East and west in Maragoli culture are more than points of a compass or cardinal directions. Join us as we learn what they mean in the life of avalogoli.
For mulogoli, east is life thus the sunrise. It is this wanting for life, that a house constructed in the traditional ways of Maragoli culture, will always have its door facing east. And when the man of the house dies, the positioning of his grave is chosen by among other things, an elder standing in the main door entrance of the dead man’s house and facing eastward where the sun rises from.
The Cultural Meaning of West in Maragoli Culture
West is where the sun sets, or goes to sleep, thus to Mulogoli, where the gods are. Mumbo, as we call the west, is home to not only the gods, but where the bones and spirits of our forefathers lie. West is also the direction of Mung’oma Hills (Maragoli Hills) in Mungoma, Vihiga County, Kenya. Mung’oma hills hosts the ancient Mung’oma caves, home to the father and mother of Maragoli people: Mulogoli and Kaliyesa.
It is from these caves of Mung’oma (Mung’oma literally means, drum), that the four sons of Mulogoli and Kaliyesa Maragoli dispersed from to inhabit the lands that are today known as the ancestral homes of Maragoli people. Thus, the reason the Maragoli would traditionally worship facing west.
Culture Deep Dive: Meaning of the Luhya proverb ‘chenda kalaha yola mumbo’ in English ↗
Get to experience Luhya culture as we explore the meaning of the Luhya proverb ‘chenda kalaha yola mumbo’, which translates in English as: The one who walked slowly reached west.
More Reading
- Abwunza, J. M. (1991). Logoli Women of Western Kenya Speak: Needs and Means. Ph.D. dissertation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada / University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/41781/Abwunza_Logoli%20Women%20of%20western%20Kenya%20speak.pdf?
- Akaranga, S.I. (1996). A study of Logooli moral values: with particular reference to taboos, curses and oaths. Ph.D. dissertation: University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya .http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/19360/Akaranga_A%20study%20of%20Logooli%20moral%20values%3A%20with%20particular%20reference%20to%20taboos,%20curses%20and%20oaths.pdf?sequence=3
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