In the early days, the Lugbara were a community mainly based on chiefdom. They did not have kingdoms and kings presiding over them like other ethnic groups in Uganda. They mainly had chiefs who were their leaders. They formed friendly alliances with neighboring chiefdoms so as to ensure their security against attacks from other ethnic groups. The earlier Lugbara did not have soldiers or an army in their chiefdoms. Every able-bodied man had the duty to protect his village, hence they were automatically considered soldiers. However, this was not a permanent duty. The cultural symbol of the Lugbara is a leopard.
They live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda and in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Specifically the Lugbara occupy the Arua, Nyadri, Yumbe and Koboko districts of Uganda.
Traditionally, the Lugbara are farmers (cultivators) who raise some livestock and poultry. They raise mainly guineafowl (locally known as 'ope') and are the predominant keepers of guineafowl in Uganda. They are settled subsistence farmers and cassava is the traditional staple. They also grow millet, sorghum, legumes, pigeon peas and a variety of root crops. Chicken, goats, and at higher elevations, cattle are also important. Maize is grown for brewing beer, and tobacco is an important cash crop.
Taller than many Congolese, the Lugbara men are great hunters as well, using powerful bows with long arrows that have fishhook-lie tips. They speak the Lugbara language, a Central Sudanic language similar to the language spoken by the Madi, with whom they also share many cultural similarities. The language is divided into many dialects which are easily intelligible with each other. These include; Ayivu, Maracha, Terego, Vurra and Aringa. Tribes related to the Lugbara in dialect include Madi and Kakwa.
The Lugbara were originally animists as their mythology attests. In Lugbara mythology, Adroa appeared in both good and evil aspects; he was the creator god and appeared on Earth as a human who was near death. He was depicted as a very tall, white man with only one half of a body, missing one eye, one leg, etc. His children were called the Adroanzi. The Adroanzi were nature gods of specific rivers, trees and other sacred wild areas. At night, they followed people and protected them from animals and bandits as long as they did not look over their shoulder to ensure that Adroanzi was following; if the person did so, the Adroanzi promptly killed him or her. Christianity is predominant among them today and Islam is practiced by some.
Scripture Prayers for the Lugbara, High in Congo, Democratic Republic of.
Profile Source: Wikipedia / Joshua Project Creative Commons |
People Name General | Lugbara, High |
People Name in Country | Lugbara, High |
Alternate Names | Aringa; High; High Lugbara; Kuluba; Logbari; Low; Low Lugbara; Lugbara; Terego/Arua |
Population this Country | 715,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,204,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 5 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 13141 |
ROP3 Code | 105907 |
Country | Congo, Democratic Republic of | ||
Region | Africa, West and Central | ||
Continent | Africa | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 37 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Orientale province: Aru territory, 6 collectivités. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Congo, Democratic Republic of |
Region | Africa, West and Central |
Continent | Africa |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 37 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Orientale province: Aru territory, 6 collectivités.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 30.00 %) |
94.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
5.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
1.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Lugbara | |||
Language Code | lgg Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Lugbara |
Language Code | lgg Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Aringa | |
People Groups | Speaking Lugbara |
Primary Language: Lugbara
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1922-1964) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1936-1978) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1966-2008) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament | DAVAR Partners International |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Lugbara | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Four Spiritual Laws | Campus Crusade for Christ |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Lugbara | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies | World Missionary Press |
Photo Source | Timothy Two Project International |
Profile Source | Wikipedia / Joshua Project Creative Commons |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |