The Karimojong

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.