The Biblical Old Testament tells the story of Samson who, an angel proclaimed, would be born to Manoah’s barren wife. Samson, the Angel further announced, would be a nazirite (i.e. consecrated to God). Among other observances, the angel enigmatically warned that the lad should not be shaved because he was destined to deliver the Israelites from forty years of captivity at the hands of the Philistines.

The Bible tells us that, after mighty feats of physical strength, Samson was eventually subdued by the enchanting Philistine temptress Delilah, who coaxed him into confiding in her the secret behind his strength. The full story is found in the Biblical Old Testament book of Judges, Chapters 13 to 16.

Among the Kenya Luo ethnic community, the story is told of a legendary hero called Luanda Magere.
“Luanda” means “rock”. Depending on the intonation (in most African languages the meaning of a word changes according to the tonal inflection adopted) “Magere” could variously mean “the one that builds” or “the one on which I shall build” (if the root word is taken to be “gero”, i.e. to “build”), or “the fierce one” (if the root word is taken to be “ger”, i.e. “fierce”). So the name “Luanda Magere” could variously mean “the rock that builds”, “the rock on which I shall build” or “the fierce rock”.

legend has it that when the Kenya Luo finally arrived at the shores of Lake Victoria and decided to settle there, after a long migration from Egypt, they met with fierce resistance from the Nandi ethnic community who had earlier settled in the region. the two communities fought many wars to establish a domination in the region.

The Luos fiercest warrior was Luanda Magere. It is said that no spear or arrow could pierce his body. However much the Nandis tried, they could not bring him down and he was single-handedly responsible for the routing of many Nandi brigades. In exasperation, the Nandi plotted to offer Magere one of their community’s most beautiful girl for a wife. however, the girl’s singular brief was to find out the source of Magere’s strength.

After many threats, much cajoling, coaxing and seduction, Luanda finally gave in and revealed to his wife that his strength lay in his shadow. Whoever wanted to kill him would have to pierce his shadow and not his body. His wife dutifully reported this revelation to her kith and kin and it came to pass that in the next battle between thew Luos and the Nandis, Luanda Magere was killed by a Nandi spear aimed at his shadow. This led to a truce and a demarcation of borders between the Luo and the Nandi. And so it is that on the foundation of that fierce rock did the Kenya Luos build their present community.