The IK and the Karamojong people are the main tribes living near Kidepo National Park. Cultural encounters are one of the activities tourists enjoy when they visit the park.
The IK People
The IK are a small group who live on the slopes of Mount Morungole. The name “IK” means the first to migrate. They are known for honey production and small-scale farming. The IK tribe moved from Ethiopia to Kenya, then later to the Karamoja region.
At first, they kept cattle, but they lost their herds to larger groups like the Karamojong. After that, they focused more on farming and honey making.
The IK have a unique culture. They pay bride price with goats, beehives, sheep, and chickens. They practice polygamy and believe in inheritance of property after divorce or the death of a partner.
Most IK people are not educated, and sex before marriage is not allowed. They believe that having children is a blessing from God, and raising children is a shared responsibility.
Parents stay with their children in a home called an “asak” until the children are about 4 years old. Then, the children go to live with their grandparents. Girls are ready for marriage at 13 years old, and boys of the same age start living together in one asak.
The Karamojong People
The Karamojong are nomadic herders similar to the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania. They live in North Eastern Uganda, and their rare culture attracts tourists to the park.
Cattle are very important to them. Having many herds shows wealth and status. They speak the Nga Karamojong language and have kept their culture despite changes in Uganda.
Their homes, called Manyattas, are round huts made of grass with small doors for people and larger entrances for cattle.
The Karamojong live in extended families inside their Manyattas. They build thorny fences around their homes to protect their cattle from wild animals.
Besides cattle, they also keep goats, sheep, chickens, and dogs. Dogs guard their homes from intruders.
For a young man to marry, he must win a wrestling match against the woman he wants to marry. If he wins, it shows he can protect his wife. If he loses, he is not ready for marriage.
The tribes around Kidepo Valley National Park have rich cultures they have kept for many years. You can learn about them by meeting and talking with the elders.
Also, check out our blog on the Acholi Tribe.
