The Ik people
The IK people live within the confines kidepo valley national park in the karamoja region next to the karamojongs . Its one of the smallest Ethnic group in Uganda where by the number of its people is around 1000-11000. The IK people live on the Morungole mountain in the northeastern Uganda near the border with kenya . The word IK means “the first to migrate here “ and that’s the local meaning accordingly . More about this tribe ,they are called the “Teuso” meaning poor people of dogs ,without cattle or guns. These people face many challenges which are on a daily basis for example insecurities ,hunger and lack of water since it’s a savannah region
.The IK people were the first tribe to settle in the north eastern Uganda mostly in kidepo valley but after wards they were displaced and pushed out untill they decided to settle on the top and slopes of mountain Morungole . The IK used to rear cattle in large numbers but due to cattle rustling and tribal conflicts they decided to join subsistence farming where by they rear goats for consumption and food .
The IK people are divided in to clans for example heinne plus other twelve . These clans are led by J akama Awae. They allow marriages between different clan members . The clans live in small walled villages known as odok , making it a clustered community .
The IK culture has some rituals that are carried out like the Ipeye-es and tasapet. These rituals are practiced by only men .”ipeye-es “ marks the beginning of manhood and “tasapet” the initiation to elder hood.
The Ik language is the Kuliak or Rub which is being used by the north eastern people/ Nilo-Saharan languages. Notable traditions include itówé-és (“blessing the seeds”), a three day festival that marks the beginning of the agricultural year, and ipéyé-és, a coming-of-age ritual in which young men must cleanly slaughter a male goat with a spear. These people are predominantly Christian.
These people are traditional hunters or gatherers because they decided to leave cattle rearing because of the karamanjongs who used raid them hence forcing them to shift .
The IK are taken to be not loving but once you pay a visit in their community ,they are loving and welcoming.
