The Ik are a people group who live on a small mountain ridge in north east Uganda. Just north of them is the Kidepo National Park and in the south, the Timu Forest. Both are rich in resources and protected by the government, which means the Ik are often not allowed to access these areas. They sometimes also get caught up in conflict between the Kenyan Turkana people in the east and the Ugandan Karimojong people from the west. Because of their location, and only numbering 7,000-11,000, life can be hard. There is poor healthcare, extremely low educational levels and a massive problem with alcohol.
The Ik people call their language Icetod, which means ‘Ik-speech’ or ‘Ik-talk’. It is noted to be a “severely endangered” language. Why not have a go at saying a few words yourself?
