The Luo are a Nilotic ethnic group that live in Western Bhar Gazal, South Sudan. They are part of a larger group of ethno-linguistically related Luo people of East Africa.[citation needed] They speak the Luo language[1][2]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 193,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 South Sudan | 193,000 |
| Languages | |
| Luo language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, African Traditional Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nilotic peoples, esp. Luo peoples | |
They are related to the Luo of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The date of divergence is estimated to have been about eight centuries ago.[3] Their closest relatives are the Anyuak, and Shilluk.There is no tribe called Jurchol in South Sudan. 'Jur' is a reference the Dinka use to refer to someone whose language they don't understand. The Luo of South Sudan are some of the most peaceful people of the land. They believe in a united South Sudan.
Name
editThe 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
editThe Luo reside in their lands Piluwo or Luwo Land 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
editThe Luwo are one of the smaller tribes of South Sudan with population about 171,000. By some accounts, the Luo are the eighth 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
edit- Joseph Ukel Abango, former Minister of General Education in South Sudan
- Peter Lau Madhieu, pioneer of Mapel and major contributor to the SPLM/A
- James Ajongo Mawut, Army Chief of Staff in the Sudan People's Liberation Army
- Elias Waya Nyipuoc, first Governor of Wau State
- Mark Nyipuoch, 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 Erneu Dut Wien, First South Sudanese Roman Catholic Bishop and Archbishop.
- Jarvis Yak, First South Sudanese Khartoum governor in 1960s.
- Joseph Garang, First South Sudanese to Graduate from Faculty of Law
- Mathiang Muo
- Pione Sisto
References
edit- ^ a b "Luwo". SIL International. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Trust, Gurtong. "Jurchol (Luo)". www.gurtong.net. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
- ^ 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.