the Maragoli is not far fetched. As this theory of the origin of omwami, brings to light the existence of a historical figure among the Maragoli with great power, larger-than-life presence and meaning; a figure so revered that his people, those who he lead, got their identity from him.
This by itself wouldn’t be a misplaced conclusion. History is littered with such larger-than-life figures. Alexander of Macedonia was known for his naming of cities after him upon conquest. Closer home, and admittedly a more relevant example, King Mswati rules over eSwatini home of the Swazis.
And let’s not forget the Maragoli origin story. My grandfather talks of a place called Misiri (said to be modern day Egypt) as home to our ancestors. Which better clue of a Maragoli God King than that? Because, isn’t Misri the land of Pharaohs? As the Englishman would say: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
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