Ateker peoples

Ateker or ŋaTekerin is a common name for the closely related Jie, Karamojong, Turkana, Toposa, Nyangatom and Teso peoples and their languages. Itung'a and Teso have been used among ethnographers, while the term Teso-Turkana is sometimes used for the languages, which are of Eastern Nilotic stock. Ateker means 'clan' or 'tribe' in Teso language. In Lango language the word for clan is atekere.

In the Turkana language, Ateker means a distinct group with related customs, laws and lifestyle and who share a common ancestry. Members of one Ateker have a common character of mutual respect for each other in their diversity. Each member group of Ateker occupies its own territory and exercise authority over its own land and people independent of each other.

The word Ateker is a generic term for confederate. It is derived from the root 'ker'; which has two root meanings; fear and respect. Ateker in its true sense is a union of free people with mutual recognition and respect for each other. In the context of ethnic identity and nationhood, The Turkana Language classifies different people with common characteristics as belonging to distinct ateker. The Maa people belong to Ateker a Ngi Maasa Maasai and so on. The Turkana and The Karimojong and related people belong to one Ateker.