By Eumu Emmanuel
Kaberamaido District | Mr. Paul Edyau, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kumam Cultural Heritage, has announced that he is finalizing a book about the Kumam heritage and culture. The book, which is a culmination of extensive research and extracts from various sources, including elders, colonial journals, scholars, and historians, provides a historical perspective on the roots, history, and culture of the Kumam people.
The book offers insight into the Kumam migration from Ethiopia in 1560 and their settlements in the Lake Kyoga Basin areas of Soroti, Kalaki, and Kyoga to Kaberamaido. It also captures Mr. Edyau’s personal experiences and family origins as a Kumam, highlighting his social, political, and cultural leadership in championing the Kumam cultural movement and its formation.
One of the unique aspects of the book is its exploration of the Kumam identity as a distinct ethnic community with its own culture, language, and clans. The book dispels myths about the Kumam people being either Langi or Itesot, instead showcasing their rich heritage and traditions.
The 200-page book is a treasure trove of information, detailing the main and sub-clans, clan and family-based leadership structures, totems, norms, and way of life of the Kumam people. It also chronicles the political and cultural development of the Kumam Cultural Heritage (KUCH) from their clan-based administrative system.
Mr. Edyau hopes that his book will add value to the understanding of the Kumam people, particularly among the younger generation. By providing answers to long-standing questions and doubts about the Kumam identity, the book is set to be a must-read for anyone interested in learning about the rich heritage and culture of the Kumam people.