Brief history
The history of the Toposa people of South Sudan dates back to the years of migration of the early settlers. The Toposa people are part of the Nilotic group of people who migrated north to areas of South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The Lwo and Tap ancestors of the Toposa people were the early settlers in these northern lands in the Losolia mountains of Uganda. The Toposa people believe their ancestors upset the harmony in the mountains of Losolia after a mortal quarrel thus leading to a devastating drought that caused the 1587–1623 terrible famine that led to the death of several animals and loss of lives. Their descendants saw it wise to migrate further north into South Sudan and others to Kenya and Ethiopia, however, several others stayed in Uganda.
Location and Occupation
The Toposa people of South Sudan are part of the Karamojong cluster that encompasses the Karamojong of Uganda, Turkana of Kenya, Dongiro and Jiye of southeastern South Sudan, and southwestern Ethiopia. The Toposa tribe is one of the most Indigenous tribes of South Sudan that dates back centuries. The Toposa people are mainly located in Kapoeta, Riwoto, and Narus areas with an estimated population of over 533,811 people. They are traditional cattle keepers, nomadic pastoralists to be exact where they move from one place to another in search of food and water for their animals.
They also rear goats and sheep along with their cattle. Their occupation has been one of the main causes of unrest and instability due to the cattle raids and rustling with the neighboring tribes hence leading to civil wars. The Toposa people are fierce warriors who have been involved in these wars for a while. They protect and defend their cattle and homes with vigorous force. As young men mature, they are integrated into defending their land from intruders trained by their predecessors and elders. The Toposa warriors are armed with assault rifles like AK47s.
Although the Toposa people are traditional cattle keepers, during the late 19th and 20th centuries they turned to participate in the iron trade. With the ragging trade conflicts the British extended their rule in Sudan and East Africa and imposed strict trade rules and the Toposa tribe remained the main iron traders in the southern Sudanese lowlands.
Culture of the Toposa people
The Toposa people of South Sudan are one of the few remaining groups of people still practicing their ancient traditions and cultures. Given their hostile nature, the Toposa people have not succumbed to the pressure of civilization that has entered most of the ancient African tribes and changed and destroyed their traditions. As earlier mention, the Toposa people are traditional pastoralists who depend on cattle for survival. This is because cattle are central to the Toposa culture. As the warrior men of the Toposa tribe take their cattle to graze, the women remain behind cooking, fetching water, and looking after their young ones and elders.
The Toposa tribe’s makings or scars are a huge part of their culture engraved deep in their heritage. These markings are not just ordinary scars rather they are a representation of the identity, clan, and significance of the individual. The scarification process dates back in time as it was first introduced by their elders. This process is very hurting and requires absolute bravery and conviction as the scars are deep and take a very long time to heal. The more scars a person in the Toposa has, the more respect and bravery he’s given by the community. These scars or markings are a sign of beauty, adulthood, clan belonging, and strength.
What are the tourist activities in the Toposa tribe?
The Toposa tribe has incredible tourist activities that would be of much interest to visitors. Some of these activities include the following.
Toposa cultural encounter
The Toposa people of South Sudan are some of the few tribes that still practice their traditions even in this civilization era. Therefore, visiting the Toposa tribe and experiencing their culture and traditions is like taking a trip back in time. Although these people may seem hostile, they are so welcoming and free to interact and share their culture with the outside world. Visitors can observe the traditional way of the Toposa people like the building style of their homes known as manyattas, their dressing code, and observe the scarification process. These sightings of culture will shape and develop your understanding of the Toposa culture and cultural sensitivity.
Art and craft
Although the Toposa people are mainly cattle keepers, they often produce arts and crafts such as leatherwork, jewelry making, and black handcrafts. These skills of making crafts are passed through generations by the Toposa elders.
Cattle herding experience
Cattle herding is the main activity of the Toposa people and spending time and observing them rear their cattle with passion is an incredible experience. Visitors can tag along with the men as they head out to graze under the hot sun of the day and appreciate the sacrifices they make. The milking produce is also an adventurous event that is worth checking out.