So (Tepeth)

Tepeth Man walking on the Slopes of Mountain Moroto.

So (Tepeth) are a tribe living in the mountain ranges of mountain Moroto in the northeast part of Uganda and North western Kenya in the Turkana region. Traditionally, the So (Tepeth) were hunters and fruit gatherers, the decline in wild animals in the region made them resort to agriculture for sustainable living between 1970 and 1980. Tepeth are believed as original occupants of Karamoja plains unfortunately the current settlers (Karamojong people) pushed the Tepeth up on the mountain.

Language

So (Tepeth) people speak the Soo or So language which is the Kuliak language of the Tepes people of northeastern Uganda with only a few elderly people being able to speak it. This is because the So or Soo language is divided into 3 dialects which include Tepes, Kadam (Katam), and Napak (Yog Toŋi)

Location

The So (Tepeth) tribe live on the mountain ranges of mountain Moroto in the northeast part of Uganda at Latitude 2.5333° N, and Longitude 34.7667° E.

Population

The local leaders of So (Tepeth) are estimated to be over 40,000 both women, children and men however the actual population still remains unclear.

Culture

The So (Tepeth) people are predominantly herdsmen practicing pastoralism on a large scale. They as well engage in subsistence agriculture and plant crops like maize, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, sweet potatoes among other crops. The So (Tepeth) people perform unique cultural dances with the participation of both men and women. The dance involves short vertical jumps without the feet fully leaving the ground.

See also

• Karamojong People
• Ugandan Traditions
• Ugandan Folklore
• Acholi People
• Lango People