Ketebo people

The Ketebo people are an ethnic group in South Sudan.[1] The place was previously referred to as "Napeyasa"; however, the head chief Karlo Lohitare Lotiyang changed the name to "Bira" during British colonial times. The Ketebo are inhabitants of Madial, which was a Ugandan Protectorate until 1925 and was transferred to Sudan’s administration in 1926. The Ketebo are sometimes referred to by the Didinga as "Loceha/Loceka". The Ketebo live in Bira, which is one of the Payams of Kidepo County, Torit, Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan. They are one of the smallest and least known tribes in South Sudan. The Ketebo in Uganda are called Mening, which is also one of the smallest tribes in Uganda. The population of this ethnic group is over 45,000. Bira is the land of the Ketebo which include; Lofus, Madial, Lorum, Lotome, Lojilingare, Arata, Nakoringole, Lonyili, Kamulach, Tulel, Ofi, Natedo, Nahitahapel (Ihapelmoru), Naurkori, Lochorangichokio, Lokudul, Napeyase, Ogeng, Tongoborei, Kalabe (Apoka), Irobi, Narus, Koryang, Tomoodo, Koryang, Losigiria, Irobi just to mention a few. The Ketebo people are also found in Lotukei in Budi County.

The Ketebo clans include the following: Akafuo, Amening (Ikuruha or Black Crow), Ametere, Fatuol, Ibilei, Icarai, Igago, Ikai (Lightening), Ikorom, Ingebe, Kitimo, Kurumo, Lohutok (white chest crow), Lokuti, Lonyili, Lomiru, Melong, Moliro (squerial), Ongeja, Omiro and Ngiriwo

Language

The Ketebo speak Oketeboi and Lokathan languages. The predominant language they speak today is Oketeboi with some mixtures of Dongotono.

Economic activities

The Ketebo people were previously pastorolist in nature but due to change in climate and external influence from the neighbouring communities they are now practicing cultivation systems with sorghum, maize and sesame as main crop grown most of the season (April to August).

Bira is isolated and inaccessible. The nearest health centers are in Ikotos, 117 kilometres (73 mi) away, and Karenga in Uganda 65 kilometres (40 mi) away.[2]

References
  1. Ketebo tribe petition E. Equatoria for ethnic recognition, Sudan Tribune
  2. Fr. Victor Lodukamoe. (20 October 2004). "Need for an Ambulance For Bira". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2011.


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