CRG Seminar: Fishing and Fish Terminology as a Window to Understanding Knowledge System of the Luo People of Kenya

This research investigates the terminology used for fishing and fish among the Luo of Kenya in order to preserve them in a durable format for use at the moment and by future generations, document the variety that exists in their fishing skills and reveal their world view and knowledge system. The investigation is done from a linguist’s perspective. Dholuo, the language spoken by the Luo people of Kenya, is a Western Nilotic language. The Luo people live along the Eastern shores of Lake Victoria. They practise fishing as an economic activity and it is also their source of food. The knowledge of fishing and fish preparation among the Luo is endangered because of the changing lifestyles and poverty. Existing literature shows that a systematic documentation of the terminology in this area is lacking, yet fishing is the main asset of this community. Consultants were interviewed and video recorded as they talked about fishing and fish. The terminology was then extracted from the transcribed and translated interviews and then categorised thematically with a view to describe the knowledge system the categories reflect. The data reveal knowledge systems that underlie the making and use of objects and tools needed in the increasingly endangered economic practice of fishing in Luo.

This seminar is given by visiting fellow Jane Akinyi Ngala Oduor and organised by the Collaborative Research Group African languages archives - Unpacking local epistemologies.