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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...

What is in a name?

Juliet tells Romeo that a rose would smell as sweet without that name or with another. Him coming from the opponent Montague family does not make her see him less. Juliet has risen from the parable of the cave as Plato would put it. But is there something in a name?

One of a child’s first things to respond to is but the name. Young as pink, the child is softly whispered to by the name that as she grows she identifies herself with it. The same happens to puppies and cats for the fun of it.


She likes my name! She thinks there is something metaphysical about it. And so do I like hers too. But is that the reason she likes me? Probably not. She is amused at my courage as I am amused by her beauty. For courage and beauty may vary, the names the people carry tend to describe their kind of character and demeanour.

Those who find shame in their names – It is lately that I started considering my sir name as authentic- should be comforted by the fact that children do not chose names for themselves. It has happened to some that they apply to the registry for change but it has always come with great opposition. Ever somebody who had recessed advancement by name?

Yes. Those who live in the cave attach meanings to names. They all see shadows and not the reality. By your name you speak a different mother tongue and therefore you do not belong. For that matter you won’t be employed here because this community runs the show.  And because humans observe patterns and quickly generalize to find meaning, they have not been short of prejudice. Others nick-name you.

To be an African is more of a name than skin colour. To be a firstborn is more of a name too. If you are called the President then your stakes are much high at the roof. To be called a lover is nothing were it not for the warm bowels for the feeling. Names therefore got meanings to keep humanity biased, misunderstood, challenged and good of all to cut thoughts short. Man is a lazy thinker.

In an event and you introduced yourself to a crowd. Then the rest told you their names. I am a poor name keeper- in fact I do not remember your name lest I identify you with a certain memorable activity. How many times have you socialized with people whom you came to know their names later?

If there be a curious person to know your name, please drum in them your sir name (not those easy Christian names) that it confuses their reproach towards you. Do you think they would want to know your name for the good?

Nothing is in a name.

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