Explore The Iteso cluster and their lifestyle : The Iteso people are one branch b9f the plain nilotes called Jie under a small group of Ateker residing in the eas5ern Uganda. Many believed that they came from South Ethiopia or Sudan and first settled in Karamoja. The Iteso is the nàm3 given to the traditional inhabitant f9r the Teso people. Today Iteso people are found 8n districts such as Soroti, Kumi, Bukedea, Amuria, Serere, Ngora, Katakwi, kaberamaido, kapelebong, Tororo, and others in western Kenya.
History about Teso
According to the history, Iteso are believed come from South Ethiopia or Sudan over some years ago and first settled in Karamoja. Some historians suggested that Iteso originated from Karamoja region and shortly splited off due to lack of similar cultural rituals and naming system for the Karamojong’s. Most of the Iteso clan names are mixed with the Bàntu and Nilotic speaking people, Iteso are also mixed with Japadola due to ancient migration.
Traditionally, Iteso people is said to have migrated to two phrase. The first migration brought them to the present -day Karamoja and western Kenya and was characterized as a harmonious and steady movement. However, the history lamented that the famous hero Oduk and his wife Amongin is said to have helped the Iteso during their second migration to the modern day Busia around 1500AD.
During the colonial period, the i5eso had a strong cool relationship with the pre-colonial group and they were hostile. Due to cohabitation, iteso got inter marriage with their neighbou4ing communities and intermixed their traditions and customs.
Social and political structure of Iteso
The social structure of the Iteso people is definitely defined basing on clans. The Iteso society was traditionally divided into nine groups for example Ikaribwok, Irarak, Ikatekok, Ikomolo, Inomu, Igoria among others, with each group in charge of particular responsibilities. This system promoted intergenerational cooperation and harmony with full respect for the clan was got from the administrative and judicial position that it symbolized. Locally, every clan had a head member of the clan called “Apolon ka Ateker”. According to the tradition papa of the clan was designated chosen from other elders at a cheerful ceremonial locally known as Airukorin and was normally bravery, neutrality and intelligent person. The initiation ceremony involves opening up and cleaning of roads that have been intensonally blocked and bushy. Traditionally, the Apolon ka Ateker was very much respected and honored by the clan members. He performed the great work in settling disputes among the clan members regarding to disagreements. During the British colonial administration, his position was undermined approached as Omusalatuo.
Social set-up.
The social system of the Iteso was based mainly on the clan system and they shared similar cultural elements with the Langi and the Karamajong. Also because of the influence of the Karamajong, the nearest Bantu societies, especially the Basoga, the Iteso women used to dress in backcloth while the young girls dressed their bodies with itibire which were designed with beads and arobai.
Iteso way of life
According to the literature, iteso community main food was finger millet ‘akima’ and sorghum ‘imomwa’. However, during colonial era, cassava was introduced by colonial masters as a dietary boost. They as well eat groundnuts, beans, wild berries, pumpkins, peas and sweet potatoes among others, beside domestic wild animal meat was also eaten, alongside milk, butter, and swamp fish.
Traditionally their cultural drink is known as ‘ajon’, a decomposed ferment made from dried finger millet that is commonly consumed in local ceremonies, social gatherings, birth rites, wedding and important events. It can be consumed in a calabashes or even communal pot where individuals sip the drink from long with local tubes. Traditionally, when a woman gives birth, she’s kept indoor for three days and thereafter the local brew is placed in the mouth of a baby. Currently, the production of ajon has become commercialized, and its production and sale are an important source of income for the families that specialize in making it.
Traditionally, Teso people loved singing and dancing educative folksongs in different occasions. These songs include Ataikatiaka Kitiso, about the unity of the Teso people, Akidai Imojong, a song to respect and care for elders, and Iyalama Imojong to appreciate elders among others.
Culture
Culturally, Teso are known expeditious and speedy adoption of the ox plow in the early 1900s. Women are meant to be in charge garden and rummaged as men were subjected to rear cattle. According to the literature Cotton is the primary cash crop among the Iteso and It’s always grown by both men and women in separate plots during the short rains of the year along with tobacco and their commonly grown crops include, millet, sorghum, cassava, peas, pumpkins among others. Livestock rearing used to be the primary economic activity among the Iteso particularly men as they could consider there much of cattle’s a key role in negotiating for the bride price and other important social events. According to the tradition, when an elder gives out his cattle to his son it symbolizes his maturity to manage his own estate and start his own family. The men were not allowed 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
Religiously iteso believed in their ancestral father or god called “Akuj” and a God of all calamity called “Edeke”.
Traveler on Uganda cultural tours to teso region will have a reason to embark on a cultural exploitation to the Teso people, one of the ethnic groups in Eastern Uganda. you will also visit traditional teso settlements called “ etogo” and gain insights into their agricultural practices abmd rural way of life, also you eill engage in various activities like farming , gbskt weaving , or traditional food preparation, experianveing the cultural practices firsthand and also interact with the local commi]unty member and learn about their customs , tradition and folklore.
