INFLUENCE OF LUO TRADITIONAL RELIGION ON AFRICAN ISRAEL NINEVEHCHURCH IN ALEGO USONGA CONSTITUENCY, KENYA
1* Florence Akoth Omondi
2** Dr. David J. Ndegwah, PhD
3*** Dr. Hezekiah Obwoge, PhD
1,2,3 Department of History, Religion, and Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Abstract:
In order to adequately show the influence of African Traditional Religion in Christianity, a keen
ecclesiastic history will reveal the continued interaction with each other in interesting ways since arrival of European missionaries. Some Luo Christians no longer adhere to many traditional practices like starting a home, where a cock and an axe had to be carried by the father and his first-born boy. African Israel Nineveh Church faithful adhere to this practice to date, and does not recognize a home that did not go through this ritual. Even with the introduction of Christianity, the adherence of Africans to Christian beliefs has been hard to estimate, due to syncretism with Christianity and other religious movements in Africa. Research objectives were to analyze the traditional Luo beliefs and practices found in the church, analyze the church doctrines concerning
syncretism in church and to find out how church addresses the problem of syncretism among its adherents. It had questions like what were the traditional Luo beliefs and practices found in Church? What were the church doctrines concerning syncretism in church? How did church address the problem of syncretism among its adherents? The study was justified on the basis that since a larger percentage of the indigenous population in Africa and particularly Kenya are converts to Christianity, it is the indigenous beliefs and values which mainly, served as the mediation of their religious and cultural expression. The study mainly focused on AINC of Alego
Usonga region of Siaya county with 18 churches from Boro, Karemo and Uranga regions. The study was guided by Social Interaction Theory which relied on assumption that individuals in the society had different beliefs that influenced their relations of forms of social interactions, the various beliefs in societies contributed to the emergence of different forms of religious institutions defined by their beliefs and practices. . The population for this study comprised of 2,567 registered members in the region which gives a sample size of 331 according to Morgan’s table. Piloting was done in three churches to confirm the reliability of the tools. Data was collected from leaders, youths and the adherents using oral interviews, focus group discussions and observation. The data
collected was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. Researcher went through other challenges such as finances, use of other tools, use of Kwalitan for analysis, follow up of leaders and time management, which were eventually solved. In the findings on the first objective, the study found out that as a church, one of the striking features of the Luo traditional practices at the birth of a child, which is also being practiced in the African Israel Nineveh Church, is organizing ceremonies and festivities for a new-born child. The study also found out that AINC accepted and accommodated polygamy among its members as indicated by majority of the respondents,
with only a small group opposing the practice. It was also discovered that many other Luo cultural practices are embedded in and mixed with the church doctrines. The blending is harmonious and tends to guarantee a promising, meaningful, respectful spiritual destiny and a bright future to this church community. The above observations are good confirmations of our statement of the problem, justification and the theoretical framework. The study suggests that further study should be done on effects of Luo traditions on the beliefs and practices in church on the spiritual growth of the church members, similar research to be done in other ethnic settings and areas before generalization is made. Finally, the study suggests a thorough study of Luo traditions that are still useful and relevant to the modern life of the faithful and which do not go against the teachings of
the gospel. Hence enculturation is a key aspect of the future and spiritual growth of AINC that requires a serious study.