KENYA: Luanda Magere Rock

Luanda Magere Rock

Luanda Magere was a ferocious warrior who could not be killed in the battle field. It is believed that during his time he was made of stone (hence his name, Luanda).

A site in Sidho with a stone is still revered as the spot where Luanda Magere died and people come from far and wide to conduct rituals and prayers at the site. The site is about 12km from the Awasi-Chemelil road, 1.5Km before you reach the Kopere – Songhor junction. Visitors would often brave the rough terrain and often muddy impassable narrow pathways to catch a glimpse of the mythical legend.

Its a brownish rock shaped like a curved back of a human being, which has partly been sunk into the ground, is quite visible at the quiet site where Magere is said to have died. It is believed to be Magere’s body.

The rock is regarded as a shrine; leafy indigenous trees provide shade to the revered site and residents believe it comes with numerous good tidings. From the rock, the villagers believe they can get solutions to drought, family problems and political crisis. The site is popular with many people who come to consult the spirit of the man who is said to have been a great warrior.

This rock is accepted as concrete evidence that Magere lived. The site is kept alive by traditional war weapons, including a spear and shield, believed to belong to Magere. The artifacts are placed under an indigenous tree next to the rock. On another branch of the same tree hangs a traditional smoking pipe, which Magere is believed to have been smoking in times of war pitting the Luo against the Nandi and Kipsigis.

Apart from the war regalia and the pipe, a clay pot, covered with a calabash, containing drinking water drawn from a stream near River Nyando, about 100 metres away, is also placed at the site but nobody knows who fetches the water. A framed-picture of the Legio Maria spiritual leader, Melkio Ondetto, also graces the site.

Pregnant women are not allowed to step on the site of the rock. If they do, they will miscarry, the villagers say.

Residents claim that they still come across skeletons belonging to those killed in the wars that were fought at the turn of the 18th Century.

There are residents who claim that Magere appears to them in dreams and tells them to prepare for planting well ahead of bumper harvests. Rainfall and fertility of this area is testimony that it is a revered and sacred place. It is here that they pray for rain, wisdom and strength.
Hunters sharpen spears and pangas on the stone. They believe that they will not go back home empty-handed from their hunting excursions after sharpening spears on the rock.

There are different species of snakes too within the sugar plantations that surround the site. But the residents say the snakes are friendly because of the presence of Magere’s spirits. White butterflies, believed to signify and symbolize hope, strength and posterity , fly around the site.

The Legendary Tale

Luo legend tales speak of a mighty warrior who hailed from Kano. The mighty warrior by the name Lwanda Magere was from the Sidho clan. What made this warrior phenomenal was that his body was made of hard rock. During this time, the Luo were in constant conflict with the Nandi people. Raids were common during Lwanda’s era but everytime the two communities met,the Nandi warriors would be crushed by Lwanda. The Luo always triumphed in the war as many enemies fell by Luanda Magere’s spear.

Following the disappointment of always losing battles,the Nandi elders came together to deliberate on the proper method of getting rid of the Lwanda Magere problem which proved to be a thorn in their flesh. They devised a plan that apparently was supposed to kill two birds with one stone. The Nandi chose to send the most beautiful girl to Lwanda as a second wife. This was to serve as a sign of goodwill between the two communities thus offering peace, though temporary, as well as giving them the chance to learn Lwanda’s secret. Ofcourse this move was met by a lot of negativity and criticism as the Luo elders advised Lwanda Magere against marrying the girl.

But due to the immense pride that Lwanda Magere had, he dismissed the elders advice and went ahead to marry the girl. Some say that her beauty was believed to be overwhelmingly outstanding.

Tradition dictated that whenever Luanda Magere was sick, his first wife was obliged to nurse him back to health. A time came when during Lwanda Magere’s first wife’s absence, he fell seriously ill. The local medicineman prescribed some herbs that had to be rubbed on Lwanda Magere. Since his first wife was absent, the second wife had to undertake that task. To her surprise, Lwanda Magere asked her to cut his shadow and administer the herbs. At first she thought that her dear husband had plunged into the pool of insanity but little did she know that that was where his strength lay. After cutting his shadow she was filled with disbelief when blood trickled from his shadow.

Just like the biblical Samson who was betrayed by Delilah, Lwanda Magere’s second wife crept out in the night, ran to her people and relayed this vital piece of information. The Nandi who clearly didn’t want to waste any more time started strategising on an attack. During the attack, Lwanda Magere’s shadow was struck by a spear and he fell on the battlefield,lifeless. The Nandi were ecstatic about their victory whereas the Luo were filled with great dismay following the loss of a great warrior. A huge boulder stands at the spot where Luanda Magere allegedly fell and locals believe that sharpening your hunting tool on that boulder guaranteed one of a successful hunt.