Dholuo

Dholuo, also called Luo or Joluo, is a Nilotic language of the Luo branch spoken by the Luo people of western Kenya and by smaller communities in neighboring regions. It belongs to the Western Nilotic subgroup of the Nilotic languages within the Nilo-Saharan phylum and forms part of the broader Luo language cluster, which includes related languages in Uganda and Tanzania.

Geographic distribution and speakers: In Kenya, Dholuo is most widely spoken in the Nyanza region around Lake Victoria, particularly in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori counties. Smaller communities exist in urban centers such as Nairobi, and there are diaspora speakers abroad. The language has close but distinct relatives in Uganda and Tanzania, such as Adhola and Alur.

Dialects and mutual intelligibility: Dholuo has regional dialects with variations in pronunciation and vocabulary. Despite some differences, the dialects are generally mutually intelligible among speakers.

Writing system and linguistic features: Dholuo is written with the Latin alphabet. Tone is a feature of the language, though tone marking is not always used in everyday writing. The orthography is used in education, literature, and media. The language includes loanwords from Swahili and English, reflecting long-standing contact with neighboring languages and cultures.

Status and use: Dholuo is a vital language for daily communication, culture, and identity among the Luo people. It is used in local media, schools at the community level, and various cultural productions, such as music and oral literature, alongside more dominant languages in the region.