Ketebo people


The Ketebo people are an ethnic group in South Sudan. They are sometimes known to the European as "Bira". The Ketebo are inhabitants of Madial, which was a Ugandan Protectorate until 1925 and was transferred to Sudan’s administration in 1926. The Ketebo are sometimes referred to by the Didinga as "Loceha/Loceka". The Ketebo live in Bira, which is one of the Payams of Kidepo County, Torit, Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan. They are one of the smallest and least known tribes in South Sudan. The Ketebo in Uganda are called Mening, which is also one of the smallest tribes in Uganda. The population of this ethnic group is over 18,000.

Language

The Ketebo are a sub-tribe of the Lango people, and speak the Oketeboi and Okoliei languages.

Economic activities

The Ketebo people were previously pastorolist in nature but due to change in climate and external influence from the neighbouring communities they are now practicing cultivation systems with sorghum, maize and sesame as main crop grown most of the season.
Bira is isolated and inaccessible. The nearest health centers are in Ikotos, away, and Karenga in Uganda away.