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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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In the absence of kinship ties...

Hello Family, here is a case that may make an hair stand on your body if you so appreciate togetherness and family ties. Please give it a thought. 

A dear friend of mine comes from a poor family, I mean alienated in the ways they associate with fellow cousins, uncles, neighbours save the vwifwa side. 

It happens that the father is a drunkard and the mother often mentally disturbed. His elder siblings schooled difficultly and are all out of home while the young ones at the mercy of the non attached parents. 

His younger brother, of now 24 years, fought with a fellow lad and unfortunately the lad died a day after due to head injury. The brother has been a motor cyclist and had earlier married with now a child, living by a rented room. He was arrested and now is in cells. 

The deceased family, in wait for any emissaries, decided to go see a member of the family when no one was coming. And my young friend 'was the sober one' to be addressed. In fact the father was asked to the discussion and he arrived drunk. The middle aged men wanted a hand in burial preparations, not accusatory. 

Such a situation always calls for elders, sober leadership to give hope and guidance. 

His immediate uncles are afraid to step in. He does not know his fathers' cousins. He does not know his immediate kins. He says he has never been told who they are. And of course he had never had the desire to know them. And the maternal side, which he relates well, cannot be actively involved. 

It therefore bothers that individuals, families and societies suffer in the hands of the 'state' because we have in several ways kept us away from one another. 

In my sympathetic view, I think that the imprisoned lad is not the main character in the whole tale but this friend of mine who carries the family stone. As Sisyphus. How can such a family redeem itself? 

I have known the family for 7 years now and I may answer other queries if there are. The friend is a confidant and I share this story to pass a message of kinship importance. May it strengthen us. 

With Thanks. 😓

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