The Itesot Culture In Uganda

Vibrant Holiday Safaris gives you a clear picture of what the Itesot culture is in Uganda and their way of life. The Iteso live in eastern Uganda in the districts of Soroti and Kumi. Some are in Palisa and Tororo districts. The political insecurity of the early 1990’s caused many Iteso to move as far as Iganga district. They are part of the Lango group which is said to have come from Abyssinia. By the first half of the 18th century they had settled on the shores of L. Salisbury.

Tradition asserts that the ancestors of the Iteso came form the direction of Abyssinia through Karamoja. Historians have modified this tradition to assert that the Iteso are a Nilo- Hamitic group with similar origins as the Langi, the Karamojong, the Jie and the Kumam.

Political set-up.

The clan was a basic social and political unit. It was administrative and judicial in character. Initially, Iteso society was comprised of nine clans. The subsequent clans are said to have broken off from the nine. Each clan had a leader called Apolon ka Ateker. He was normally elected form other elders at a merry ceremony known as Airukorin. The person selected as Apolon ka Ateker was usally a person of courage, impartiality and wisdom. The actual inauguration ceremony involved opening up a road that had been deliberately blocked for about two weeks. Previously, the Apolon ka Ateker was greatly respected. He acted as an arbitrator in the event of disputes. During the British colonial administration his position was reduced to that of a third grade chief and referred to as Omusalatuo.

Social set-up.

The social system of the Iteso was centered around the clan system and they shared similar cultural elements with the Langi and the Karimojong. Also, due to the influence of the Karimojong. Also, due to the influence of the neighboring Bantu societies, particularly the Basoga, the Iteso women used to wear barkcloth while the young girls wore itibire which were decorated with beads and arobai.

Marriage

Previously, parents could arrange marriage for their children even without their knowledge. However, the boy could directly consult the girl. If the girl consented, she would inform her mother and secretly move away to start staying with the boy. Whenever the girl’s clan noticed this development they would complain about the illegal manner in which their daughter was being used. Arrangements would then be made and a date would be fixed on which the delegation form the boy’s clan would come to the girl’s family for introduction. Arrangements for the payment of bridewealth would be made. In other cases, the boys would apparoach the girl and tender his wish to marry her. He would then come with a delegation to the girl’s family for introduction. The relationship would then be formalized by paying bridewealth. A traditional wedding would follow.

When all was set and many people had gathered, a table was put in the middle of the gathering. The suitor would put the present on it up. If the girl accepted him, she would pick up the present, amidst cheers and claps. If she did not accept it, she was not willing to get married to him. She would refuse to pick it. This would be the end of any further efforts by the boy to lure her to marriage.

On returning home, the boy and his delegation would inform his parents of whatever had transpired. If the girl had consented, due arrangements would be made to pay the bridewealth. This was settled using sticks to represent the number of cows which were required. All the clan members would gather for the function. Among the Iteso, a child belonged to the whole clan and not to a particular family. On reaching an agreement, another day was set for the girl’s family to pick the cows. It was fashionable for the girl to go to the boy’s home and receive her people as they came to collect the cows.

After the cows had been seen and approved, another day was fixed on which the cows would be taken to the girl’s home. This was the same day on which the girl would be escorted to the boy’s home to begin her married life. Before entering the compound, the delegation that had brought the cows would ask for a hen to roast and then there would follow a lot of eating, dancing, drinking and merry making. Later, an entourage (mugolen) would escort the bride to her husband’s home. The marching was punctuated by singing and rejoicing. The bride was left at her husband’s home with two other girls, to help her get along, as it were. After one month or so. The two girls would also go home and leave the newly weds to manage their own affairs.

Food

The Iteso had a variety of foods. Millet was their staple food. Other varieties included pumpkins, wild berries, groundnuts, peas, beans, meat of both domestic and wild animals, milk, butter and fish. The men did not eat with women. They ate separately seated on stools, tree stumps or stones. Millet was served on one plate which would be shared communally. The women sat on mats in a circle around the food. It was considered good manners to join the circle whenever one was invited to partake of a meal.

Religion

The Iteso believed in a supreme being called Edeke. However, they were much more involved with ancestral spirits which were believed to cause ill luck if not well attended to. Every family possessed an ancestral shrine where libations were often poured or placed to placate the ancestors. The Iteso were a superstitious society and they believed in witch craft and wizardly.

It was a taboo for women to eat chicken. Particular clans had specific taboos, mainly animals they were not permitted to eat. The bush-buck (ederet) was taboo to a number of clans.

Dances

Whenever a mother gave birth to twins she was styled toto idwe (mother of many). Upon that accomplishment, a special type of drum was beaten and the people would gather and dance their best. This involved a lot of eating, dancing and merrymaking.

Another type of dance was known as Akembe. It was normally organized by boys who would invite girls to join their company in some generally agreeable place away from homes. It was a get-together dance for boys to spot their future spouses.

Sometimes, when the need arose, a special dance would be held to invoke the ancestors for consultation. A special drum was sounded and people would dance to and Iteso tune. In the process, some people would become possessed and start communicating to the living, so they say, in the voices of the ancestors. This dance involved shaking rattles. The other dances were general. Some were performed at marriage ceremonies, beer parties, visits and other merrymaking occasions. The dancing instruments included; the emudiri and akong drums, lutes, adigidig and amagarit

The Itesot Cultural visit is one of the activities that you would surely not want to miss out on any of your cultural tours to Uganda and Vibrant Holiday Safaris is dedicated to giving you a perfect cultural exeperience.