Ivan Karp Memorial Day was held on December 31, 2011 at the Kamarinyang primary school compound in Amukura in western Kenya, where Ivan based his long-term research about the Iteso people. The praise poem was delivered by Pancras Otwani during the speeches and presentations at the memorial, which was attended by 2,000 people.

In Memory of Ivan Karp

Weep not Teso Ivan Karp lives 
Weep not Amukura Karp lives on 
Weep not Albuquerque he lives on and on 
Weep not Stamford, CT and Santa Fe 
Weep not Corinne Kratz and Stephen Omuse 

Weep not all you people of good will 
But rejoice and boast of Ivan Karp 

Pride in the teacher, the intellectual 
Embrace the debater, the culturalist 
Glorify the researcher, the professor 
Emulate the humanitarian, the non-racist 
Read the writer, laugh with the sociologist 

Weep not all you people of good will 
But rejoice and boast of Ivan Karp 

Ivan Karp proclaimed Teso in the U.S.A. 
Yes, ‘Fields of Change among the Iteso of Kenya,’ he wrote. 
Research on Iteso made the great American professor 
Unique in the disciplines of African studies, 
Accomplished in the international Humanities. 

The lecture rooms and all of Virginia, 
Of Emory universities re-echo the hearty Karp. 
Albuquerque, NM and Smithsonian museum 
Talk about Teso cultural dynamics. 
Omongoluk Akisuk charms the jacket of his book. 

Weep not all you people of good will 
But rejoice and boast of Ivan Karp 

Ivan Karp we hoped to see you again 
We hoped to eat and drink with you again 
We hoped to sing and dance ‘AKISUK’ with you again 
We hoped to ride in your intellectual vision 
Alas, we hoped and hoped and hoped again! 

Who will engage us in those propelling, insightful debates? 
Who will inspire our youths to those heights of education? 
Who will captivate our people with that oratory?
Who from, shall we siphon that intellect 
Like we did ‘AJON ‘ at the foots of Amukura Hills? 

Weep not all you people of good will 
But rejoice and boast of the great man 
Corinne Kratz with you we embalm and embellish him 
Long live America, long live Teso