“My Iteso friend promised to re arrange my face, free of charge, because I told him the name Teso was coined from a Luganda word ekiteso (discussion). He ranted, how the Iteso roots are as clear as day follows night and needs no editing or remixing. At this point I wonder, have the Kenyans, got a right to call; Japs, Bakiga, Acholi and Baganda – Waganda?” Titus Kakembo
Sadly, Titus is not the only one. Several times Iteso have fought back at what we feel is gross disrespect of our language, including by our fellow Ugandans.
On behalf of my fellow Iteso (the people), I confirm to you that Ateso (our language) is a complex and highly evolved language.
I proudly clarify as follows:
We, as a group, the people of Teso (the geographic region) are correctly referred to as Iteso. Therefore, referring to your singular friend as Iteso, as Titus Kakembo did, is wrong.
One female from among us Iteso, is referred to as Atesot.
Ajakait Alinga is ATESOT
One male from among us Iteso is referred to as Etesot.
Ejakait Ochom is ETESOT
It is an insult in Ateso to refer to a singular member from among us Iteso as “Itesot”, as is frequently done by many, including the ‘modernized generation of Iteso’. Please stop doing so.
To recap:
- Iteso = the people
- Ateso = the language. Or more than one female from among Iteso (two or more women from among Iteso can be referred to as Ateso).
- Atesot = 0ne female from among Iteso.
- Etesot = one male from among Iteso.
- Teso = geographic region claimed by Iteso as their territory.
- Itesot = an insult
Who are the Iteso? Head over to Wikipedia and read the entry: “Teso People”. Simply click here.
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