They are bordered by Lopit to the east and west, Pari to the northwest, Greater Pibor and Bor to the north, and Toposa and Laarim to the northeast.
They have, nevertheless, maintained a strong ethnic identity and resisted absorption by neighbouring communities by conserving their culture and language.
In particular, the Tennet have an account of how they were once part of a larger group, which are now known as Murle, Didinga, and Laarim (Boya), and the other members of the Southwest Surmic language family.
The ancient history linked that these members of a hunting party speared an oribi, but after cooking it, they drank the broth themselves instead of giving it to the elders according to custom.
Tennet people experienced periods of conflict and displacement, often due to political instability and violence in the region.
The Tennet communities are governed by the ruling age set, called the Machigi Looch, (this word means the rulers and the owners of the land).