Maragoli Community in Migori Celebrates Rich Diaspora History
Migori County – The Maragoli community, a significant Luhya sub-tribe, has marked a noteworthy migratory journey to Migori County, a phenomenon that traces back to the 1930s and carries a rich cultural significance.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Maragoli, also known as Avalogooli, migrated from Vihiga County in the late 1930s, settling in Migori County around 1943/44. This migration was partly due to some Maragolis being excommunicated from Vihiga for social misdemeanors. Herzon Otiende, a 75-year-old resident of Kawa village in Suna Central Ward-Suna East Sub County, shared that his grandfather was among the first to resettle in Migori County during the 1940s, in present-day Kanyamkago. His grandfather, originally from Kaimosi-Vihiga County, had traveled to Mugumu village in Tanzania and eventually settled in Suna Migori, attracted by the vast, untouched land.
Otiende explained that the primary motivation for the Maragoli migration was the scarcity of land. The introduction of Western education and the inception of an individual land tenure system post-independence further underscored the significance of land for future generations. The Maragoli, known for their migration, have settled in various counties across Kenya, including Transnzoia, Kakamega, Nandi, and Migori, as well as Mugumu in Tanzania.
Despite initial ethnic isolation in the 1940s, the Maragoli community in Migori County gradually integrated into the local society. Otiende noted that adopting certain cultural practices and ideas from the Luo community, with whom they interacted, was crucial for acceptance. This cultural borrowing, including adopting the Dhulo language while maintaining their ancestral language, customs, and practices, has been pivotal for their survival and identity.
Churches like Friends and Salvation Army, prevalent in Kanyamkago, Kakrao, and Suna Central wards, reflect the community’s religious heritage from Kaimosi-Vihiga County. The Maragoli population in Migori County has steadily grown, now residing predominantly in parts of Suna Central and Kakrao wards in Suna East Sub County and South Kanyamkago in Uriri Sub County.
The community’s presence has increasingly been felt in governance and business in Migori County, which has a population of around 1.2 million as of 2023. They have successfully elected Members of the County Assembly in both the 2017 and 2022 general elections and have gained political relevance, with representation in the administration of Governor Ochilo Ayacko.
Migori County, known for its cosmopolitan nature, has welcomed various minority groups, including Somalis, Kisiis, and Subas. In recognition of their significant growth and influence, the Maragoli elders from Vihiga County nominated Moses Ronga as the first Migori-Maragoli Culture Chairperson. Ronga was crowned during the Cultural Day celebrated in October, marking 83 years since their first entry into Migori County.
The Maragoli Cultural Festival, held annually in December in Vihiga County, educates on religion, culture, and traditions of the Maragoli people and other communities. This year, for the first time, the newly crowned Migori-Maragoli cultural Chairperson, Moses Ronga, will represent the community, symbolizing a new era for the diaspora community.