The karamajong of Uganda : The Karamajong ere ethnic group and isolated remote residents living in the northeastern corner of Uganda particularly occupying districts like Nakapiriprit, Amudat, Napak , Kaabong, Moroto, Kotido, Abim . The karamajongs are nomadic pastoralists community who migrated from Ethiopia from present-day Ethiopia around 1600 A.D in search for water and pasture for their cattle along their way, they have said to have separated in to two groups, one group move to the Kenya and settled the shores of lake Turkana and then intermarriaged with the local community forming the Kalenjin group and the Maasai cluster.
Second group called Akeker moved and settled Westwards and the divided in to several groups including the Turkana of Kenya, Iteso, Dodoth, Jie, Karamajong and the Kumam in the present-day Uganda. Other group continued to southwards and settled in south Sudan forming the Jiye and Toposa in South Sudan, all this mentioned groups have the common behavior, they speak similar language, keep large herds of cattle, live in a nomadic life style, similarity in dressing code, the have body marks that signifies their hidden culture massage, reside to live in permanent Manyatta and their customs and culture have attached things in common. The Karamajong were originally known as the Jie. The name Karamoja was obsessed from local believe “Akar ngimojong “meaning the old can walk no more. As the youths amongst jie in Uganda continued with their cattle in search for fresh grassland and water. The Jie youths intermarriage with a lot of indigenous communities forming the Iteso, Kumam and Langi of Uganda. The karamajong speaks a language called Nga karamajong and traditional culture called Nagi karamajong.
The karamajongs are original traditionalists who take a lot of pride in their livestock and culture. they attract a lot of foreign interference with their unique unsploit culture and the lifestyles , technology , education , dress code , housing , religion , behavior, among others disorders. They highly preserve and respect their tradition and they discourage any act of commodization and it takes long to sensitize them. The karamajong are nomadic pastoralists who move with a large herds of cattle in such for green grass and water for their animals. The karamajong pray believe on their traditional god whom God has manifested that in the beginning God gave them all the cattle in the world. The mighty karamajong lived to believe in cattle grazing.
Raw blood, meat, sorghum, milk was their stable food, the blood is often mixed with milk or other substances to make it more palatable or to create a ceremonial drink. The blood was supplemented with meat, millet, sorghum and beans when the cow and goat dies but they don’t intentionally kill them for food. This was done by shooting an arrow through the jugular vein of the cow. The blood would flow out and the women collects them using their traditional calabashes. After the collections have been make the mix the blood using sticks until the fibrin separates from the blood and its considered nutritious meal to protect this children from malnutrition since blood contains proteins. Besides blood, smoked meat, yoghurt, cow ghee, smoked hide and fresh beef.
The number of cattle in a family possesses their wealth, prestige and their social status. Their cows are given out to pay for bride prices, good characters, friendship and achievements. Traditionally, the karamajong have been involved in a constant cattle raids with their neighboring communities of Uganda, Kenya and south Sudan to protect their pride.
The karamajong live in communal lifestyle in an extended families in a very large homesteads, karamajong villages is known as “Manyatta” or “Ere” meaning an enclosed residential area, their customs and tradition for years. Manyatta are a unique cultural experience that showcase the traditional way of life of karamajongs, who have preserved. Manyatta are made of several traditional huts surrounded by a sharp thorns and with a small entry point for people and a larger entry point for cattle. The karamajong homesteads are made of mud and cow dung, with thatched roof made of grasses or palm leaves. Each person in a Manyatta plays important roles elder girls and women always constructs the homesteads, look after the children, carry out agriculture, fetch firewood and water from the watering holes, process dairy products, preparing meals for the families among others, as young boys and men are responsible of ensuring security by building fences surrounding the homesteads and kraals and roaming the karamajong semi- arid land scape looking for pasture and water for the precious cows.
Traditionally, karamajongs are generally tall and contain dark skins because they are exposure to hot sunshine consisting of a semi- arid temperatures. Traditional karamojongs have a facial markings and body piercing on noise, ears, lower lips and parts that contains hidden traditional massages. The ware light cloth with a bright color and covering their centers and breasts with cows skin and wear a car tire sandals and jewelry on arms , neck, waist , lips , legs and that may include the copper bangles, beads, cow-horn rings, cowhide among other items
