Nyangatom

The Nyangatom nationality mainly lives in Nyangatom District. They also live in Bench- Maji Zone, Omo park and Sudan. Their origin is believed to be Lusoliya Karamajong community in North Eastern Uganda. When they moved they were in four groups: Nyangatom, Turkana, Topasa and Ejaye. Topasa remained in Sudan; Turkana in Kenya; Karamajong in Uganda. The Nyangatom settled in Ethiopia around Kibish. The main reason for this settlement in Ethiopia is abundance of grazing, water and fertile land. And the reason for their migration is drought and in search of grazing land.
Aliyakal, kapung Esakel, Ekumama, Ekar /Tokoraman/, Engarit and Abuneyare the seven majour tribes of Nyangatom Nationality. There are sub-tribes under each tribe.
Af Nyangatom is the mother tongue of The Nyangatom nationality. It is in the east Nilo-Sahara language family. The language is similar to Ugandan, Sudanese, Kenyan and Tanzanian pastoralists languages and that of Turkana, Etewas, Topasa and Ejiyu languages. Members of the nationality in addition to their mother tongue speak the languages of Kuwegu /Muguji/, Dasanech, Kara, Hammer and Mursi nationalities.
The nationality lives on a plainy lowland area. Their main livelihood is cattle rearing.

Cultural Administrative (Ruling) System

Nyangatoms have their own cultural administrative systems. The administrative system is based on generation and age. Unless the earlier generation perishes the next doesnt come to power. However; when the earlier generation exhausts the next generation prepares and takes power and responsibility. The generation which comes to power is group named after an elephant, ostrich, Zebra and Ekswa. The main activities of these groups are leading battles, arbitration and other activities.There is an administrative structure with four levels called Akatukan, Umoron, Karugin and Nyilhoel.
Akatukan (leader) is head of the administration. He gives tough and final decision for inquiries which come from the public. Umoron is the advisor of the leader which is selected from a team which is its turn based on ability.
His main duty is to advise the leader and working in his stead at the leaders absence. The kajuruns dream a dream and are charge de affairs of spiritual affairs. They give guidance for the public to take care and get prepared based on the message they get from their dreams. The public performs cultural customs in accordance with the guidance.
Nyilhoel is father of the rain. When there is no rain in their area he organizes the public perform a cultural order on mount Kuraz for the rain to rain. Even though these four main administrative structures are decisive each tribe organizes its responsible bodies which organize the youth for a battle and march responsibilities, reconciling the quarrelers and as elders to marriage.
There are cultural systems in which conflicts are resolved in the nationality. If there is a serious issue in the Nyangatom nationality, a team organized from the seven tribes discusses the case and gives a decision. If a conflict occurs between members of The Nationality of Nyangatom, they discuss the issue together. Selected elderly go to the Akatukan (leader) and explain to him. The reconciliation in the nationality is firm and there is no vengeance for death after reconciliation.

Cultural Holidays (Festivals)

Nyangatoms have their own cultural festivals which are called Hekmemor and Enyamar. Hekmemor is a festival in which peer adolescent return after shepherding. When they return the cattle home a feast is made, fathers bless and give them national intrusted. On this cultural holiday , affairs of the nationality get public decision.
Enyamar is a women festival. Mothers visit their married children and their friends. Women discuss their problems. They invite others. If a woman says she is insulted, she gets a compensation goat and the woman eats it by slaughtering it.
The adolescent compete in different games to show their competencies. One among these competitions is take caring “competition ox”. Youth who nurture their competition ox very well are thanked by members of The Nationality. Adolescent who didnt take care of criticized. Old oxen of the competition are changed.
As competition oxen are counted as friends of their owners, owners and their friends do not eat the flesh of the ox even though it is slaughtered because of its old age.
On the festival women sing zeal enhancing songs to initiate the returning of robbed cattle. If the cattle of any member of the nationality are robbed, members of the nationality have the responsibility to make the cattle return even with a fight. This is because the cattle are changed to one owner to the other during marriage gift.