Fish Factor in Luo Intelligentsia

The Luo people are often perceived as an anomaly in Sub-Saharan Africa due to their behaviors and lifestyle, which resemble those of Europeans (Wazungu). They live in abundance and rarely need to line up for relief food, always manifesting affluence and intelligence.

Origin

The Luo people, found in Ethiopia, Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Sudan, and Kenya, are believed to have derived their name from their quest to find the source of the River Nile. Reportedly, they worked hard to follow (Luwo) its meandering path from Sudan (some believe it was all the way from Egypt) to its source in Uganda.

Another theory suggests that they got their name from following (Luwo) fish.

Luo Fishing Culture

Fishing remains a cultural and commercial activity of the Luo. In Kenya, the largest freshwater lake in Africa, Lake Victoria, spans all their counties (Siaya, Migori, Kisumu, and Homa Bay), harboring billions of fish. The proximity to the lake, the practice of fishing, and the love of fish provide access to high biological value nutrients that boost the immune system, including omega-3 fatty acids for the brain and heart, and essential amino acids.

Certain foods are believed to be beneficial for memory and overall brain health due to their nutrient content. One of them is wild fish from freshwater, which is a high-quality lean protein associated with improving memory. Fish like salmon, trout, and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), which is important for brain health and cognitive function.

Why You Have Never Eaten Fish Unlike the Luo, Who Regularly Do

Most people eat fish kept in ponds and fed on inorganic feedstuffs. Animals in confinement lots are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones and are filled with excessive omega-6 fatty acids, harmful chemicals, and toxic hormone levels from confinement farming practices.

Research has established that our brains use about 60% to 70% fat to make myelin. Brain cells use DHA to make myelin, and this particular omega-3 fatty acid comes from the fat in wild fish, grass-fed meat, and free-range chickens. While fish is an excellent source of omega-3, deep frying using processed vegetable oil disrupts the balance of omega-3 to omega-6 ratios. The best fat for cooking fish remains tallow, as processed vegetable oils that are heated are detrimental to our health.