The Acholi

These are collection of a small ethnic groups brought together by the Luo migration. Historians assert that they are a product of intermarriages between the Luo and the Madi.

They are Lwo in Languages and custom and are closely related to the Alur of West Nile, the Jopadhola of Eastern Uganda and the Jaluo of Kenya.

The Acholi inhabit the district of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader that formerly constituted the Acholi district. There are also some Acholi in the Southern Sudan

Origins

Belong to Luo speakers, a sub group of the river and lake Nilotes. They are said to have originated from Southern Sudan and settled at Pubungu which was their dispersal area. Founder was Labongo and his party who came from Pubungu dispersal point present day Acholi land. Here Luo immigrants found the Madi, a Sudanic-speaking people and through intermarriages gave rise to the Acholi around the 16^th century.

Social organisation.

Organised on a clan basis – a clan comprised of a number of homesteads claiming a common ancestry. The Rwot was a divine chief carrying out special sacrifices for rain, good harvest and war. Were great rainmakers  - rainmaking ceremonies were very common.

Men could not marry women of the same clan; marriage was mainly polygamous. Ownership of a large number of cattle was a sign of prestige.  People without cattle were scorned. Like their Luo fore fathers, men disliked clothing.  Fathers only wore skins around their waists.

Women were found of decorative ornaments and styles; wore ivory and wooden bracelets, lip plugs, earrings and had decorative markings on their bodies.

Reverend departed ancestors that is ancestor worship. Had a belief in a higher being refereed to as the Jok.

Political organisation.

The Acholi had an organised administration based on chieftaincy that is. a number of clans in one settlement owed loyalty to a chief called the Rwot.

Rwot could make appointments of village headmen referred to as Jagos. Jagos were responsible for maintaining law and order in villages. Jagos ruled in accordance with the advice of a village control. War and raids were organised to get cattle and food stuffs. The youth acted as warriors to defend the community against hostile Lango and slave raiders.

Economic organisation.

Land was communally owned. The Luo pastoralists; intermarried with the Sudanic speaking cultivators and gave rise to the Acholi who were both pastoralists and cultivators. Cultivated sorghum, pepper, millet, beans and peas. Cattle was of great importance: - milk as food and cheese, blood as sauce for porridge, hides for bedding and bags, cow dung for plastering walls and floors. Cattle acted as the most acceptable form of currency that is fines and payments were effected through cattle.

Like Luo fore fathers, the Acholi were enthusiastic hunters; hunted elephant tusks, game meat, fruits, roots and honey. Trade – bartered cattle, grains and ivory for iron implements with the Banyoro.