Luo Naming Conventions: Names that reflected the Nature of Birth
Reflected the nature of birth
Luo Naming convention: Names that reflected the Nature of Birth
a) Malpresentation at birth : Auma/ Ouma, Opondo/ Apondi
The way the baby presented at birth was the basis for a baby’s unique name. Every birth is different. A baby could be born face up or face down. But generally speaking, a face-down birth is preferable. It is the norm that most babies are born in the face-down position at the time of delivery. It is the safe way of delivery for a baby. In this position the baby rotate around during labor so that the head stays down and the body faces the mother's back (medical terms 'occiput anterior' ) (OA position). See this link for more information[1].
In the occiput posterior (OP) in the medical world, the baby’s head is down but facing the mother’s front instead of her back with chin tucked to its chest and back of the head ready to enter the pelvic region. This position means that the baby is face up, or "sunny side up," instead of facedown, so the hardest part of her head rests near the lower back instead of the belly. So when a baby mal-presented at birth in this way, they were given the name Auma for a baby girl and Ouma for a baby boy.
However, the name Auma for a baby girl and Ouma is also given for a child whose mother conceives without having gone through the usual menstruation. Many times, such a pregnancy could cause trouble between a wife and husband since neither of them would understand how it came about. In some instances, some husbands assigned such pregnancy to unfaithfulness on the part of the woman. The child would receive the name Auma which means saved from exposure to shame, because after such confession only the husband could save the wife from shame by keeping silent about the confessed offense.
b) Problems of the Umbilicus Cord, Awino/Owino
Some births can be a challenge such as in a case where the baby presents with the umbilical cord around the neck. In such a case, the name is derived from the way the baby comes out at birth. Awino is a name for female baby and Owino, a male baby that describes a baby born with the umbilical cord round the neck. Families with Awino and Owino need to take note because such births present again and again in the lineage. When there is an Awino/Owino in the family, the traditional midwives were always on high alert for families with the name, (See fig 1).
Fig. 1. Baby born with a cord round the neck
c) Problems with the placenta: Obiero/Abiero
In addition to other birth problems, there were those related to complications of the placenta. Sometimes, the placenta or parts of it could fail to expel soon after birth and retain in the womb. This could cause life threatening complication for the mother. However, they had strong herbal remedies and solutions for such. The baby born would be named Obiero for a baby boy and Abiero for a baby girl.
d) Born encaul -Akuku
To be "born with the caul" means a baby or a child is born with a portion of the amniotic sac or membrane remaining on the head. A caul is a thin, filmy membrane, the amnion, that can cover a newborn's head and face immediately at birth. This also includes a baby born within the full sac of amniotic fluid. See fig.2
En caul births according to Moore occur in about 1 in every 80,000 births and the statistic may include caul births where babies are born with part of the amniotic membranes on their face or head and this makes true en caul births even more rare.
Fig. 2. Baby born en caul
“The correct name for those who are born with a true caul is a Caulbearer. Such people are often referred to as being "born behind the veil", as the caul is also referred to as the veil in many cultures due to it being a face covering.
Among the Luos, a baby who was born en caul, gi kuku ne, was called Akuku for a baby girl and Okuku for a baby boy. The name included both caul and en caul births. The most famous Luo who carried this name was Akuku Danger and it is not known if he was named so because he was born en caul or he was named after the grandmother or grandfather who was born en-caul. Whatever the case, the family lineage had a caul or en caul birth, a fact to take cognizant of.
In the western culture, the veil is a very important clothing in a marriage. Indeed,
“The brides once used to wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolize their virginity. A bride may wear the face veil through the ceremony. Then either her father lifts the veil, presenting the bride to her groom, or the groom lifts the veil to symbolically consummate the marriage”.
e) Delayed births
One of the most interesting names in this category was Akumu for a baby girl and Okumu for a baby boy. There were instances when there was need for a conception to be stopped from growing and fully developing. There were medicine men who could contain and stop a fetus from growing and fully developing into a full-term pregnancy until such a time as required (ich mo kum). This was carried out under special circumstances and on request by the person who wanted it done. After the agreed, period, the mother was given medicine that re-started the growth of the fetus to full term.
Akumu was also given for a conception in which the baby took more than the usual nine months to be born. It was a pregnancy in which the baby-bump was observed to appear and dissappear and finally when the baby was born, it would be more than the usual nine months. The words in the names ‘kumu’ means imprisoned, or tied, or held in custody.
f) Birth of twins, Rude Apiyo/Opiyo, Adongo/Odongo
The naming of twins took the order of seniority. Whether fraternal or identical, the names given were in order of seniority, the baby who comes out first. During birth, the baby who comes out first is called Apiyo for a baby girl and Opiyo for a baby boy. The one who comes out after is named Adongo for a baby girl and Odongo for a baby boy.
Fig. 3. Fraternal twins - Photos used for illustration purposes
Fig. 4. The celebrated Kakamega Identical twins - Sharon and Melon
g) Born After twins, Oluwo rude – Akelo/Okelo
A child born immediately after twins is named Akello for a baby girl and Okello for a baby boy. The word Okello means I have brought - the bringer of joy.
References
To download the full article visit https://tigogitong.com/browse-more/onomastics-of-luo-names
1. https://www.mummypages.ie/the-pictures-from-these-en-caul-births-are-absolutely-breathtaking
2. On delayed births Apondi/Opondo and Akumu/Okumu - read more on blighted ovum and related topics
© Jane Achieng, 2019
https://linktr.ee/tigogitong
mind boggling how the Luos named their children, there should be a course at university to teach this, amazing info
I find it astonishing that they had the capability to delay pregnancy and also to continue at the desired time?