When visitors go for tour in the Karamoja region, many times they get excited when they see stools made by the Karimojong. Many crave to possess a piece. It is fitting therefore that such an individual should know the intrinsic value of the stool as observed by the locals.
The casual buyer usually will not easily believe that it is a multipurpose cultural stool because it is merely wooden but to the Karimojong who holds a strong cultural attachment, the item is valued identity for the tribe.
This stool has three major purposes in the Karimojong culture, one of them is to serve as a pillow. The second one is to help steady a man as he shoots at a target while in the bush fighting and the last use is for use as a chair.
As a pillow
This stool has different sizes. Some are as big as a regular chair while others are made small. Most people in the region are interested in the small ones because they are light. One can move with it everywhere so that when he gets tired, he can sleep anywhere and turn it into a pillow. In a meeting he again turns the stool and uses it as a chair.
During raids
The stool plays a big role when shooting at a target during war. The warrior takes cover with the wooden hand guard of the gun (near the bayonet) resting on top of the stool so that a gun will not shake.
After raiding cattle during such battles, one animal will be killed and its fats are removed and used for smearing the stools. They only smear the stools that were used during that particular event. The smearing is to thank the gods for the work of the stools.
Hierarchy
These stools have no restrictions; everybody starting with 10-year-old boys can own one if he can manage to make his. Young people are not allowed to sit on the stool of elderly people. Likewise, the elderly cannot sit on the stools of boys.
But if any person who is not regarded as an elder sits on any stool belonging to elder without permission, they will suffer pain until death. Though that such a person can be treated if he pleads for mercy and pays a big bull to the elder.
Virtual tour: Nature Walk on the slopes of Mount Moroto – Get to know our team of skilled guides operating in Uganda’s Northeastern wilderness called Karamoja land. Karamoja has a semi-arid climate what is truly unique for Uganda. It therefore hosts a different flora and fauna than anywhere else found in the country.
We’re extremely proud of our dear friend Terrill B. Schrock gave many years of his life to preserver he ancestral language of one of Uganda’s most remote communities by developing an Ik-English dictionary.
Kara-Tunga will be representing the Karamoja region of northeast Uganda at the largest Dutch holiday fair ‘Vakantiebeurs‘ taking place in the Jaarbeurs venue located in Utrecht.
Amudat chapter of Uganda’s Warrior Nomad Trail – The Karamoja region of Uganda is culturally more diverse than communicated in the media. Kara-Tunga aims at showcasing this diversity along the Warrior Nomad Trail with the addition of Amudat district what’s home of the Pokot-tribe bordering Kenya and in between Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and Mount …
The Karimojong Stool
When visitors go for tour in the Karamoja region, many times they get excited when they see stools made by the Karimojong. Many crave to possess a piece. It is fitting therefore that such an individual should know the intrinsic value of the stool as observed by the locals.
The casual buyer usually will not easily believe that it is a multipurpose cultural stool because it is merely wooden but to the Karimojong who holds a strong cultural attachment, the item is valued identity for the tribe.
This stool has three major purposes in the Karimojong culture, one of them is to serve as a pillow. The second one is to help steady a man as he shoots at a target while in the bush fighting and the last use is for use as a chair.
As a pillow
This stool has different sizes. Some are as big as a regular chair while others are made small. Most people in the region are interested in the small ones because they are light. One can move with it everywhere so that when he gets tired, he can sleep anywhere and turn it into a pillow. In a meeting he again turns the stool and uses it as a chair.
During raids
The stool plays a big role when shooting at a target during war. The warrior takes cover with the wooden hand guard of the gun (near the bayonet) resting on top of the stool so that a gun will not shake.
After raiding cattle during such battles, one animal will be killed and its fats are removed and used for smearing the stools. They only smear the stools that were used during that particular event. The smearing is to thank the gods for the work of the stools.
Hierarchy
These stools have no restrictions; everybody starting with 10-year-old boys can own one if he can manage to make his. Young people are not allowed to sit on the stool of elderly people. Likewise, the elderly cannot sit on the stools of boys.
But if any person who is not regarded as an elder sits on any stool belonging to elder without permission, they will suffer pain until death. Though that such a person can be treated if he pleads for mercy and pays a big bull to the elder.
Related Posts
Virtual tour: Nature Walk on the slopes of Mt Moroto
Virtual tour: Nature Walk on the slopes of Mount Moroto – Get to know our team of skilled guides operating in Uganda’s Northeastern wilderness called Karamoja land. Karamoja has a semi-arid climate what is truly unique for Uganda. It therefore hosts a different flora and fauna than anywhere else found in the country.
Ik Dictionary by Terrill Schrock
We’re extremely proud of our dear friend Terrill B. Schrock gave many years of his life to preserver he ancestral language of one of Uganda’s most remote communities by developing an Ik-English dictionary.
Karamoja at Uganda stand during Vakantiebeurs
Kara-Tunga will be representing the Karamoja region of northeast Uganda at the largest Dutch holiday fair ‘Vakantiebeurs‘ taking place in the Jaarbeurs venue located in Utrecht.
Amudat and Pokot-tribe on Uganda’s Warrior Nomad Trail
Amudat chapter of Uganda’s Warrior Nomad Trail – The Karamoja region of Uganda is culturally more diverse than communicated in the media. Kara-Tunga aims at showcasing this diversity along the Warrior Nomad Trail with the addition of Amudat district what’s home of the Pokot-tribe bordering Kenya and in between Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and Mount …