About:

Project title: Okola​

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The okola practice is part of the mourning process, a practice by the Luo people of Kenya. It is the period after the burial of the husband. In some cultures the process of mourning is charactised by dressing in black as a symbolic code. 

Okola can be easily associated with chola which is in the ritual “ladder” of the tradition of the Luo people. Okola/kola is the state that you are in after bereavement. When someone loses their partner and has not done cleansing they are referred to as being in the state of okola/kola whereas chodo koo is the first sex ceremonial act [weyo pith ma dhok chuth]. Consequently the naming differs between south nyanza (jo’loka) chodo ko and  Alego okola/chodo okola. 

The man would also go through the same process,’’nene onindo ekom ba nyaka olek ni oriwore kod jaode monindo’’ he would dream sexual wet dreams when sleeping on the couch. ’’Mae iluongo ni gonyo’’, this is to be freed indicating a natural, or forced progression towards the end of the mourning period. 

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Concept: 

• In the intersection of this work the artist is exploring the traditional weight and methodology of symbolic items and actions in navigating the complex transition from death back to life. Perspective shifts in cultural and social within the community for instance the suppression of traditional supportive systems that were once essential for spiritual peace ‘’kuwe’’ and considered imperative are now criticized for being oppressive and outdated. There is urgency and tension between tradition and modern views, where practices are sometimes recontextualized as oppressive and outmoded. 

 

Does recontextualizing offer a ‘’safer’’ approach or creates room for a bigger percentage of compromising elements to fit situations?

What are the effects of dissection of other cultures and  traditional practices, could it interfere with native methods and individuals’ relationship with the latter?

 

​​​work in progress.....