Luo elders performed the traditional ‘Tero Buru’ ceremony at Raila Odinga’s Opoda home in Siaya County, marking the community’s cultural farewell to the late former Prime Minister.
The ritual, deeply rooted in Luo customs, involved elders leading a procession around the homestead while driving a bull, symbolizing the final journey of the departed leader and the cleansing of the home.
Accompanied by traditional songs, chants, and drumming, the ceremony reflected respect, unity, and the community’s acknowledgment of Odinga’s legacy and status as a revered statesman.
The event drew hundreds of mourners from across the region, who joined in the symbolic ritual to honor Raila Odinga’s lifelong contributions to Kenya’s democracy and leadership.
According to Luo tradition, Tero Buru serves both as a cleansing and a send-off rite, ensuring that the spirit of the deceased rests in peace while strengthening communal bonds among the living.
The ceremony at Opoda carried both spiritual and cultural weight, representing the deep-rooted respect the Luo people hold for their departed leaders.
In Luo culture, Tero Buru is one of the most important traditional ceremonies performed after the death of a prominent person, elder, or leader.
The phrase “Tero Buru” translates to “driving of the bull,” but its meaning goes far deeper—it symbolizes honour, respect, and farewell to the deceased.
Traditionally, it is performed after the burial, sometimes on the same day or a few days later, depending on the family’s customs.
When a leader or respected elder dies, the ceremony takes on a larger, community-wide significance.
It becomes a gathering of clans, neighbours, and well-wishers who come together to honour the deceased and reinforce unity among the living.
The ceremony begins with men leading a procession through villages or homesteads while driving cattle, especially a bull, around the area.
The bull represents strength, leadership, and the spirit of the deceased. The act of driving it (tero) symbolizes sending off the spirit and cleansing the homestead of death.
Mourners sing traditional dirges (sigalagala) and chants praising the deceased’s achievements. People beat drums, blow horns, and sometimes fire traditional weapons into the air to mark respect.
In the context of a fallen leader like Raila Odinga, Tero Buru becomes both a public expression of loss and a unifying cultural moment, reaffirming the Luo community’s identity and respect for tradition.
In essence, Tero Buru is not just a ritual—it’s a symbol of respect, unity, and continuity in Luo culture. When a leader dies, it becomes a profound cultural statement: a collective farewell to a pillar of the community and a celebration of life that binds people through shared tradition and memory.
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