The Ketebo live in Bira, which is one of the Payams of Kidepo County, Torit, Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan.
Bira is the land of the Ketebo which include; Lofus, Madial, Lorum, Lotome, Lojilingare, Arata, Nakoringole, Lonyili, Kamulach, Tulel, Ofi, Natedo, Nahitahapel (Ihapelmoru), Naurkori, Lochorangichokio, Lokudul, Napeyase, Ogeng, Tongoborei, Kalabe (Apoka), Irobi, Narus, Koryang, Tomoodo, Koryang, Losigiria, Irobi just to mention a few.
The Ketebo clans include the following: Akafuo, Amening (Ikuruha or Black Crow), Ametere, Fatuol, Ibilei, Icarai, Igago, Ikai (Lightening), Ikorom, Ingebe, Kitimo, Kurumo, Lohutok (white chest crow), Lokuti, Lonyili, Lomiru, Melong, Moliro (squerial), Ongeja and Omiro.
They are categorized under the groups of the Nilo Hamites (Referred to by modern historians as Eastern Nilotes) together with the Massai of Kenya, whom they share a lot of words.
During the influx of other tribes in 1650s like the Bari, Lotuho and Didinga from Ethiopia using Lotukei as people migratory corridor, the Ketebo who are mountainous people, decided to move further, Southwards to the Bira Mountain and settled in Madiel or Madial/ Loofus, Lonyili, Irobi, Akorou, Tookiliori, Ibakany, Lorema, Ichome, Nafitiro, Moruhirion, Idufa, and later due to hunting and farming, some of the Ketebo opted for lowland in Kalabe, Lotome, Taakifie, Loojilingare, Toomodo, Namosingo, Lobilatome, Ofi, Okosio, Kamulach, Naitahapel).
Nevertheless, the Ketebo stood firm against slavery and the last war to stopped slavery, was fought on top of Akorou mountain (the current Nakoringole) where the Acholi King Okwir who was one of the agents of the Mahdia, killed with his many fighters, which brought an end to the war and this was confirmed in the 21st century song (Kori Koringole, Ikoringole) sang by an Acholi musician from Kitgum called Ogwang Clipper.
Currently, the Ketebo are found in Bira, Lotukei and Lokori and Karenga in Uganda and they are referred to as Mening tribe.
Long time ago, the Ketebo used organize marriages but in late 20th century, the girls and boys are allowed to choose whom they want to marry from the age of 18 years and above.
In Uganda, the Ketebo or Mening lived in the area of what is now Kidepo Valley National Park since 1800, but it was gazetted as a game reserve by the British colonial government in 1958.
[4] The Ketebo people were previously pastoralist in nature but due to change in climate and external influence from the neighbouring communities they are now practicing cultivation systems, with sorghum, maize and sesame as the main crops during the growing season (April to August).