The Kumam are a Nilo-Hamitic ethnic group of about 349,000 living mainly in the western areas of Teso sub-region and the south-east of Lango sub-region.[1][2] The Kumam are ethnic group belonging to Ateker peoples, they live in Kaberamaido district, district in Eastern Uganda.[3] They share Soroti district with the Iteso and some parts of formerly Lira district with the Langi. In the Lango region, they are now found in Dokolo district which was detached from Lira District.[4] They are found at the shores of Lake Kyoga (Namasale). In Soroti district, they are found in Serere, Asuret,Kamuda, katine, Soroti city, Arapai as well as the outskirts of Soroti district neighboring Kaberamaido.[5]
The Kumam descend from the early fishing, agricultural, and herding communities of Ethiopia. Who migrated southwards towards Uganda because of land pressure around the 17th century. Today, they live on the shores of Lake Kyoga in the districts of Serere, Soroti, Kalaki, Amolatar, Dokolo, Amuria, and Kaberamaido[6]
Kumam traditions say are part of the Iteso people. They probably lost their Eastern NiloticAteker language and took up the Western NiloticLuo spoken by their Lango and Acholi neighbours – due to prolonged contact and intermarriages.[2][5] The Kumam must have preceded the ITeso in migration and settled in Soroti later hence, the Karimojong people from whom Iteso came know Soroti by the name 'Solot' and not teso.This points to the possibility of a later migration after iteso from Karamoja.
Culture and customsEdit
Political set-upEdit
The Kumam had political structure under clan leaders known as wegi Atekerin.[1][6] Other people of importance in the society were wegi ikodeta Cel (leaders of dancing groups), and leaders of Asonya(ancient) homes, wegi Cel.[3][6][5] The wegi Cel were in most cases Dogolan or Odonge ikekoros (heads of part of a clan descending form one man).[5] These clan leaders were responsible for the maintenance of law and order as well as general administration. They arbitrated in matters of politics and social affairs.[3][6]
Social set-upEdit
Music, dance and story telling played a big part in kumam lifestyle.[6] At any time music would be made, at various functions, such as ceremonial, religious and political functions. In the evening, the old people would narrate stories to the younger generation as part of the oral traditions.[6][1]
MarriageEdit
Previously, the parents would arrange marriages for their children. Girls would be betrothed to boys at an early age. In effect, the young girl would become wife to a respective boy but she would wait to be officially handed over when she came of age. In some cases, the young girls so betrothed would be taken to the boy's home to grow up there. When she came of age, a ceremony would be organized to formalize the relationship. With time however the system changed.[6] Today, the boy goes looking for a girl and without the consent of the parents and sneak with her to his home at night.[5][4] After a week or so, the girl's relatives would begin to look for her. Obviously they had some prior knowledge of her whereabouts. On discovery, a fine would be exacted from the boy. Arrangements would be made to settle the bride wealth and the marriage would be formalized.[2]
ReferencesEdit
^ abc"Kumam in search of cultural autonomy". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
^ abcUzoigwe, G. N. The beginnings of Lango society : a review of evidence. OCLC 38562622.
^ abcAngola, Geofrey. "A history of the Iteso clans, a case study of Irarak clan of Kasilo County, Soroti district in Eastern Uganda 1900-1962. Makerere University Library: Makerere University. p. 6.
^ abOlyech, Erimayo (1936). The anointing of clan heads among the Lango. Makerere University Library: The Uganda Journal.
^ abcdefTribal names and customs in Teso district, Kagolo (1955). B M. Makerere University: The Uganda Journal.
^ abcdefgOdada, M. A. E (1971). The Kumam: Langi or lteso?. National Library of Uganda: The Uganda Journal.
External linksEdit
A Cultural Profile of the Kumam People of Uganda
THE KUMAM
Joshua Project
New Uganda
Ugandese
October 16, 2023
kumam, people, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, august, 2017, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, kum. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Kumam are a Nilo Hamitic ethnic group of about 349 000 living mainly in the western areas of Teso sub region and the south east of Lango sub region 1 2 The Kumam are ethnic group belonging to Ateker peoples they live in Kaberamaido district district in Eastern Uganda 3 They share Soroti district with the Iteso and some parts of formerly Lira district with the Langi In the Lango region they are now found in Dokolo district which was detached from Lira District 4 They are found at the shores of Lake Kyoga Namasale In Soroti district they are found in Serere Asuret Kamuda katine Soroti city Arapai as well as the outskirts of Soroti district neighboring Kaberamaido 5 They speak Kumam language similar to the language spoken by the Lango with some Ateso vocabulary 5 Contents 1 Origin 2 Culture and customs 2 1 Political set up 2 2 Social set up 2 3 Marriage 3 References 4 External linksOrigin EditThe Kumam descend from the early fishing agricultural and herding communities of Ethiopia Who migrated southwards towards Uganda because of land pressure around the 17th century Today they live on the shores of Lake Kyoga in the districts of Serere Soroti Kalaki Amolatar Dokolo Amuria and Kaberamaido 6 Kumam traditions say are part of the Iteso people They probably lost their Eastern Nilotic Ateker language and took up the Western Nilotic Luo spoken by their Lango and Acholi neighbours due to prolonged contact and intermarriages 2 5 The Kumam must have preceded the ITeso in migration and settled in Soroti later hence the Karimojong people from whom Iteso came know Soroti by the name Solot and not teso This points to the possibility of a later migration after iteso from Karamoja Culture and customs EditPolitical set up Edit The Kumam had political structure under clan leaders known as wegi Atekerin 1 6 Other people of importance in the society were wegi ikodeta Cel leaders of dancing groups and leaders of Asonya ancient homes wegi Cel 3 6 5 The wegi Cel were in most cases Dogolan or Odonge ikekoros heads of part of a clan descending form one man 5 These clan leaders were responsible for the maintenance of law and order as well as general administration They arbitrated in matters of politics and social affairs 3 6 Social set up Edit Music dance and story telling played a big part in kumam lifestyle 6 At any time music would be made at various functions such as ceremonial religious and political functions In the evening the old people would narrate stories to the younger generation as part of the oral traditions 6 1 Marriage Edit Previously the parents would arrange marriages for their children Girls would be betrothed to boys at an early age In effect the young girl would become wife to a respective boy but she would wait to be officially handed over when she came of age In some cases the young girls so betrothed would be taken to the boy s home to grow up there When she came of age a ceremony would be organized to formalize the relationship With time however the system changed 6 Today the boy goes looking for a girl and without the consent of the parents and sneak with her to his home at night 5 4 After a week or so the girl s relatives would begin to look for her Obviously they had some prior knowledge of her whereabouts On discovery a fine would be exacted from the boy Arrangements would be made to settle the bride wealth and the marriage would be formalized 2 References Edit a b c Kumam in search of cultural autonomy Daily Monitor Retrieved 2020 05 30 a b c Uzoigwe G N The beginnings of Lango society a review of evidence OCLC 38562622 a b c Angola Geofrey A history of the Iteso clans a case study of Irarak clan of Kasilo County Soroti district in Eastern Uganda 1900 1962 Makerere University Library Makerere University p 6 a b Olyech Erimayo 1936 The anointing of clan heads among the Lango Makerere University Library The Uganda Journal a b c d e f Tribal names and customs in Teso district Kagolo 1955 B M Makerere University The Uganda Journal a b c d e f g Odada M A E 1971 The Kumam Langi or lteso National Library of Uganda The Uganda Journal External links EditA Cultural Profile of the Kumam People of Uganda THE KUMAM Joshua Project New Uganda Ugandese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kumam people amp oldid 1177765394, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
