Were
Were AfricaLiteral meaning: ‘father of grace’. The Luo of Kenya have numerous names of their supreme deity. He is Wuonwa, ‘our father’; Wuon Kwere, ‘father of the ancestors’; Wuon ji, ‘father of all’; Ja Mrima; ‘the one with a temper’; Jan’ gwono, ‘the kind one’; Jahera, ‘the merciful’; Nyakalaga, ‘the ancient one’; Janen, ‘seer’; Wuon Ogendi, ‘father of all peoples’; Wuon lowo, ‘lord of the earth’; Hono, ‘worker of miracles’; Ratego, ‘almighty’; Jalweny, ‘great warrior’; Polo, ‘god of heaven’; Piny k'nyal, ‘unconquerable’; Wuon oru, ‘lord of the future’; Ruodh Ruodhi, ‘king of kings’; and Wang Chieng, ‘eye of the sun’.
A potent and active diety is Were, whom the Luo believe causes both the births and deaths of individuals. Nature is securely under his control, and he uses the thunderbolt to strike down wrongdoers. Offerings and sacrifices are made to Were under large trees,...
[The entire page is 218 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Oxford University Press Titles
