Inculturation Task: Rooting the Gospel Firmly in Luo Culture

Abstract

Inculturation refers to embodying the Christian message in a specific cultural setting through elements unique to the culture while serving as a guiding principle that unifies and revitalizes the church. In this study, the author argues that evangelization in the Luo culture must incorporate the principles of inculturation in order to have a deep and meaningful impact. This approach allows for the critical integration of culture into the church’s life, moving away from the traditional one-way approach to evangelization and towards a more interactive and complementary process. Using library research, this paper argues that inculturation is needed for the gospel to make a lasting impact in the Luo culture. Through inculturation, the church can reassess its evangelizing mission, building on its past successes and redefining its objectives and direction. This paper highlights themes such as family, marriage, hospitality, veneration of ancestors, respect of the elders, and death as critical in rooting the gospel firmly in the Luo culture.