The final burial rites ceremonies for the late Chairman of Luo Council of Elders Ker Willis Otondi began yesterday with solemn prayers and cultural performances in Kisumu City.

Otondi’s body was removed from Aga Khan Hospital morgue yesterday  morning and taken straight to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex

Ker Otondi passed away on February 17 at the age of 98. He was the ninth Luo Council of Elders chairman.

Hundreds of city dwellers joined family, relatives and friends for a prayer cum cultural ritual which was led by elder Jotham Onduu Ajiki before taking his body home for a night vigil.

Ajiki  led the Luo traditional dancers to mark the ceremony attended by dozens of elders drawn from Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya Counties to escort their departed hero.

The elders mourned the late Otondi as a peace maker and a respected elder who was always committed to the cultural unity of the Luo people irrespective of their ancestral origins.

“Today marks our first celebration day. We will perform and showcase various cultural symbols and arts that depict the Luo culture and pray the whole night,’’ said Ajiki.

Tomorrow, another cultural rites ceremony will be performed at Ker’s Nyahera home, led by elders and the political class. It will be the day of Tero Buru, said Ajiki.

Tero Buru was one of the Luo rites of passage performed at the funerals of male adults of the community before they are buried as a sign of respect and to exorcise the evil spirits.

It is similar to the requiem, the contemporary church service performed by priests at funerals of the deceased Christian believers in the Luo land.

In Tero Buru, the eldest son of the deceased played a leading role. There were two types of Tero Buru; one performed on the burial day and another after burial.

Ajiki said, for Ker Otondi, they will do it before he is buried. “Many would wonder why we would use Tero Buru first, but it’s one of our ancient traditional cultures,’’ explained elder Ajiki.

The rite involves music played, during the ceremony amid song and dance as select elders recite and play music and dance. 

Kisumu Speaker Elisha Oraro disclosed that the Luo from Uganda, notably the Padhola, Acholi,  Jo’Shirati from Tanzania and the Nabongo elders will send representatives to attend.