Kisumu residents defy curfew to ‘expel’ evil spirits

A deserted street in Kisumu after the nationwide curfew commenced at 7pm on March 27, 2020. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • ‘Nyawawa are believed to be spirits of people who died in Lake Victoria.
  • It is claimed that one could hear the voices of ghosts of their dead relatives passing by their homes chatting, singing and even chanting.

The Luo community believe that certain diseases are brought by evil spirits. They have devised ways of exorcising the evil spirits known as Nyawawa. ‘Nyawawa are believed to be spirits of people who died in Lake Victoria.

The tradition of expelling the spirits has been observed by the community for ages and on Friday, not even the nationwide curfew could keep Kisumu residents in their houses.

CHANTING

It is claimed that one could hear the voices of ghosts of their dead relatives passing by their homes chatting, singing and even chanting.

The evil spirits are believed to roam at night.  

There is a belief among the Luo that when ‘Nyawawa’ visit a place, they can only be sent away by hitting objects like utensils and drums repeatedly.

They believe that failure to expel the spirits can attract various calamities, including epidemics or even death.

CURFEW

So this was the case on Friday, shortly after 9pm two hours into the dusk to dawn curfew.

Not taking chances, residents of Obunga, Kajulu, Mamboleo, Bandani, were heard hitting and drumming utensils to drive away the evil spirits that passed by their homes in defiance of the curfew.

Contacted by Nation, Luo Council of Elders Chairman Opiyo Otondi described Nyawawa as 'simply satanic'.

Another Luo elder Odungi Randa said the Friday incident reminded him of incidences that used to happen when he was young.

He said when there was an outbreak of smallpox, the Luo community treated it as satanic and used to beat utensils and drums to send the evil spirits back to Lake Victoria.

CONCOCTIONS

He revealed that they used to smear some concoction on their doors for protection against the disease.

“Just like the curfew, everyone would come home by 5pm and the gates would be closed before the doors were smeared with herbs,” said Mr Randa.

He indicated that the ritual continued until the modern medicine for smallpox was brought by the whites.

"When I heard my neighbours scare away Nyawawa on Friday night, I remembered how we used to scare away smallpox, but this is not the same for coronavirus. We have to follow what the government is telling us and maintain high level of hygiene to beat it," said Mr Randa.

There is speculation that the Kisumu residents may have done this to drive away Covid-19.