Nyasaye

Nyasaye (also Nyasae or Nasaye)^[1] is the Luo and Gusii word for God. The same or similar words are also used by speakers of Luhya languages, but they refer to the same entity.^[1] for the Luo people, Nyasaye means the creator of the beginning, The Luo also called Nyasaye with different names such as Obongo NyaKalaga, Obong'o means one of a kind, while NyaKalaga means the all powerful everlasting one. Luos are strictly monotheistic.

Some researchers have argued that the word Nyasaye doesn't mean exactly the same how comes thing for the Luo people as the word God does in English as a supreme high power, and even if the Luo people understand the concept, it doesn't necessarily carry the same connotations.^[2] The fact that English language is used to study religion in this case doesn't help to understand the way that these African populations apprehend the notion of God. However, some of the expressions in Luo languages which are used as prayers to speak about God/Nyasaye are direct translations from the Bible, and they don't have any other equivalents in their language.^[3]

For the Luhya people, the high god is called Wele or Were, and he is male-gendered, while other spirits and gods can be of both genders or not gendered. The Christian God, Nyasaye, is also considered to be male.^[4]

Altered states of consciousness and Nyasaye

Theologist Jim Harries affirms that the way that African people get in touch with Nyasaye is through altered states of consciousness, which are seen as completely natural.^[5] These altered states can cause people in Kenya to dance violently or to see visions. They also believe that worldly wealth and understanding of the world can also be achieved by contacting Nyasaye through these states.^[5]

Applications

Further applications of the word include:

• Omwami (the Lord)
• Omwami Nyasaye (the Lord God)
• Sefwe ouli mwikulu (Our Father who art in Heaven)
• Nyasaye w' tsimbabasi (God of Mercy)
• Nyasaye wobukosia (God of Grace)
• Nyasaye Papa (Father God)
• Nyasaye wokhunyala kosi (Almighty God)
• Nyasaye wa toto (the true God).
• Omwami Yesu (Lord Jesus)
• Nyasaye papa (God the Father)
• Nyasaye Omwana (God the Son)
• Nyasaye Roho Omutakatifu (God the Holy Spirit) - God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

References

1. Frankl, P. J. L.; Omar, Yahya Ali (1995-01-01). "The Word for 'God' in Swahili: Further Considerations". Journal of Religion in Africa. 25 (2): 202–211. doi:10.2307/1581274. ISSN 1570-0666. JSTOR 1581274.
2. Harries, Jim (2009-07-01). "'The Name of God in Africa' and Related Contemporary Theological, Development and Linguistic Concerns". Exchange. 38 (3): 271–291. doi:10.1163/157254309x449737. ISSN 1572-543X.
3. Ocholla-Ayayo, A. B. C.; Odeck, James Oyugi (1980-10-01). "On Luo Religion and Folklore". Current Anthropology. 21 (5): 667–670. doi:10.1086/202544. ISSN 0011-3204.
4. Cattell, Maria G. (2003). "Abaluyia". In Ember, Carol R.; Ember, Melvin (eds.). Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender. Springer US. pp. 245–256. doi:10.1007/0-387-29907-6_24. ISBN 9780306477706.
5. Harries, Jim (2010-10-01). "The Perceived Nature of God in Europe and in Africa: Dealing with "Difference" in Theology, Focusing on "Altered States of Consciousness"". Missiology. 38 (4): 395–409. doi:10.1177/009182961003800404. ISSN 0091-8296.