Luwo people
Total population | |
---|---|
193,000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
![]() | 193,000 |
Languages | |
Luwo language or | |
Religion | |
Christianity, African Traditional Religion | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Nilotic peoples, esp. Luo peoples |
The Luwo (also called Jur Chol and Luo of Bahr el Ghazal) are a Nilotic ethnic group that live in the western parts of South Sudan. They are part of a larger group of ethno-linguistically related Luo peoples of East Africa.[citation needed] They speak the Jur language which is a Northern Luo language.[1][2]
They are related to the Dholuo speaking Joluo of Kenya and Tanzania. The date of divergence is estimated to have been about eight centuries ago.[3] their closest relatives however, are the Anyuak and Pari
Name[]
The Luwo are known to the Dinka as Jur Chol which is an exonym taken from the Dinka language (compare Jur Beli). Some Luo politicians object to the name.[3]
Culture[]
The Luo reside in the Jur River and Wau counties of Western Bahr el Ghazal State and in Aweil Center County of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. The Luo are also sedentary, meaning they have a centralized living area. They grow sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes, and beans. They can fish, hunt, and beekeep, making them a well-rounded society.[2]
Population[]
The Luwo are one of the smaller tribes of South Sudan with population about 171,000 - by some accounts the Luo are the 8th largest ethnic group in South Sudan. They may be found in Aweil, Wau and Tonj states or in Tonj and Western Bahr el Ghazal and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states by the pre-2015 organisation.[2][4]
A census conducted in 1983 put their population at 80,000.[1]
Notable people[]
- Joseph Ukel Abango, former Minister of General Education in South Sudan
- Gen James Ajonga Mawut, Army Chief of Staff in the Sudan People's Liberation Army
- Elias Waya Nyipuoc, first Governor of Wau State
- , former Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal and Current Deputy Speaker of South Sudan's National Legislative Assembly
- Mary Jarvis Yak, Deputy Minister of Finance in South Sudan
- Archbishop , First South Sudanese Roman Catholic Bishop and Archbishop.
- , First South Sudanese Khartoum governor in 1960s.
- Joseph Garang, First South Sudanese to Graduate from Faculty of Law
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Luwo". SIL International. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Trust, Gurtong. "Jurchol (Luo)". www.gurtong.net. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "There Is No Jur Chol Tribe But Luo Tribe In Western Bahr El Ghazal State: Speaker". www.gurtong.net. Gurtong Trust. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
- ^ "Distribution of Ethnic Groups in Southern Sudan (as of 24 Dec 2009)". Refworld. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 6 January 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- Ethnic groups in South Sudan