Ik

The Ik are an ethnic group native to northeastern Uganda, in the Karamoja sub-region. They are primarily found in Kaabong District with smaller communities in neighboring districts. The population is estimated in the tens of thousands, making them a relatively small but enduring group in the region. The Ik speak the Ik language.

Historically, the Ik have lived in a harsh, arid environment where livelihoods have combined subsistence farming, hunting, and herding. Their economy traditionally centers on small-scale agriculture—cultivating crops such as sorghum and millet—and on pastoral activities, with pastoralist and agricultural practices adapting to periodic drought and scarcity. Social life is organized around kinship networks and clan ties, with elders playing a central role in mediating disputes and guiding customary practices.

The Ik are widely known in anthropology due to Colin Turnbull’s 1972 work, The Mountain People, which depicted them as violent and socially collapsed under stress. That portrayal generated substantial controversy and has been criticized for sensationalism and for not reflecting the full complexity of Ik social life and coping strategies. Later researchers emphasized a more nuanced view, noting resilience, reciprocal relations, and adaptations to changing environmental and political conditions.

In contemporary times, the Ik face challenges common to Karamoja communities, including land-use pressures, poverty, and limited access to education and health services. Some Ik communities maintain traditional practices and ceremonies, while others have integrated more with neighboring groups and extended family networks. Religion among the Ik varies, with influences from traditional beliefs alongside Christian and Muslim communities in the region.