Reinventing therapo-spiritual fellowships: The jolang'o in Luo African Independent Churches

Abstract

Luo society has been cited frequently as one of the most traditional societies in western Kenya. In the past century, their religious situation has changed interestingly. Religious eclecticism is moving the focal point of healing by the jolang'o into dominant African Independent Churches where Luo beliefs handed down from the past are preserved and reorganized with new expression. In these churches, prayer, spiritual, and faith healing are central liturgical activities that meet an incessant need for puodhruok—holistic spiritual healing. The study identifies the major juogi or spiritual forces responsible for spirit attack and healer illumination. It appears that in the area of ethnomedicine, African beliefs are as strong and pervasive as ever before.

Acknowledgements

We are greatly indebted to the traditional medical practitioners and the local people of southwestern Nyanza, who provided data for this study. All field volunteers of the 2001 Rusinga Island expedition are thanked for their contribution. The authors wish to acknowledge funding from the Earthwatch Institute (Massachusetts, USA). OBO was a recipient of a University of Nairobi postgraduate research grant.