Though originally cattle herding-herding people, the Luo’s herds suffered terribly from an infectious disease outbreak in the 1890s so they switched to fishing and agriculture. Fishing for tilapia and omena on Lake Victoria provides living for many people around the area and attracts men from great distances.
Omena are tiny fish that are prepared and eaten whole. (Not bad once you get over the little eyes looking up at you while you enjoy the dish...) After dark, lanterns are used to attract lake flies, which in turn attract omena that are caught in nets by the thousands. So every evening, with the exception of nights when a bright moon interferes, fishermen prepare to spend the whole night on the lake. Soon after the whole lake is illuminated with bright lights, looking like hundreds of bright stars in a clear night sky.
However, this beautiful sight comes with a few negative aspects. To stay awake all night on the old, rickety boat the fishermen drink and use illegal drugs. They also partake in sexual relationships with prostitutes. Many of the men are away from their families for a long time and it is also thought that you will catch more fish if you have sexual relations on the boat. This contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the community and the fishermen, which has one of the highest rates of a specific group.
Although fish could sustain families around the area, companies buy the fish and then export them at a much higher price, making the fish too expensive for locals to buy. The fishermen often use the money they receive to sustain their nightly habits so their families won’t see any of the profit.
So although the sparkle of the Lake Victoria at night is beautiful it is difficult not to think about how these fishermen’s living affects individuals, families and community.
