Alur are an ethnic group who live mainly Nebbi in northwestern Uganda, but also in northeastern DR Congo, north of Lake Albert.
The Alur Chiefdom is probably the only one that was unaffected by the Ugandan ban on traditional monarchies in 1966.
The Alur political system is a series of overlapping, interlocking chiefdoms, which were never unified in a single polity during precolonial times. Related lineages from different chiefdoms performed some religious ceremonies together, and intermarriage among chiefdoms was also fairly common. People also recognized other Alur speakers as neighbors. The Acholi claimed land east of Alur territory, and the Alur lost land in 1952, with the creation of Murchison (Kabalega) National Game Park. The Alur subsequently incorporated some Sudanic-speaking groups into their society as they expanded to the west.
Alur territory was remote from British commerce during colonial times, but once colonial boundaries were set, people found ways to profit from cross-border smuggling. Only a few churches, schools, and medical dispensaries were established, and many Alur became migrant laborers in Buganda to earn money to pay their taxes. Despite its geographical isolation, Alur territory in the 1980s showed signs of substantial but uneven acculturation, influenced by Sudanese, Zairian, and other Ugandan cultures. Alur society also became the object of some of the anti-Amin revenge that swept through the region in the 1980s.
Henry Luke Orombi the current Anglican Archbishop of Uganda is an Alur.
The Alur Language is very related to Jonam language which is itself developed from Alur. But the Jonan are the Alurs that are settled along river nile. Fishing is their traditional occupation and subsistence livelihood. The Jonam are spread along the Nile River from Panyimur through Pakwach all the way up to Pawor as the Nile flow towards the Ugandan border with South Sudan.
Where are the lessons in Alur?
ReplyDeleteAfoyo = thank you is the word that can be used in so many different ways with different meanings.One can also add some hand gestures to the word at different accasions,
Post more! I'm staying in Paidha and learning the language. I already have numbers, greetings, and basic items/things down. Post more!
ReplyDeleteWow that is so great. I am Alur living in Jinja,but I have difficulties in making communications in our native language.
ReplyDeleteCan I receive a PDF of common phrases or that one of similar grammar for beginners. Am Luo from Kenya and I must say am noticing alot of similarities between us. Hope to learn dho Alur or Lep Alur
ReplyDeleteThank you brother Oduor "one Luo, one people" watiye acel. Maybe I can teach you myself. Afoyo
DeleteGood
ReplyDeleteWoow this is nice
ReplyDeleteAm not an Alur am a Westerner but I spent some good months in Paidha Town and enjoyed Alur Culture and language though I learnt little so I believe to learn more from here.
I want to learn alur
ReplyDeleteAm nt an alur bt it was easier for learn... I can nw speak it fluently...
ReplyDeleteI really love alur...
Thanks
DeleteReal blood of Alur I am and am so proud to be an Alur grand son of Odaga Justo of Odar Peter. One love to everyone who is a position of understanding Alur.
ReplyDeleteThe Alur, Acholi, Padhola, Wanyoro and JoLuo of Kenya and Tanzania as well as the Nuer of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia even the Igbo of Nigeria who are claimed to be the Luo. Everywhere we are one love.