Culture and religion Nilotic peoples

a luo village in kenya.

most nilotes continue practice pastoralism, migrating on seasonal basis herds of livestock. tribes known tradition of cattle raiding.

through lengthy interaction neighbouring peoples, nilotes in east africa have adopted many customs , practices southern cushitic groups. latter include age set system of social organization, circumcision, , vocabulary terms.

in terms of religious beliefs, nilotes adhere traditional faiths , christianity. dinka religion has pantheon of deities. supreme, creator god nhialic, god of sky , rain, , ruler of spirits. believed present in of creation, , control destiny of every human, plant , animal on earth. nhialic known jaak, juong or dyokin other nilotic groups, such nuer , shilluk. dengdit or deng, sky god of rain , fertility, empowered nhialic. deng s mother abuk, patron goddess of gardening , women, represented snake. garang, deity, believed or assumed dinka god suppressed deng; spirits can cause dinka women, , men, scream. term jok refers group of ancestral spirits.

in lotuko mythology, chief god called ajok. seen kind , benevolent, can angered. once reportedly answered woman s prayer resurrection of son. husband, however, angry , killed child. according lotuko religion, ajok annoyed man s actions , swore never resurrect lotuko again. result, death said have become permanent.