Lopit people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (160,000 to 200,000) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 South Sudan
|
160,000 to 200,000 |
| Languages | |
| Lopit language | |
The Lopit people are an ethnic group found in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. Traditionally, they refer to themselves as donge (plural) or dongioni (singular). The Lopit number 160,000 to 200,000 people living in the Lopit area, in the Lopit mountains which extend from the east to the north of Torit.
The Lopit area borders Pari to the north, Bari to north-west, Lokoya and Otuho to the west, Otuho and Dongotono to the south, and Toposa and Boya to the east. Lopit comprises 55-57 villages. Imehejek is the headquarters of Lopa county and is located in the Lopit area. There are six payams (administrative areas) in the Lopit area: Imehejek (eastern / centre), Lohutok and Hejuhiteng (south), Harihilo (north), Longiro and Bule (western / centre).
The Lopit people speak the Lopit language, a Nilotic language which has six different dialects: Ngabori, Dorik, Ngotira, Omiaha, Lohutok, and Lolongo. The Tennet people also live amongst the Lopit, and speak the Tennet language as well as Lopit (Dorik and Ngabori dialects).
The Lopit came to Southern Sudan from East Africa, probably late migrants from Lake Turkana.
Music and dancing are central to Lopit culture. There are different dances for different occasions. Each dance has specific costumes, music, at time allocations associated with it. Drums are an important part of the dances. Some main dances are:
The monyomiji are the authorities and representatives of each village, and the most powerful people in the village. They make the important decisions about war, festivals, cultivation, and initiations. They are respected and obeyed, but are obliged to serve the community and previous generation of monyomiji. If they are seen to be making bad decisions or not following the rules, then this older generation of monyomiji may suspend them.
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Wikipedia