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Chahilu’s Funeral; Logooli Culture in action

Guuga Chahilu was respectfully laid to rest at his home on Saturday 14th June 2025. Having passed on at Mbale Referral Hospital on 31st May 2025, the two weeks leading to his burial were full of cultural discussions. His passing on is a great loss to the Logooli Language and Culture Family as he was a custodian and informer of Luhya Indigenous Knowledge. An observation as to how the funeral proceeded leads us to revist Logooli traditions amidst modern realities.  One, having left the house alive and now coming back in state, Chahilu was to be taken inside the house, placed muihiilu for a moment and then officially taken out in wait for earth burial. His casket was able to enter the doors. There are cases where the dead would find it difficult to be taken in and then out due to an oversized casket or thin door. A man or a lady of his house who died out of home has to be taken in the house for a last ritual mark. But if the person had died inside, he or she would not be brought bac...
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FIKISHA; You can easily take a grown up from the street than a young one.

My question to Frank, the Director Fikisha, was, 'Can't this young boy receive a few strokes of cain to school?' He lowly laughed and corrected. My rural upbringing often drives me to the use of a cane (by a superior) to instil purpose in a young one. Things fell apart long ago.

The young boy- of about 12- had come into the rehabillitation program late hence missing the day's topic failitated by Alyssa, the creative Director from USA. To blame them is like blaming an African who comes to the meetings late. There is a song among the luo that 'If I come to your home early is as if I slept there...If I come late is as if I wanted not to come'. The funny fact is that the boys are not driven by time. What a freedom! They are driven by the weather, light and darkness. As long as they can see their shadows- no matter the length- they know it is day. They coming to the meeting late meant that there was still a sun overhead. 

'We can spot a child who can change', continued Frank. 'They always tend to be neat than others and orderly. To such the problem is poverty at home', he said while pointing to a child five metres away. A child who leaves home for the street should be quickly reported because after some time the child may never see the advantage of family homage. The young one may be more curious for street life- something good that he yearned for as he left home. If you think they are regretting for being in  the street you are wrong.

Freedom from family ties- there are families that children would want to run away from- takes them there. Not all come from poor backgrounds. The other post has them related to landlords and well-off families who are just waiting for them to knock off and rush them to rehabilitation centres. They know the love of money and how to live with least conditions- things that teachers tighten nuts on. 

And so if you would want to rescue a street, chose the one with maximum street life for the one with least experience of a life yearned for may be that child who stabs the backs of foster parents.

Thank You.



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