Pari (also spelled Paeri) is an ethnic group in

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...

. They also call themselves Jo-Pari (people of Pari). Pari oral history says the people migrated from the north and west to

Lafon County Lafon is a county in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan. The largest town is Lafon. Economy As of 2007,most roads in the county were in poor conditions and movement was difficult in the rainy season. Water was shortage in the county due t ...

in Equatoria Province, where they lived in six villages at the foot of Lipul Hill (

Jebel Lafon Lafon is located in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan, the headquarters of Lafon County Lafon is a county in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan. The largest town is Lafon. Economy As of 2007,most roads in the county were in poor con ...

). As well as growing crops such as

sorghum ''Sorghum'' () is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the grass family (Poaceae). Some of these species are grown as cereals for human consumption and some in pastures for animals. One species is grown for grain, while many othe ...

and keeping cattle, goats and sheep, they hunted and fished. The 1982 census put the total population at approximately 11,000.Gurtong Peace Project - South Sudanese Communities
/ref> When the

Second Sudanese Civil War The Second Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. It was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originate ...

began, many Pari joined the

Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), is the army of the Republic of South Sudan. The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement against the government of Sudan in 1983 and was a ...

, and many were killed. In February 1993 all six Pari villages were burnt down. The Pari were scattered and now live in various settlements. The multi-ethnic tribe speaks Pari. a Luo language, and practice

Luo Luo may refer to: Luo peoples and languages *Luo peoples, an ethno-linguistic group of eastern and central Africa **Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania or Joluo, an ethnic group in western Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. *** Luoland, th ...

customs such as an age set system of social organization. Jwok is the local name for God. Most of the Pari belong to the

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

religion. The pari community are basically divided into six sub-groups/villages. These include Wiatuo, Kor, Bura, Angulumere, Pugera and Puchwa. They are practising cultural administration i.e age regimate termed as Mojo-miji. These takes place after every four years. One of the prominent leaders who led the county is Colonel Thomas Udwar Augustino. The county is currently found in Imatong state. Hunting of wild animals especially during the dry season is becoming a hobby to the majority of teenage boys because of need to get money after a successful hunting.

References

Ethnic groups in Sudan Ethnic groups in South Sudan Luo people {{SouthSudan-ethno-group-stub