User:Jlatigo/Acholi Belief System

=ACHOLI BELIEF SYSTEM=

The people now known as Acholi are an ethnic group found in northern Uganda and South Sudan. Originally they were the Luo-Gang or Jo-Gang – meaning ‘home people’, part of the larger Luo group who legendary originated from the Meroe Kingdom. According to oral tradition, prior to the advent of the colonialist, Luo Gang was a nation of its own governed by their traditional and cultural norms, values and belief system for generations past.

The Pre-Colonial Acholi People Belief System
The Jo-Gang people had developed very sound beliefs, norms and customs which governed and regulated the social and economic activities, as well as moral behavior, of members of their societies. These beliefs, norms and customs were believed to have been prescribed, or sanctified, by a Supreme Deity called "Nyarubanga". Therefore they were the nucleus of their traditional Jo-Gang religion, which ordered their pattern of existence in "Wi Lobo" (earth).

The Jo-Gang people then believed that the Universe was divided into two worlds. The first and temporary world was the secular world of mortal man. This world was known in Lwo (Acholi Dialect) as "Wi Lobo", meaning "surface of the earth". The second and permanent world was known as "Piny", meaning the "underworld" of deities called "Jogi” (singular: "Jok"), and the ancestral spirits known as "Tipu pa Kwari".

According to this narratives, the Jo-Gang believed that the souls of human beings born as mortals in "Wi Lobo" or surface of the earth could not die but would continue to live permanently in the Universe. But that they had limited time to live in "Wi Lobo". When the time allotted to them by Nyarubanga for their sojourn in "Wi Lobo" expired, they were bound to shed off their mortal flesh in which they entered the "Wi Lobo", through the wombs of mortal women, and assume a different way of permanent existence as invisible spirits within the "Piny" or permanent underworld.

Categories of the Underworld
According to this belief, the "Piny" or permanent underworld was divided into four zones of exclusive occupation by four categories of inhabitants known as "Jo-Piny", as follows:

1.	The vaguely known place which they believed to be the repository of life and spiritual powers concerned with the two worlds, where the Supreme Deity named "Nyarubanga" reside with her helpers. A place considered by the diviners and the elders who guided the societies to be the "kernel" of the Universe, where only selected pure immortal souls could live.

2.	The second zone was the residential area of the benevolent intermediary deities known as "Jogi" (singular "Jok"), who were concerned with the welfare of mortal beings. They were believed to be very close to Nyarubanga, hence were empowered to manage the affairs of the mortal beings, through chosen diviners. These diviners were known "Ajwagi" (singular: "Ajwaka"), They had power to bring together the deities, ancestral spirits and mortal elders to commune with them in front of the "Abila" or Ancestral Shrines whenever there was a need to do so, to guide the mortals on -what to do for their own good.

3.	There was the home of good spirits of ancestors who were close to the deities of many ranks and powers, and could influence the fate of members of their mortal families or clans for good or for evil. They were not visible but they could speak to their living relatives through the "Ajwagi", and make their wishes known. The occasions for their communion with the mortals wore during the rites of "Kwero Kodi" (blessing of seeds before planting) and "Bollo- Jok" (offering of first harvest of the season) performed at the "Abila". These were actually Thanks-giving ceremonies.

4.	The last underworld which is dreaded was called "Gang Cen", meaning "home of damned spirits". This was the home of persons who died with bad hearts and their souls were condemned and chased away from the "Abila". The "Gang-Cen" was an equivalent of Hell in Christian Religion.

Source of Information
The above information on the "Piny", or the underworld, was obtained from some leading Diviners known as "Ajwagi" and the Masters of Ceremonies known as "Luted Jok" or “Lutum Piny", who were intimately concerned with the management of relations of the "Wi Lobo" and “Ka-Piny”. The interviewed "Ajwagi" were led by Labongo Lacic of Lukee Clan, and Obala Acaa Wod Bal of Bolo Clan, both of Jo-Gang of Puranga. Two teams of Masters of Ceremonies: one led by Daudi Lukako of Lukwor Clan, Kitgum, and the other was led by Odwar Lungwinya of Parwec Clan, Puranga Kingdom.

Essence of Belief System
According to study carried in both Southern Sudan and Uganda, no living Lwo or Luo would like his or her soul to go to "Gang Cen" after he or she passed away. For this reason the elders were duty bound to guide members of their clans well, in order that they may be accepted in the homes of the good spirits of their ancestors who lived in the "Abila". To this end a moral code was developed.