Nyawawa

Long long long time ago our Ancestors  died during measles epidemic and were buried in Lake Victoria. Because of agony and pain that befell our land (Luo) the ancestors in death vow to warn us every time an epidemic is just about to strike, it is believed that they come in weird sounds/whistling wind and funny breeze or strong wind.

If you happen to hear them pass near your home you are expected to warn your neighbors by beating a metallic object to produce sound and drive them towards the Lake. Today was one of those days and Villagers were literally crying that Corona is just about to strike, I was moved beyond words.

According to Luo folklore, they are the spirits of the dead. The living dead. They are said to come from the lake at night occasionally. Whenever they come out, they are experienced as howling, whistling, crowded din, confused percussion and such incomprehensible sounds as can often be heard by the ocean shore or close to a river or a market. Their passage is trailed by sicknesses and deaths (small pox if told by a very old granny, otherwise it usually flu like illnesses). To ward them off, villagers are to produce metallic clangs by beating pans and bells. I have seen, in my childhood, four such nyawawas.

noun;

spirits.

In luo dialect are believes to be evil spirits that come from the lake to come and roam around. You can't see them, but you'll hear them talking. The moment you hear them talking, you need to hit something very hard to scare them away. If you don't do so, we used to believe that they might settle at your place.)

Whether the above stories are true or false, we cannot tell. It's a story for another day.