Controversy alert!

CRAZY LUO CULTURE(S):

I am often disturbed by this particular cultural norm in Luo land whereby a younger son is NOT ALLOWED to build a house/home before his elder brother does so. C'mon. I have the resources & I need a roof for myself. Why can't I build?

It's even crazier at fundamental levels. Let's say this big bro has the resources only that he's reluctant for some reason to build some cornered structure(s) for himself. I, on the other hand, want to build and ground myself or rather put up a home for my wife and kids...

Oomph! I mentioned wife. It is also a culture by the lakeside that a younger brother cannot pay dowry to his wife if this Luo wife of his has an elder sister whose bride price has never been paid. Make me understand the essence of this too. Ridiculous if you ask me.

Another one that does not make sense at all is about a daughter and her mother. We, Luos, have it that a woman's bride price can't be paid if her mother's wasn't paid. Tell me, what is the connection here. How is the daughter's suitor supposed to get into his in-laws dowry?

MY COMMENTARY:

— Straight into it. These norms have outlived their usefulness. If you ask me, I'll unapologetically tell you that cultures like these have promoted some of the massive underdevelopment in Luo Nyanza that can be seen in at least every village.

— If you have a project, it is solely your responsibility to plan and execute it. It shouldn't be pegged on some sibling of yours who didn't do theirs for whatever reason. Whether it is about respect to the elder siblings or not, the younger ones also have lives. Their own lives.

— On that part of a younger brother building a home before an elder, it doesn't make any sense why my own elder brother can't come to my home because some old men said long time ago. Controversial? Ahem. There's no death or thinness from visiting your younger brother.

— I don't know about your culture but Luo cultural customs are like Christian laws. They're pegged on fear and intimidation of some sort. It is disturbing to be told that if you're an elder brother, maybe abroad, you can't come back and enter your brother's home.

— Luos are known to be negative competitors among themselves. I will boldly say that it is because of some maligned cultural practices and believes which automatically make people bitter. It is obvious my elder bro who is denied the liberty of visiting my home will be bitter.

— I am of the opinion that most of these laws were set by some stoic chiefs or elders who wanted the elder people in the family to be rich or better off by default. Hey you Luo man of today, you have a choice to pick a lifeline you want. Do what you can for yourself. No death.

— WARNING: This is ugly.

It is said that if these rules are broken, one gets thin, disoriented etc. It is called 'chira'.

Why would you get thin because you went to your brother's home to, maybe, say hello?

Why would you end up dying because your dowry is paid before mom's?

These threats have outlived their usefulness; completely.

NOTE: This is my opinion.

Oops! I forgot this one. It is also not okay to initiate and seal every season or rite through sex. Some people even sleep with their 7-months pregnant wives just because they must accomplish some cultural dictates. Common sense should fall in line with any given culture...