Luwo people
The Luwo are a Nilotic ethnic group living mainly in Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan. They are part of the larger Luo family of East Africa, speak the Luo language, and are related to the Luo people of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Their closest relatives are the Anyuak and Shilluk. The name Jur Chol is a Dinka exonym for them, and there is no separate tribe called Jurchol; some Luo politicians object to the name.
The Luwo live in Luwo Land, in the Jur River and Wau counties of Western Bahr el Ghazal, and in Aweil Center County of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. They are largely sedentary and have a centralized living area. They grow sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes, and beans, and they also fish, hunt, and keep bees.
Their population is estimated around 171,000 to 193,000, making them one of the smaller tribes in South Sudan and possibly the eighth largest nationwide. They are found in Aweil, Wau, Tonj, and both Western and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states. A census in 1983 put them at about 80,000. The Luwo are generally peaceful and favor a united South Sudan.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:22 (CET).