Legend who lives beyond the grave

Harriet James @harriet86jim

As far as Kenyan legends go, one is said to have had extraordinary powers. His name, Luanda Magere, means the fierce rock, and his shrine has drawn the attention of many, who travel all the way just to learn about him and what he did for his community.

This man, who died around 1902, has a story that is well documented and well known. 

But little is known about the aftermath of such visits to the shrine, which is not considered just a tourist attraction but also a place to seek assistance for people’s troubles.

When he was eventually killed during a fierce battle, it is said Luanda’s body turned into stone and only his shoulder remained flesh.

This is what one sees when they enter the sacred place and you cannot touch it.

A family maintains the stone in a hut surrounded by indigenous trees and ensures the surrounding is clean. 

So revered is this site that expectant women are not permitted to get in as it’s believed they’ll miscarry if they do. 

You can take photos though, if you are a tourist, but the guides go before you and consult with Luanda’s spirits informing him of your arrival.

One must leave sadaka (offering) to appease him and take care of those who take care of the shrine. 

Most believers of the Legio Maria sect also come to consult the spirit of this legendary warrior.

Evidence is a framed-picture of the founder of the sect, Melkio Ondetto who died in 1992 together with the woman they believe to be Virgin Mary.

While some residents claim they have come across skeletons of people killed during the battle that killed Luanda, others claim he visits them in dreams and instructs them whenever there is danger. 

“Luanda told me in a dream my son was selling chang’aa and I should warn him to change and follow the right route,” says Mzee Otieno Ochuodho, who also claims to be Luanda’s younger brother.

After this warning, his son changed and now has a family and runs a successful shop. 

He also narrates of a time when his foot was swollen and no medicine prescribed cured him.

Luanda then appeared to him in a dream and told him to use a certain plant. he recovered.

He also revealed to him the person responsible for the condition and upon investigating, they found out it was true.

Apparently, it was a wizard who had come to finish him off, but apparently Luanda killed him. 

A popular story goes that Luanda, upon hearing that a white man wanted to construct something near his shrine, took drastic measures to prevent this.

“Luanda made the foundation of the building sink and brought several calamities including sickness to the man, resulting to failure of some of his businesses.

We had to appease Luanda; that’s when things became normal. The man never dared to return,” recalls Ochuodho.

Appeasement takes many forms, but the most popular are slaughtering nyuok (a he-goat) and offering money by visitors.

While the appeasement can be done after an incident, Mzee Ochuodho says in some cases Luanda appears to him to ask for gifts.

During famine, Luanda appeared in a dream to Ochuodho’s granddaughter to bring him a he-goat to appease him. Only when they did this did it rain. 

“Many come here for healing, some also come here to look for wealth and Luanda sorts them out.

The only instruction that he gives is that you never forget him and that you always bring your offering, in form of money to the shrine.

This is magic that brings goodness and not that which destroys people,” he explains.

About Luanda

The legend, who hailed from Kano and belonged to the Sidho clan, is said to have led the Luo community in numerous battles against the Nandis.

According to the story, the Nandis terrorised the Luos for long and defeated them each time they went in battle, but things changed when Luanda Magere emerged as a warrior. 

The Nandis feared him as he would fight them to their homes and take their most prized possessions without opposition. 

After brainstorming, the Nandis found the only way to destroy Luanda was through a woman who would use her charm to find the secret behind his strength. 

Although the elders pleaded with him to reject the false gesture of friendship, he went ahead and married the Nandi woman, making 26the number of his wives.

Luanda ended up disclosing the source of his strength to his wife after much persuasion, telling her he would only die if his shadow was pierced by an arrow or spear.

He also told her that he protected his invincibility by fighting in the evenings or at night as that’s when his shadow was protected. 

His wife took the information to her people who then lured him to a daylight battle that resulted in the death of the legend. 

Luanda turned into a stone at the site where his shrine is.