Pitt Rivers Museum Luo Visual History

6.3 CHANGING BODY ADORNMENT

With both education and church activity in place, local administration changed, and with the growth of Christian culture among the Luo, a whole new way of life emerged. By the time Evans-Pritchard visited Luoland in 1936, many people did not wear traditional ornaments, favouring European-style clothing. These changes went hand-in-hand with the fact that most Luo people had been baptized with a Christian name and were under the influence of the European missions. Those who fully embraced the new education and clothing styles were referred to in various ways as 'civilized' ( lony or nanga ) or of 'good dressing' ( jananga ) or even a 'clever or educated man' ( odiero ). Women and girls were wearing printed cloth dresses, head coverings and shoes. Men were also wearing a range of European items including shoes, socks, shorts, robes, coats, blazers, scarves, long ties, hats, and so on.

1998.349.96.1
Nicodemo from Kogelo Clan and his wives
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.151.1
Group of school children from Mulaha in uniform
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.248.1
Wife of a man called Peter (possibly Archdeacon Owen's driver)
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.74.1
A Luo woman with a cloth headdress ( kitamba )
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.198.1
This group of women and children coming to or from a market may be Luo or of Kisii area
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.209.1
This group of children may be Luo of Kisii area
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.339
Two Luo men, John and Abraham with their children
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.195.1
A Luo man called Abraham with another young man
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.229.1
A Luo man called Abraham wearing a European coat
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.103.1
A Luo man called Paulo (Paul)
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.92.1
A Luo man from Unyolo Village
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.164.1
A Luo man called Wilson Oloo
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.235.1
A Luo man called Peter (probably Archdeacon Owen's driver)
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.166.1
Luo men of Kogelo Clan, Alego Location
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.32.1
Two Luo elders named Peter and Owor
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.97.1
Two Luo men called Wilson Oloo and Jacobo of Kogelo Clan, Alego
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

And even where Luo traditional material culture continued strongly, it could still be blended with aspects of European culture.

1998.349.58.1
Osori of Kato Clan (ja kato ) wearing a traditional Luo headdress together with western clothing
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.64.1
A Luo elder wearing a traditional headdress together with an expensive western cloth robe.
Evans-Pritchard, 1936

1998.349.93.1
Asuko Clan men wearing traditional headdresses together with western clothing
Evans-Pritchard, 1936