Ateker
Encyclopedia
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. Ateker means 'clan' or 'tribe' in Teso language. In Lango language
the word for clan is atekere.
In the Turkana language, Ateker means a distinct group with related customs, laws and lifestyle and who share a common ancestry. Members of one Ateker have a common character of mutual respect for each other in their diversity. Each member group of Ateker occupies its own territory and exercise authority over its own land and people independent of each other.
The word Ateker is a generic term for confederate. It is derrived from the root 'ker'; which has two root meanings; fear and respect. Ateker in its true sense is a union of free people with mutual recognition and respect for each other. In the context of ethnic identity and nationhood, The Turkana Language classifies different people with common characteristics as belonging to distinct ateker. The Maa
people belong to Ateker a Ngi Maasa Maasai and so on. The Turkana and The Karimojong and related people bolong to one Ateker.
Member of one Ateker speak one language or distinct languages which developed from one common language
Laws and Customs
Each Ateker has distinct laws and customs. The laws and customs of people of one Ateker are similar.
Lifestyle
Members of each Ateker live their lives in a similar lifestyle. Diversified groups within one Ateker usually have traces of laws and customs that can be traced to the original group.
Land
Land is one characteristic that helps in determining membership in an Ateker. Members of one Ateker usually occupy adjoining areas. Land adjudication forms the basis for laws and customs. In the Turkana Ateker, land is subdivided into regions or territorial sections, NgiTela. Each Ekitela institutes its own common laws which are derrived from the general laws of the whole nation or kingdom.
Religion
Religious beliefs of one Ateker are similar. The supreme deity worshipped has one common name.
Common ancestry
Members of one Ateker have a common ancestral origin.
Jie (Uganda)
The Jie are an ethnic group of Uganda. They belong to the Karamojong Cluster, which also includes the Karamojong and Dodoth people.Their country in northeast Uganda lies between the Dodoth to the north and the Karamojong to the south....
, Karamojong, Turkana
Turkana people
The Turkana are a Nilotic people native to the Turkana District in northwest Kenya, a dry and hot region bordering Lake Turkana in the east, Pokot, Rendille and Samburuto the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan and Ethiopia to the north...
, Toposa, Nyangatom
Nyangatom people
The Nyangatom are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting southwestern Ethiopia and southeastern South Sudan...
and Teso peoples and their languages. Itung'a and Teso have been used among ethnographers, while the term Teso-Turkana
Teso-Turkana languages
The Teso–Turkana languages are a cluster of Eastern Nilotic languages, eastern South Sudan, northeastern Uganda, northwestern Kenya, and southwestern Ethiopia. In effect they form a dialect cluster.They include:*Ateso language...
is sometimes used for the languages, which are of 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...
stock. Ateker means 'clan' or 'tribe' in Teso language. In Lango language
Lango language (Uganda)
Lango is a Western Nilotic language of the Luo branch, spoken by the Langi people in Uganda. It is mostly spoken in Lango sub-region, in the Northern Region. Spoken by approximately 1.8 million speakers, it makes up for about five percent of the population of Uganda...
the word for clan is atekere.
In the Turkana language, Ateker means a distinct group with related customs, laws and lifestyle and who share a common ancestry. Members of one Ateker have a common character of mutual respect for each other in their diversity. Each member group of Ateker occupies its own territory and exercise authority over its own land and people independent of each other.
The word Ateker is a generic term for confederate. It is derrived from the root 'ker'; which has two root meanings; fear and respect. Ateker in its true sense is a union of free people with mutual recognition and respect for each other. In the context of ethnic identity and nationhood, The Turkana Language classifies different people with common characteristics as belonging to distinct ateker. The Maa
Maa
- Film :Maa is a word meaning Mother in Bengali,Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. It also means Earth in Finnish and Estonian. It can refer to several things such as* Maa - Most popular tv serial in India, is aired on Star Jalsha...
people belong to Ateker a Ngi Maasa Maasai and so on. The Turkana and The Karimojong and related people bolong to one Ateker.
Common Characteristics for Ateker
LanguageMember of one Ateker speak one language or distinct languages which developed from one common language
Laws and Customs
Each Ateker has distinct laws and customs. The laws and customs of people of one Ateker are similar.
Lifestyle
Members of each Ateker live their lives in a similar lifestyle. Diversified groups within one Ateker usually have traces of laws and customs that can be traced to the original group.
Land
Land is one characteristic that helps in determining membership in an Ateker. Members of one Ateker usually occupy adjoining areas. Land adjudication forms the basis for laws and customs. In the Turkana Ateker, land is subdivided into regions or territorial sections, NgiTela. Each Ekitela institutes its own common laws which are derrived from the general laws of the whole nation or kingdom.
Religion
Religious beliefs of one Ateker are similar. The supreme deity worshipped has one common name.
Common ancestry
Members of one Ateker have a common ancestral origin.