The Keliko or Kaliko are an ethnic group in

South Sudan South Sudan (), officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the north by Sudan; on the east by Ethiopia; on the south by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya; and on the ...

and the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

, with immigrants in

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

. Most members of the Keliko are Christians. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they are called kaliko umi, more especially from Laibo, Mado, awubha awuzi and so on. There is a slight pronunciation between Kaliko people in

and those in the DRC. They speak the Keliko language, which is a Central Sudanic language. The population of the Keliko likely exceeds 10,000. The Keliko people live in Lújúlē and Ūdábī payams west of

Morobo County Morobo is one of the six Counties of South Sudan, counties in Central Equatoria state, South Sudan. Morobo County borders Uganda and Congo. The county is mainly occupied by Kakwa language (Africa), Kakwa speaking people, Keliko people, Keliko and ...

, Central Equatoria State (CES) and in Ūmbãci in

Yei County Yei River County is an administrative area in Central Equatoria with a large population of people who settled in that particular county. Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa is the current commissioner for Yei River County. He was appointed by President Salva ...

, CES, South Sudan. Some are also in the DR Congo and Uganda. The Keliko people have a motto that says "trú álõ bã 'orá", which means "together we can". The Wycliffe Bible Translators, in the Fall of 2018, gave and dedicated to the Keliko People a translation of the New Testament in their own language. There were 1000 translated New Testaments distributed. Keliko Dramer Team

The Keliko Culture and Society

The Keliko are an ethnic group in South Sudan, primarily located in the Central Equatoria region. They have a unique culture that is deeply rooted in their history, traditions, and beliefs. The Keliko have a rich cultural heritage that includes traditional music, dance, and

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

. Their social structure is typically organized around clans and extended families, with elders playing a crucial role in community decision-making and the preservation of traditions. They use instruments such as drums, harps, and flutes to create rhythmic and melodic sounds that reflect their cultural identity. The Keliko people are people of hospitality and

generosity Generosity (also called largesse) is the virtue of being liberal in charity (practice), giving, often as gifts. Generosity is regarded as a virtue by various world religions and List of philosophies, philosophies and is often celebrated in cultur ...

in the region. They have a strong sense of community and often come together for important events such as weddings, funerals, and religious celebrations. The Keliko people have faced challenges in recent years due to conflict and displacement. However, they continue to preserve their cultural heritage and maintain their traditional way of life despite these difficulties.

Keliko Language

The Keliko speak the Keliko language, which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan language family, specifically the Central Sudanic group. The language is an integral part of their cultural identity and is used in daily communication, traditional rituals, and oral literature.

Religion

The traditional religion of the Keliko involves a belief in a supreme deity and various spirits associated with nature. However, Christianity has also become widespread among the Keliko, particularly due to missionary activities in the region.

Livelihood of the Keliko people

Chad 2019 Yao near lac Fitri millet DSC4727

The Keliko primarily engage in subsistence farming, growing crops such as maize, millet, sorghum, and cassava. They also practice animal husbandry, hunting and fishing. These activities are essential for their sustenance and economic stability.

References

Joshua Project
Central Sudanic peoples Ethnic groups in South Sudan Central Equatoria Ethnic groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo {{SouthSudan-ethno-group-stub