The Luo probably originated at Wau in southern Sudan, near the confluence of the Meride and Sue Rivers. The Kenya Luo migrated in 5 waves into western Kenya via today's eastern Uganda, the first wave arrived around 1500 AD.
Today the Luo are the third largest ethnic group in Kenya, and live mainly in Nyanza region close to Lake Victoria (Victoria Nyanza).
The distinctively shaped Luo shield were made with buffalo hide, during that period, the shields were primarily war weapons and less ritual objects they are today. The shields are geometrically decorated, with light and dark contrasting designs.
There are two main shield forms. This well known Luo shield has an oval or elliptical form and is folded in a nearly ninty-degree angle, so that the shield covers the front and sides of the warrior. Such shields are very expensive and even around 1900 very rare. So for this reason the not so rich men had a smaller oval shield, also decorated with geometrically clan designs.
Today these shields are used in the Luo funeral ceremony of driving away death known as “tero buru”.
