Lango people

TheLangoare aNiloticethnic group.They live in north-centralUganda, in a region that covers the area formerly known as theLango Districtuntil 1974, when it was split into the districts ofApacandLira, and subsequently into several additionaldistricts. The current Lango Region now includes the districts ofAmolatar,Alebtong,Apac,Dokolo,Kole,Lira,Oyam,Otuke, andKwania.The total population of Lango District is currentlyabout 2,884,000.
The Lango people speak theLango language, aWestern Niloticlanguage of theSouthern Luogroup.
The Langooral traditionstates that they were part of the "Lango race" during themigration period. This group later split into several distinct groups before enteringUganda(see Tarantino, Odwe, Crazollara, Uzoigwe). The name “Lango” is found inTeso,Kumam,Karamojong,Jie, andLabworvocabularies, reflecting that how these groups once used to belong to the Lango race.
Hutchinson (1902) states:
Hutchinson (1902) adds:
Rwot Ogwangguji was born in 1875 in Abedpiny village inLira District(Okino, Patrick, and Odongo, Bonney). He was the son of a Rwot (chief) – Rwot Olet Apar, the leader of the Oki clan.His first administrative  chief title was the Jago (sub-chief) of Lira. In 1918, he was elected county chief (Rwot) by Erute county, Lango. He continued as Rwot of Erute county until 28 February 1951, and was later on promoted to the title of Rwot Adwong (Senior Chief). Rwot Ogwangguji is known as a chief who bridged "old Lango" into "new Lango" through his extensive work history during a period of many changes in the 20th century in Uganda. He was awarded the M.B.E. in the New Year's Honors in 1956 and subsequently retired in December 1957.
Dribergdescribed Lango people as:
The Lango army was united under onemilitary leaderchosen from available men, and all had to agree to be led by him.Thesemilitaryleaders would lead the Langoarmyagainst other groups. Their authority ended when the war was over, and they all returned to their clans and resumed their daily occupations and were not entitled to any special benefits. Famous military leaders were Ongora Okubal, who brought the Lango to their present land, Opyen who succeeded Ongora Okubal and was followed by Arim Oroba, and Agoro Abwango. Agoro Abwango led his men to fight the Banyoro and was killed inBunyoro.The Lango oral literature has it that as the soldiers who went to help Kabalega retreated towards the Nile, they helped Kabalega and Mwanga, the deposed King ofBunyoroandBugandarespectively cross theNile River.They were moved along the northern corridor of Lake Kwania. At the time, a warrior called Obol Ario who had conquered much of the northern part of the lake was there. It's believed he helped smuggle the two deposed kings towardsDokolo, where they settled atKangai. Obol Ario of Apac Okwero Ngec Ayita Clan eventually settled at Amac where he later died and was buried.
Land in thepre-colonialera wascommon land, and any untilled area belonged to the first person or family who tilled it, and it was passed on to the eldest son."Land which had not been cultivated in the past could be tilled by any family, and, when once it had been tilled, the community regarded it as the property of the family whose ancestor first cultivated it."Traditionalland tenureis still widely used in rural areas.
Although many Lango practice Islam or Christianity, the influence of traditional beliefs still plays a significant role in the religious lives of the Lango. In traditional Lango myth, each individual has a guardian spirit and metaphysical soul. Additionally, ancestral cults and belief in the supreme god,Jok, played a large role in the religion.
Primary occupations of the Lango people include hunting, farming and raising livestock.
The Lango people have over 148 registered clans with the Lango Cultural Foundation, an institution mandated with the powers to organize, control and represent all clans in the Lango communities.
The Lango people have several traditional dances. These include Okeme and Abuda which are very popular and performed during cultural functions, weddings or other ceremonies.