Death and Burial Rites of the Luo in Kenya: The Islam or Christian Way?

Description

Christianity and Islam have interacted with African traditional beliefs and practices for many years in many parts of Africa. Both these religions have affected African traditional worldview in varied ways. In Kenya for example, Christianity came earlier than Islam. It penetrated and affected many communities in the interior parts of the country. The effect has been in socio-cultural, economic, religious and political dimensions. Christianity has mainly been spread by Western missionaries. Areas that Christianity has impacted include medical services, schools and building of churches. But while this impact of Christianity abounds, Islam, a religion that came later in Kenya and other parts of Africa, has affected many lives in Africa especially in socio-cultural spheres. This book highlights this phenomenon of culture in the area of death and burial rites among the Luo community of Kenya. The story about these traditional practices in death and burials among the Luo people came into limelight in 1986 following the death of SM Otieno. The court case that ensued between his wife and his Umira Kager Clan in Western Kenya was so severe that it took almost a year to be resolved. The fact that the ruling was done in favour of the clan left many people with questions. But while there are many people who have embraced Christianity in the region, death and burial rites tend to follow either traditional way or Islam. Christianity ought to cultivate sound theological and biblical practices that are aimed at addressing this critical area of need not only among the Luo people but different communities in Kenya that still seem to revert or incline to Islamic practices. This book is relevant for theological institutions, pastors, missiologists and missionaries for teaching and providing practical guidance in cross-cultural ministry.

Rev. Dr. Lawrence Oseje is married to Dorcas and blessed with three children and a son in-love. He is an ordained minister of the Gospel with over twelve years’ experience of Church ministry as a pastor in Mombasa, Kenya. He holds Masters of Arts in Missions (Islamic emphasis), Masters of Theology and a PhD in Interreligious Studies from Africa International University. He is a former Lecturer in Uganda Christian University and pioneered Islam for Mission and Ministry track while teaching there for five years. He is currently the Executive Director of Destiny Impact Mission International and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Biblical Studies, Kabarak University. He is an adjunct faculty/Instructor at Regent University in USA, Africa International University, AIU, PAC University, Renewal University in Uganda and Africa Theological College, ACT in Rwanda. He is a Langham Scholar, Chairman of Africa Scholarship Exchange, ASE-Kenya, an Academy Fellow for International Council for Evangelical Education, ICETE, a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, ETS, and Africa Society of Evangelical Theology, ASET. He is an elder in CITAM Ngong and a member of Council of Elders in Christ is the Answer Ministries in CITAM. He is the chairman of Missions and Scholarship Committees in CITAM. He has authored ‘African Traditions Meeting Islam’ and published book chapters and articles related to Christianity and Islam. He has participated and presented in international research conferences, Middle East consultative meetings on Trends and Contemporary issues in Islam and other Interreligious related studies.