The Vitality Of Karamojong Religion: Dying Tradition Or Living Faith? (Vitality of Indigenous Religions Series) (Vitality of Indigenous Religions Series)

How long can traditional religion survive the impact of world religions, state hegemony and globalization? The "Karamoja problem" is one that has perplexed colonial and independent governments alike. Now Karamojong notoriety for armed cattle raiding has attracted the attention of the UN as the proliferation of small arms from Sudan to Somalia is deemed a threat to world security. The consequences are ethnocidal, but what makes African people stand out against state and global governance? The traditional African religion of the Karamojong, despite multiple external influences of the 20th century and earlier, has remained at the heart of their culture as it has changed through time. Drawing on oral accounts and the language itself, as well as his extensive experience living and working in the region, Ben Knighton avoids Western perspectives and highlights the successful reassertion of African beliefs and values over repeated attempts by interventionists to replace or to subvert them. Knighton argues that the religious aspect of Karamojong culture, with its persistent faith dimension, was one of the key factors which has enabled them to maintain their amazing degree of religious, political and military autonomy in the postmodern world. Using historical and anthropological approaches, the real continuities within the culture and the reasons for the mysterious vitality of Karamojong religion are explored.