The IK tribe is one of Uganda’s smallest tribes, having not more than 7000 people, and they have stood the test of time to preserve their cultural heritage in a wave of modernity. Located in the North Eastern part of Uganda, the IK tribe is a true definition of cultural authenticity and rich diversity with their unique language known as IK—same as their tribe name—that can only be understood by them. Their day-to-day lifestyle sheds light on the great history of the early African ancestors with their unique traditional practices.
The IK tribe is also known as the “Tueso,” and it is believed that they have existed for over thousands of years. They migrated from Ethiopia and later settled in Kenya before moving to Uganda and found settlement in the rugged mountains of the Northern regions of Uganda at Mount Morungole. They were the first group of people to settle in the Karamoja sub-region of Uganda but later migrated to the mountainous region for their safety and refuge from their warlike neighbors. Over the years, the tribe has established itself as a close-knit group of people with cultural practices that intertwine with the type of environment they are in.
Way of Life of the IK
Unlike their neighboring communities of the Turkana region in Kenya, the IK did not possess a lot of wealth but rather kept cattle, goats, sheep, and had exceptional skills in hunting and fruit gathering. The IK believe that cattle keeping was founded by their great leader called Sogalkor. He was wandering one time and found animals gathered; he saw calves suckling milk from their mother and grabbed a gourd bottle and got some milk from the cow. He went back and told the news to his fellow tribesmen and later distributed the cattle.
However, the Karamojong were greedy; they raided the IK tribe of their cattle with the belief that their god, Akuj, gave them power to possess cattle anywhere in the world. While in battle, the Karamojong murdered Sagalkor, which made the IK furious, and they chose to abandon cattle keeping and concentrate on hunting and agriculture. The IK tribe’s staple food is cassava, sorghum bread accompanied by ground nuts, and boiled cassava leaves as sauce. At some occasions, they hunt for beef to balance their diet and also feed on milk from their animals they rear.
Furthermore, in the 1960s, the rise of conservation programs hit the IK like a bullet in the head as their home was gazetted into a National Park, and they were forced to move to the Mountain Morungole ranges which rise over 2,750 meters above sea level, covered in lush montane vegetation. The others moved to regions of Mountain Moroto and thus creating a tribe called the Tepeth. However, over the years, the Tepeth have lost the unique language of IK and adopted the Pokot tribe way of life and culture.
Just like the Buganda kingdom of central Uganda, the IK ethnic group of people find their value in land ownership—“landlords,” which boosts their subsistence mixed farming in addition to exhibiting their hunter-gatherer lifestyle just like the enchanting Batwa ethnic group of people around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, thus bringing out the glimpse of uniqueness unlike other tribes of Uganda. The IK tribe is also known for its societal patriarchal system that is attributed to their organization where families are divided according to clans, and each family holds an extended family virtue, which has been in extinction in the modern era. They further uphold the system of living in their homesteads that has acted over the years as a strong shield of unity amongst them.
Marriage and Customs Among the IK
They gather in villages of Odok and Asak with fenced homesteads to keep them away from intruders. Traditionally, they are polygamists since they believe in marrying as many wives as they please, so long as one has the ability to pay off bride price, which is measured by the bride in cattle, goats, sheep, hens, and beehives.
Moral Upbringing of the IK Tribe
Childbearing is a community responsibility to the IK tribe. At the age of four, a child is taken care of by the parents, while at five years and above, he or she is given to the grandparents for grooming, and finally, at the age of 14, boys leave home to make their own homes while girls are prepared for marriage.
How to Encounter the IK Tribe?
There are two options on how to access the IK ethnic group of people: you can either drive directly by road with several stopovers for 14 hours or take a flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kidepo Valley Airstrip. The scheduled flights depart on only Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays of the week. The flight departs at 12:00 hrs and arrives at 13:30 hrs. We can help you book your domestic flight to Kidepo and have the best IK tribe authentic experience.
Besides visiting the IK tribe in North Eastern Uganda, the Pearl of Africa has a lot to offer ranging from delicious organic cuisines, its beautiful parks, a variety of activities, and breathtaking views that scream of wonder. We have listed our top unmissable activities in Northern Uganda as below:
Mountain Climbing
A great hike to one of Northern Uganda’s exceptional mountains like Kadam, Morungule, and Moroto will reward you with magnificent sceneries or a scenic view flight to appreciate aerial view of the beauty of nature.
Bird Watching
Are you a birding enthusiast? Northern Uganda is definitely your place to be with its beautiful birding sites like Pian Upe wildlife reserve, Matheniko game reserve known for its rare bird species, Kidepo Valley National Park—a definition of a true African wilderness rated by CNN as a must-visit destination one has to add to his bucket list. Enroute, one can choose to Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and proceed for a stopover at Murchison Falls National Park. Below are more activities these destinations reward everyone who visits them besides bird watching.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This unique sanctuary is home to the only white rhinos found in Uganda. An engagement in a guided 2-hours nature walk rewards you with the best Rhino tracking experience in a natural habitat as you take an up-close look at the endangered species alongside an experienced wildlife ranger who offers a variety of knowledge and history of these animals from back in the 1970s till they started getting extinct.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s largest park will reward you with a boat voyage on the world’s longest river to the bottom of the mighty falls as you view its magnificent sceneries and witness the roars of Nile squeezing itself in an 8 meters gorge. A minimum of 3 days within the park will reward you with its more activities like the Nile delta cruise, game drives at different intervals like early morning, afternoon, or during the night will expose you to a diversity of the park’s wildlife, especially four of the big five wild animals like the Elephants, if lucky enough Leopards, lions, and buffalos plus a variety of bird species since the park records more than 360 species.
Encounter other animals like hippos, Nubian giraffes, warthogs, and get an experience of Uganda in its magnificent form with our professional tour guides and experienced game rangers.
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