Different meanings!

May 08, 2008

EDITOR—Speaking on the Labour Day celebrations, President Museveni sought to draw parallels between “ladit” and “ow´ekitibwa”— Luo and Kiganda words, respectively.

EDITOR—Speaking on the Labour Day celebrations, President Museveni sought to draw parallels between “ladit” and “ow´ekitibwa”— Luo and Kiganda words, respectively.

Museveni seems to believe that conferring the title “ladit” upon LRA leader Joseph Kony is exaltation.

“Ladit” is a versatile word, commonly used by the youth addressing elders or subordinates addressing superiors or in reference to a senior public official. Perhaps its most accommodating usage is in the place of “mister”.

In all instances using the title before an individual’s name is no infraction of protocol in the Luo culture and often would go unnoticed.

The potential diplomatic pitfall of pasting identical labels against a peasant, parish chief and head of state must indeed be glaring to individuals sensitive to protocol. Still, as I understand it, “ow´ekitibwa” is an unmistakable word of honour – a point demonstrated most eloquently by reference to the Kabaka.

“Ladit” and “ow´ekitibwa” are terms anchored upon deep cultural underpinnings. Calling Kony ‘ladit’ does not translate to placing him on a pedestal at all!

R. Moro
Kampala

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});