LUO UNITED COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATION (LUCO)

NURTURING LUO KINSHIP

Dear Acholi/Luo Ugandans,

My name is Sophia Anyomokolo. I was born and raised in Gulu, Northern Uganda. I spent part of my childhood in Luo land, Siaya, Kenya, where I learnt Kiswahili but I will not show off here. My new home is the great US of A, where I continue to practice my Acholi/Luo cultural dance with help from www.youtube.com and www.kumalo.com

First, thank you very much to the Ugandan Acholi/Luo woman, Joyce Odongo of Toronto, Canada, who is a member of the New Sudan internet discussion group. As a subscriber to this group, Joyce received the invitation to the “First Luo Annual Conference” and forwarded it to me and other Acholi/Luo internet discussion groups in early July-2008. This was the first time I heard of the conference, which was scheduled for August-09-2008. It was a very short notice but I was able to negotiate with other priorities and attend the conference.

We all remember the pleasure or pain the first time we did it. We often talk a lot about this ‘first time’ because the climax repeats itself. For this reason, I am very grateful to Joyce because her initiative made it possible for me to forever talk about the “The first time we did it.”

The First Luo Annual Conference

Aug-09-2008

Sioux Falls, SD

The first Luo annual conference was discussed by a few young Luo men and women in the USA in March-2007, but they also understood the popular saying that “Talk is cheap”. So despite the painstaking following months, their determination and hope turned their words into reality. It is this reality that was the climax and I am delighted to share it with you because it was the first time we did it and I enjoyed it!

I was disappointed in the morning of the conference when I walked in the conference hall and saw only Acholi/Luos from Northern Uganda and a few Italians. I asked my new friend. Her response was: “Everybody is here. What are you talking about?” Then I realized that these were not Acholi/Luo from Northern Uganda; they just look alike. I wondered: If they look like us; do they also talk like us? As if the telephone quizzes were not enough, I improvised a strategy to satisfy my curiosity. I started secretly listening to nearby conversations. When I realized that it was in English, I quietly tiptoed to the next target. This was the best approach because all conversations turned to English when I joined. It was like a miracle to see so many Luos from different countries gathered in one place.

It was an honor for me to be one of three special guests for the occasion, which started with a prayer in Luo language presented by a Luo from Bahr-el-ghazal. I was lost but I quickly caught up when I heard other people saying “Amen”. I can still hear voices presenting the history of Luo migration and the similarities and differences between the

Luo groups. The most striking similarity was the story of Jilo and Nyikang presented in English by a Sudanese Luo. I was lost here too but not for long because I soon realized that he was talking about Labongo and Gipii as they are known to us, the Acholi/Luo of Northern Uganda.

Also during the conference, the general assembly elected new committee members who will hold office for the next two (2) years. There were a total of 71 registered attendees at the conference meeting. The newly elected team of committees is comprised of four (4) Luo women and ten (10) Luo men. The current organization structure is as follows: It is possible that I got the names mixed up.It is possible that I got the names mixed up.It is possible that I got the names mixed up.

The Board of Executives

Chairman: Cleyton Mayan from Sudan

Vice Chairman: Ojulu Oballa from Ethiopia

Secretary General: Sophia Anyomokolo from Uganda

Assist. Secretary General: Athanasus Ungang from Sudan

Secretary of Treasury: Okoth Opab from Sudan

Assist. Secretary of Treasury: Lwanyo Awang from Sudan

Secretary of Information: Justine Ocaya-Aboda from Sudan

Secretary of Women Affairs: Elizabeth Achala from Sudan

Secretary of Youth Affairs: Disha Ojulu from Sudan

The Board of Directors (Advisors)

The Board of Directors (Advisors) is responsible for governing and directing the organization’s policies in accordance with agreement between the general assembly and the Board of Directors.

Okall Langu from Kenya

Walter Jago from Sudan

Obang Jobi from Ethiopia

Okony Cham from Ethiopia

Rwadha Keir from Sudan

The Evening Events

There were approximately 300 attendees at the evening events. There are no words to describe the variety of wonderful Luo dishes prepared by the dedicated Luo women of Sioux Falls, SD. I am not a fan of Injeria (fermented flour) from Ethiopia because it tastes sour. But that day, there was a very green smashed vegetable dish to go with it. This vegetable made Injeria taste like bubble gum. The following week, I went to Ethiopian restaurant downtown and ordered Injeria. I was very disappointed when I saw my food because I clearly described the vegetable so that my order is not mistaken for salad. That was when I concluded that the combination at the conference was copyrighted to the Luos of Ethiopia! I eagerly look forward to the next conference.

After dinner, four (4) Luo traditional dances were presented. Talk of similarities between the Luos! Oh my God! Luo women have very flexible waist. It raises my curiosity but unfortunately I will never be able to satisfy this one.

The cultural dances presented were:

1. The Anyuak Luo dance

2. The Shilluk (Chollo) Luo dance

3. Acholi Luo dance

4. Bahr-el-ghazal Luo dance

After the cultural dances, the floor was opened for more variety of music and dances. All 300 attendees got to their feet. Wow! The evening was fantabulous!!!!!

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The Luo of Bahr-el-ghazal had their annual conference during the long weekend of September-01-2008. This resolution was presented at this conference by the Chairman of Luo Reunification Organization (LRO).

First Luo Annual Conference Resolutions

• Participants agreed to implement a common Luo language to unify Luo Nations.

• Participants pledged that members establish contacts with other Luo groups around the world.

• The committee noted the new proposed name and slogan for the organization

  • Luo Nations Unite (Name)

  • Nurturing Luo Kinship (Slogan)

• The general assembly elected new committee members: The Executive and the Board of Directors.

• The organizers of the conference expressed appreciation to the Luo Citizens & the pioneers who established the Great Lakes Luo Nations.

Thank you

Chairman of Luo Reunification Organization

Cleyton Mayan

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On 09/28/2008, the Executive and Board of Directors of LRO voted and adopted the new organization name and slogan. The second name was proposed after the Luo conference day in Sioux Falls, SD. Ten (10) of the fourteen (14) newly elected committee members were present. The two names and one slogan proposed were:

1. Luo Nations Unite (4 votes) - Proposed by Sophia Anyomokolo

2. Luo United Communities Organization (6 votes) - Proposed by Okall Langu

3. Slogan: Nurturing Luo Kinship (Was adopted by acclamation)-Proposed by Sophia Anyomokolo

The new name and slogan for the Luo organization became effective on 09/28/2008.

Luo United Communities Organization (LUCO)

Nurturing Luo Kinship

I can go on and on because there were too many great moments. But I will let you see the rest with your own eyes and hear with your own ears because there is a team working on putting together a DVD for the First Luo Annual Conference. This will be available for purchase soon so that we enjoy the first time we did it together.

As shown in the pictures below, the flexible Luo dancers had decorations on the floor in front of them as they performed with passion. Thus, on behalf of the LUCO committee, I kindly ask that you be generous. Please help us!

If you have any comments, please feel free to contact any of the committee members of LUCO listed below.

Long live the Great Lakes Luo Nations.

Presented by:

Sophia Anyomokolo

The Secretary General

Luo United Communities Organization

Nurturing Luo Kinship