The Toposa of South Sudan
Pray for the Toposa of South Sudan. They are one of the largest groups in South Sudan, but are being marginalised by the government. They live in a dry rugged land and raise cattle. They are often in conflict with other groups and raid cattle from across the Kenyan and Ugandan borders. They are traditionally animists, praying and making sacrifices through a medium.
Population: 700,000-1 million
Location and Background: One of the largest tribal groups in S. Sudan, the Toposa live in organized villages in an arid, rugged, hilly land with vegetation of shrubs and grass, and seasonal streams.
History: The Toposa are part of the Ateker cluster, believing they moved away from the Losolia Mountains in Uganda due to drought. They believe that when the first people (Murle and Didinga) arrived they cheated the Toposa by taking the gazelle meat and leaving only soup for the Toposa. This precipitated the split. Successive governments in Khartoum and Juba have marginalized the Toposa. At some point they were armed by the north to fight the SPLA but later changed sides. They have regular disputes with other groups in their area, and also raid tribes in Kenya and Uganda.
Culture: A patrilineal society, cultural norms and values are passed to children early. Culture is transmitted orally through songs, dance, music, poems and folklore. Much has to do with the accumulation and keeping of large herds of cattle. The boys are put in age-sets and taught to herd. The girls look after the home, and care for the elderly and smaller siblings. Men wear a draped cloth, and women wear leather skirts embellished with colored beads. Both men and women scar their bodies. The young men are proud of the beauty of their hair. They abhor the practice of circumcision. Interestingly, they do not count people or animals. They share certain totems and body marks, and they come together for social occasions such as dances, marriages, funerals and cattle raids. Decisions are made by the men as a community. Respect for elders is mandatory.
Religion: The Toposa believe in the existence of a supreme being and the spirits of departed ones. They pray and make sacrifices, using a medium. Chiefs, sub-chiefs, medicine men, and witchdoctors all wield administrative and spiritual power. They believe chiefs are nearer to God by virtue of their wisdom.
Learn more about the Toposa at Joshua Project or about South Sudan at their official website.
Latest Prayer Updates:
Going to hard places
Pray for good health of the church planters as they walk long distances to reach out with the gospel, going to hard to reach places, enduring persecution in some areas, which at times is scary. Pray for courage and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Stealing children!
Pray for peace and stability in the Toposa region. Currently people are living in fear because of the Murle people from Boma who specialise in stealing children and taking them to their land to become their children. In the process, they injure or kill anyone who tries to save the children. Our prayer is that they may come to the light of the gospel and be transformed in their minds to the mind of Christ Jesus. Two Toposa warriors reportedly confronted some Murle soldiers in Boma to retaliate and get back what belonged to them. There was a lot of bloodshed and lives lost in the shooting. Our prayer is that they reach out as pastors, rather than warriors, to other regions to proclaim the gospel of Christ. May God bring peace and unity in the land so that the pastors can reach out to the other places successfully without wrangles.
