The place of music and dance in Luo culture

Young and old come together to express their excitement. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A popular Luo song, Adhiambo Sianda by musician Dola Kabarry compliments a woman named Adhiambo for her robust and shapely hips. Sianda is Dholuo for the backside. Culturally among the Nilotic community living on the shoulders of Lake Victoria, the shape and size of a woman’s hips are key to female attraction and beauty.

Many musicians, including the late Benga giant Okach Biggy, composed songs extolling women with voluptuous figures.  

Dr Malachi Fortune Apudo Ochola, who teaches music and culture at Maseno, describes culture as the sum total of a people’s way of life from birth until death. He says there is as much of it as there are people in this world, hence its immense influence on music and other facets of life. Dr Ochola puts language at the core of culture.