SOGA
Inhabiting the greater portion of the land between Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, this Bantu people is a peace loving agricultural people group. A fair number of cattle, sheep, and goats are also kept. The area is divided among smaller chiefs who governs it. In the past these chiefs were raided by the Ganda.
No formal ceremony or feast is held for weddings. In fact, weddings are very informal and casual. During the kisibo, a special form of dance, a young man and woman will elope and that constitutes a legal marriage. After a day or two the girl’s parents are notified. However, it is considered impolite to elope during daytime. The brother of the girl visits his newly wed sister the following day and receives a gift, usually in the form of a cow, from the man’s brother. Polygamy is exercised too, the first wife being the chief wife.
Kisibo is also the dance to celebrate a funeral; thus, the end of a life signals the beginning of another. Burial is simple: a hole is dug, about fifteen feet deep, and the body is placed in it. Being filled up, there is no outward sign of the “graveyard”.
Seeing that the birth of twins is considered to be a good omen, the balongo, another dance, is held to celebrate this event. For the youngsters of the village the muta (another dance), is held.
Hunting is done by the men. Animals from rats to leopard and hippopotamus are hunted. Women do the agricultural work, being assisted by the men from time to time.
Peasant immortality is an alien thought to the Soga. Only chiefs are believed to have immortal souls. Dancing to the beat of the drums during the “devil dance” is to honour the lubare, the man or woman who is possessed by the “little devil”. Gifts are given to the possessed after the ceremony. Divinity, in various forms, is used to determine the guilt or innocence of a person. Charms are worn round the wrists and hips for protection against famine, wild animals, and illness. Special emphasis is placed on dreams and it is believed that the spirit of a dead chief may dwell in a living person."
- Country: Uganda
- Population (year): 22 million (1995)
- Major Religion: Christian
- Percent Christian: 83.4%
- Percent Evangelical: 24.7%
- Openness to Missionaries: Open"
1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?
Who is Jesus Christ to them? 5.6% Believe Jesus is the Son of God
2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL?
Believers to population: 1 believer to every 18 persons (total believers - 76 720)(5.6%)
3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?
Churches to population: one church for every ? persons (total churches - ?)
4. HAS THE WORD OF GOD BEEN TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?
Translation work is in progress.
5. ANY HINDRANCES TO SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION
Literacy is very low. However, a literacy campaign has been started.
6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
None
7. ARE THEY OPEN TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?
After years of Christian witness the Soga still remains largely unreached.
8. DO THEY REQUIRE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE?
Clear gospel presentations are needed."
