British Colonialism and the Creation of Acholi Ethnic Identity in Uganda, 1894 to 1962

AbstractThis article discusses the role of British colonialism in the rise and development of Acholi ethnic identity in Uganda. The authors used oral tradition and archival sources to determine when and how the Acholi ethnicity evolved. They conducted interviews with key informants including chiefs, elders and opinion leaders. Their main argument is that the Acholi as a distinct and collective identity are a British creation. Before British colonialism, the Acholi were a divided people living under different chiefdoms numbering up to about sixty. The name 'Acholi' was non-existent. The people who became Acholi were known by the names of their respective chiefdoms. The British abolished those chiefdoms and in their place created a single ethnic identity called Acholi. Notes1 Berman and Dickson, Ethnicity and Democracy in Africa, 13.2 Atkinson, The Roots of Ethnicity, x.3 Rukooko, 'Understanding Ethnicity', 7.4 Parrillo, Understanding Race and Ethnic Relations, 14.5 Aguirre, Jr. and Turner, American Ethnicity, 3.6 Interview with Rwot (Chief) Picho Oywelo of Ariya Chiefdom, 2 March 2011.7 Ibid.8 Ibid.9 Langlands, Population Geography of Acholi District, 16.10 Atkinson, 'The Evolution of Ethnicity', 19–43.11 Speke, Journey of the Discovery, 197.12 Karugire, A Political History of Uganda, 11.13 Interview with Ladit Ayella Pierino, ex-county chief, at Pabo Camp, 3 March 2007.14 Interview with Mr Komakech Leander, senior lecturer in peace and conflict transformation studies at Gulu University and an Acholi elder, 8 April 2006.15 Atkinson, The Roots of Ethnicity, 92.16 Interview with Otim Maratino, current Padibe chiefdom's spokesperson, 3 Aug. 2006.17 'Punitive Measures against Olya's Wakungu', A 46/1730/, The National Archives, Entebbe.18 Holt and Daly, A History of the Sudan, 25.19 Girling, The Acholi of Uganda, 11.20 Ibid.21 Baker, Ismailia, 212.22 Ingham, The Making of Modern Uganda, 103.23 Girling, The Acholi of Uganda, 11.24 Ibid.25 Grant, A Walk across Africa, 228.26 Ibid.27 Baker, Ismailia, 207.28 Mazrui, The Africans, 14.29 Baker, Ismailia , 1.30 Ibid., 93.31 Okoth, A History of Africa, 196.32 'The Koba station', A/251/C, Gulu District Archives.33 Girling, The Acholi of Uganda, 151.34 Ibid.35 Ibid.36 'Opening Gulu Station', A/251/B, Gulu District Archives.37 Ibid.38 Mutibwa, Uganda since Independence, 1.39 Girling, The Acholi of Uganda, 151.40 Karugire, Political History of Uganda, 100.41 Interview with Ladit Otto Samsoni, the karan of Palabek Chiefdom, 3 May 2011.42 Ginyera-Pinycwa, Northern Uganda in National Politics, 14.43 Ibid.44 Bainomugisha and Tumushabe, 'The Tortuous Peace Process', 54.45 Ibid.46 Uganda National Archive, Entebbe, A/45/116.47 Kasfir, 'Controlling Ethnicity in Uganda', 79.48 A 46/351, Uganda National Archives, Entebbe.49 Ibid.50 Ibid.51 A 46/104, Uganda National Archives, Entebbe.52 Girling, The Acholi of Uganda, 179.53 Bere, 'Outline of Acholi History', 1.54 Interview with Latim Gereson, ex-county chief, in Gulu Municipality, 19 April 2009.55 Ibid.56 'Rifles in the hand of natives', Uganda National Archives, Entebbe, A 45/179/.57 Girling, The Acholi of Uganda, 185.58 Mutibwa, Uganda since Independence, 41.59 Baker, Ismailia, 93.60 Ibid., 150–51.61 Interview with Mwambutsha Ndebesa, senior lecturer in history, at Makerere University, 5 Aug. 2009.62 Ibid.63 'Recruits for KAR', A 46/1338/, Uganda National Archives, Entebbe.64 Interview with Olwoc Aldo, ex-KAR, at Lokung-Lamwo District, 2 May 201165 Ibid.66 Postlethwaite, I Look Back, 56.