Kumam
Encyclopedia
The Kumam are a Uganda
n ethnic group of about 150,000 living mainly in Kaberamaido district
as well as the western areas of Teso sub-region
, and the south-east of Lango sub-region.
They speak a Luo language similar to the language spoken by the Lango
, with some Iteso
vocabulary.
Kumam traditions say are part of the Iteso people. They probably lost their Eastern Nilotic
Ateker
language and took up the Western Nilotic
Luo
spoken by their Lango and Acholi neighbours – due to prolonged contact and intermarriages.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n ethnic group of about 150,000 living mainly in Kaberamaido district
Kaberamaido
Kaberamaido is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Kaberamaido District and is the location of the headquarters for the district.-Location:...
as well as the western areas of Teso sub-region
Teso sub-region
Teso sub-region is a region in Uganda that consists of:* Amuria District* Bukedea District* Kaberamaido District* Katakwi District* Kumi District* Ngora District* Serere District* Soroti District...
, and the south-east of Lango sub-region.
They speak a Luo language similar to the language spoken by the Lango
Lango
-Lango of Uganda:The Lango or Jo Lango live in the Lango sub-region , north of Lake Kyoga. Lango sub-region comprises the districts of Amolatar, Alebtong, Apac, Dokolo, Kole, Lira, Oyam, and Otuke...
, with some Iteso
Iteso
The Teso are an ethnic group in eastern Uganda and western Kenya. Teso refers to the traditional homeland of the Iteso, and Ateso is their language.-Uganda:...
vocabulary.
Kumam traditions say are part of the Iteso people. They probably lost their Eastern Nilotic
Eastern Nilotic languages
The Eastern Nilotic languages are one of the three primary branches of the Nilotic languages, themselves belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan; they are believed to have begun to diverge about 3,000 years ago, and have spread southwards from an original home in Equatoria in...
Ateker
Ateker
Ateker or Atekerin is a common name for the closely related Jie, Karamojong, Turkana, Toposa, Nyangatom and Teso peoples and their languages. Itung'a and Teso have been used among ethnographers, while the term Teso-Turkana is sometimes used for the languages, which are of Eastern Nilotic stock....
language and took up the Western Nilotic
Western Nilotic languages
The Western Nilotic languages are one of the three primary branches of the Nilotic languages, themselves belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan...
Luo
Luo (family of ethnic groups)
The Luo are an ethnic linguistic group located in an area that stretches from South Sudan and Ethiopia through northern Uganda and eastern Congo , into western Kenya, and ending in the upper tip of Tanzania. These people speak an Eastern Sudanic language, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language...
spoken by their Lango and Acholi neighbours – due to prolonged contact and intermarriages.