The social & political thought of an African people: the Alur and Jonam of northwestern Uganda

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Periodical article

Title:	The social & political thought of an African people: the Alur and Jonam of northwestern Uganda
Author:	Gingyera-Pinycwa, A.G.G.
Year:	2000
Periodical:	Uganda Journal (ISSN 0041-574X)
Volume:	46
Period:	December
Pages:	49-57
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Uganda East Africa
Subjects:	Alur first names Anthropology, Folklore, Culture anthropology Traditional culture Political aspects Social systems Alur (African people) Jonam (African people) Nebbi District (Uganda)
External link:	https://www.ajol.info/index.php/uj/article/view/23029
Abstract:	According to Uganda's 1991 census, there were 420,000 Alur/Jonam people living in Uganda, mostly in Nebbi District, in the northwest. This comprises about one third of all Alur/Jonam, the majority of whom live in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the absence of a written language, the Alur/Jonam adapted and improvised several alternatives to create, preserve and pass on to future generations their social and political thought. One such alternative was personal names, which traditionally formed an elaborate and well-structured system and which virtually all had a meaning that addressed various aspects of life and the environment. The author explores the meanings of Alur/Jonam personal, political names, legal names, philosophical names, sacred or religious names, sociological names, historical names, and names of praise and of heroism. Notes, ref.