The Toposa Tribe are considered brutal, but they still welcome visitors as long as they are not after their cattle.
In South Sudan, especially in rural areas, people love herding. They see it as a sign of wealth and power. If someone tries to steal their cattle, they are shot to death since almost everyone in the country owns a gun.
The Toposa People are one of the largest tribes in South Sudan. They live on the eastern border of the country in villages. Their homes are grass-thatched huts called tukel. Unlike the Boya people, their huts have tall doors, so one does not need to crawl to enter.
During the day, everyone in the village is very busy. A responsible mother or woman in the Toposa tribe must cook food, clean the home, and fetch water. Meanwhile, the men are always away, looking after their cattle. They search for water and pasture to ensure the cattle grow well. Some young men stay behind to guard the village.
Everything about their culture is interesting, including their way of dressing. Women wear short, colorful skirts covered with beads. They also wear beads around their waists or necks.
They complete their look with beautiful headpieces and a ring below their lips, which they wear proudly with their heads held high. These decorations are worn every day as a sign of their love for their culture.
The men no longer walk around naked. They have adopted some Western clothing but still wear animal skins, especially during wedding ceremonies. During these ceremonies, men perform traditional dances, such as high jumps, while carrying sticks and spears.
Visitors are served a traditional meal, which includes beef, maize, and sorghum. The meal is often accompanied by sorghum beer. These celebrations bring people together, creating joy and unity. They also include rituals like child naming and the worship of ancestors.
The Toposa people strongly resist the gospel and mainly depend on spirit doctors for healing diseases. They believe that having large herds of cattle increases fertility.
Women have very few rights. A man can marry more than two wives as long as he can provide for them. This has led to the rapid spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among the tribe.
