Luo language is a group of closely related languages spoken by River-Lake Nilotes, who trace their origin in the area we today call Republic of South Sudan. The language calls itself "Dholuo" or "Lep Luo" in other dialects and is spoken by the Acholi of Uganda, Luo of Kenya, Jopadhola, Lango, Alur among other tribes.
I have painstakingly compiled a list of some Luo words which I think you've most probably come across and would like to know what they mean. Let's get right into it, shall we?
1. Hera - Hera means love. It is both a noun and a verb. It is the first Luo word that anybody interested in learning the language usually encounters. From album titles, song titles to subtitles, it pervades everything. Hera remo, hera mwandu, hera bungu, hera mudho and hera apilo are all music titles by various luo artistes. Hero remo translates to love is blood (the word "is" or its Luo equivalent "en" remarkably doesn't have to be used often in Luo dialogue.)
2. Jaber - Jaber actually translates to "beautiful one". It is a word Luo people use to refer to girls, ladies and women, even those who cannot be considered by any stretch of the imagination to be beautiful. I reckon "cutie" is more appropriate translation. Igwe Bandasson has a song "titled "Jaber Achie." meaning "beautiful Achie". Achie is of course short form for "Achieng'", a name given to baby girls born during the day. Jaber is a polite way of calling a girl or woman of your age or younger. Using the term on older women is considered deeply disrespectful.
3. Nyathi -Nyathi actually means "baby" or "child" but just like in many other languages (English included) the meaning has been extended to include a pet name among lovers. Okatch Biggy's song Nyathi Nyakach is the first that comes to my mind. In the song Okatch asks, "Nyathi Nyakach atimni ang'o?" translating to "Nyathi Nyakach,what can I do for you?". Okatch goes on to say, "Nyathi maber aluongo Lizzy-na..."(Beautiful baby, I call you my Lizzy...)
4.Chuny - This is the most difficult word to translate, not necessary because it's difficult to understand but because of the disconnect between what it means and what it implies. Let me explain. "Chuny" literally means "Liver" but implies "the heart". This is confusing but let me try to break it down for you. The organ that Luo people call "Chuny" is the liver. The word for heart in Luo is "adundo" yet when Igwe Bandasson says "nyathini ahero gi chunya" he means "I love this child with my heart" rather than "I love her with my liver". I hope you get the point.
5. Jowi - Jowi means "rhino". Luo people use it as chant to express grief, sorrow or courage.
6. Kalando - This means "brown one" but it goes beyond the literal meaning. Let me explain. Luo people, like most African tribes, adore women who are light skinned - and this has nothing to do with leftovers of racial prejudices. They call them many names in praise. "Kalando" is one such name. It's exclusively for light skinned women. It is not a given name, though I think it can make an excellent one. It is usually a nick name or praise- name if such a thing even exists (in Luo culture it does.) Needless to say, it is used exclusively for women. I guess I have said that already, haven't I? Musa Juma's song titled "saida" uses a shorted, cute rendition of the word "lando" or "brown".
7. Obera - This is another supposedly 'romantic' word that Luo men use to enchant their women. Loosely translating to "cutie" is is derived from the root word "ber" which means anything from good, beautiful all the way to desirable and appropriate. Onyango Alemo of "tho luro" fame sings this line in his song titled Tabia Mbaya: "obera nyako nyathi mahero.." It is tough to translate but "this cutie whom I love" is pretty close. In the aforementioned song by Musa Juma, he sings "Lando oberana mama, nyathi mahero.." or "the brown lady 'mama', the child whom I love..". Go ahead and laugh: there's a deep-seated obsession with light-skinned women among Luo people and this comes out very clearly in many song lyrics.
8. Jaduong - Finally a word that has nothing to do with women. This word means "Elder" or an old person. But there's a twist. You've probably come across the phrase "nyar-jaduong'" in many Luo songs (There's a John Junior's song where he uses the word a lot but I cant remember its tittle.). You must have been wondering what it means. Worry no more; demystifying these buzz words is what I'm here for. So, "nyar" means "daughter of" and "jaduong" means elder. Nyar-jaduong therefore loosely translates to "daughter of an elder" but that it not what it really means. You see, Luo people call their father in law "jaduong" irrespective of their ages. It goes without saying therefore that "nyar jaduong" is one way of referring to your wife without mentioning the word "wife". It is meant to be romantic so don't use it when you've just had a fight.
9. Yawa - I'll admit upfront that I don't know what exactly this word means. I'm not sure whether it even qualifies as a word. It's hard to pin down, but I'll try. "Yawa" is just an exclamation akin to ouch or wow... (Well, I'm not a language expert so you can excuse my ignorance). It is used in many instances - in fact on almost all instances - and in that fact alone lies its ambiguity and meaninglessness. I think the best translation of "yawa" is "Oh" therefore 'Oh, my God' in Luo language would be something like, "Yawa Nyasacha!"
10. Ang'o? - Without wasting your time, ang'o?" means "what?"
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