Uganda Peoples >> The Nilo Hamites
>> The Karamojong
Langi | Iteso
| Kumam | Kakwa
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The Karimojong are found in the Kotido and
Moroto districts in the northeastern part of Uganda. They
are part of the Atekerinspeaking peoples of Uganda. The origins
of the word Karimoja are quite uncertain but a legend from
Teso and Karamoja itself asserts that the two names Iteso
and Karimojong were derived during their migrations within
Uganda. In their early migrations, the Atekerin peoples are
said to have come by way of Karamoja. Those who remained where
the Karimojong live today came to be known as the Karimojong.
The term is said to have been derived from the phrase: akarima
ajong; meaning "the old men have got tired"; because
the Karimojong did not manage to proceed as far as the other
peoples of their stock.
Although the Karimojong have common origins
with the Langi and Iteso, some elements of their culture differ
greatly from those of the Langi because the Langi became more
prone to foreign influences during their migratory cycle.
Even among the Karimojong of today, the customs which depicted
the mode of life of the traditional stock have slightly, if
not greatly, been acted by the forces of change such as intercultural
adaptations. Nonetheless, the Karimojong still stand as a
distinct group with some elements of their cultural heritage
intact.
The ox of invocation
Customarily, each Karimojong man would keep
a special ox among his herd. Each man should simulate acts
of bravery by invoking the aid of his special ox. He would
do this by calling out the name of the ox while brandishing
his spear. If a man killed an enemy or a fierce animal having
invoked the aid of his ox, he was entitled to slit the ox's
ears. It was believed and feared that an ox might despise
a master who had failed to slit its ears.
The oxen of invocation were named according to a list of clan
names or on account of colour or the shape of the horns. These
oxen were highly esteemed and were valued more than parents,
wives, children or other possessions. It was considered very
unfortunate for an ox to die before its master. Should it
do so, the owner would take off his ornaments and observe
many days of mourning. If the master died before the ox, it
would be killed to accompany him.
Often, a man could decide to kill his special ox if he realised
that it was growing very old. However, only the men belonging
to the two elder groups, the Ng'itukoi and Ng'imoru could
be allowed to do such a thing. Such a man would announce his
intention to kill the ox. The representatives of the villages
would gather on the ceremonial ground for local and inter-tribal
feasts and dances. Customarily, the elders would sit behind-the
circle of leaves prepared for the occasion. The sticks on
which the hind legs of the animal would be placed were laid
in the centre before the chief elder.
Therefore, the ox was slaughtered while its owner stood by.
He would be dressed in the ceremonial dress of ostrich feathers
from head to toe. He would watch but could not himself participate
in the slaughter of the ox. Then there would follow dancing
and invocation of oxen but as the youths recounted their heroic
deeds done in the names of their different oxen, the elders
would remain seated. After this there would follow a ceremonial
dance which was accompanied by a series of mimed interludes
performed by almost everyone present.
As the dancing would be going on, the elders would be given
the best pieces of meat. The delegates from the different
villages would not go home that day. They would be lodged
in the village of the clan to which the owner of the ox belonged.
At the end of the celebrations, the revelling and feasts could
continue for several days. The owner of the ox would take
one new ox in the hope that it would stimulate him to fresh
deeds of bravery.
Political set-up
The Karimojong were a segmentary society.
Leadership was vested in the elders and the clan was the basic
unit of political administration. The heads of the different
clans constituted the council of elders which was constituted
the council of elders which was responsible for administering
justice, settling disputed, maintaining law and order, and
punishing law breakers.
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