The Bokora As A Karimojong Ethnic Group,-Their Culture, Origin And Way Of Life.

25 August 2023, 9:27 am

By Joshua Imalingat and Alfred Ogwang

When the Bokora ethnic group in Napak hosts the annual Karamoja cultural event in September, many will hope to use the occasion to learn about their own history and identity.

Believed to be the core of the Karamoja culture and tradition, the Bokora who live in Napak district are one of the ethnic groups that inhabit Karamoja sub region in Eastern Uganda. The other ethnic groups in the region are the Jie in Kotido district, Dodoth in Kaabong district, Matheniko in Moroto district, the Tepeth, Pian and Pokot, among others.

A few days ago, Etoil A Karamoja radio journalists travelled to Napak district and spoke to a number of elders to learn about the Bokora people, their origin and way of life.

Paul Abul, an elder and a retired district education officer told our reporters in an exclusive interview that, the Bokora were part of the bigger Ateker cluster that migrated from Ethiopia centuries ago and settled in river Apule before they later scattered into smaller groups that now constitute the different ethnic groups in Karamoja sub region.

Abul explained that, traditionally the Bokora, Pian and the Matheniko were the only groups considered the Karimojong. He however, believes that the Bokora people after separating from the main Ateker group could have derived their name from the Totem they chose-the tortoise.

According to Abul, the culture of the Bokora isn’t much different from the other Karimojong ethnic groups, where traditionally women wore skins and later plain clothes wrapped around the body commonly known as sukas. Meanwhile, the men only wore head gears like feathers and decorated themselves with metals, and chains around their waists. Their main staple food was sorghum and milk before adopting the variety of foods now consumed in the area.

Daniel Korobe, another elder and a mayor at Matany Town Council too believes the name Bokora could have originated from their Totem, the tortoise, because their ancestors thought the Bokora were a simple and disciplined group among the Karimojong people at the time.

Remember this is still part of a series of stories Etoil A Karamoja radio will be broadcasting in support of the Karamoja cultural event Napak Chapter.