03/09/2020
AKOBO IS AN HISTORCAL LAND OF LOU NUER COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY MOR NYANG/NYABIEL.
Juba, South Sudan
3rd, Sept, 2020
By: Khan Banguot Gok.
Subj: to expel the spurious claims of Anyuak community over the Akobo land.
This article served to clarify the reason why "Akobo land"is said to be an historical land of Lou Nuer community, particularly Jock, Mach and their uncle, Nyang Dinai, generalized as Mor Nyang/Mor Nyabiel.
Initially, I can start with an introduction of Akobo,since it has been so much stand as the main pulling rope between Anyuak and Lou Nuer community, disputed over its ownership, and later, I will also explain why Akobo is an historical Homeland of Lou Nuer community.
Akobo is one of the renowned town of South Sudan, due to its people's participation in the Independence struggle, and their boldness in the country's decision making; it's located in eastern part of Jonglei state, bordering Ethiopia. It's one among the 11 counties of Greater Jonglei before the creation of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), and now relics as one of nine counties that can formed the state. According to the census, conducted on 22th, April, 2008, Akobo population was estimated as 136,210 people and subsequently increased to 192,937 in 2017 projection count.
Coming to the main concern; 'the ownership of Akobo land' , I would like to encourage you to read this statement up to the end.
START IT HERE!!
In 1844, migration took place in Western Nuer land (Bentiu), followed the several heated dispute between Dinai Geaka's ancestral section, and the other Nuer sections, leading to the abandonment of the land. However, Lou Nuer and Fangak matched out of the land, and after some years, Gaat-Kiir Kaker were also left the land, and were led-out by Latjor Diyian and his wife, Nyaguach (The Witcher woman).
Before exodus, some professional hunters were selected to go and explored the land, and also to burnt it down in order to scattered the wild animals before settlement. Fangak was explored and found as good place for settlement, since it has sufficient grazing land, fertile soil for farming and (Gezira river) for both drinking and fishing. Lou Nuer and Fangak plus few people from other Nuer sections came to Fangak land and settled there for more than forty 40 years.
While in Fangak, another dispute occurred in which, Lou Nuer were repeatedly expelled out, and abandoned the land followed the shore of the river Nile. On their way, the elder in charge of the migrants was Beach Chuol. The professional hunters who were there to explored the would be occupied place were: Kuoth Both, Buy Buol and Bidit Beliew. Before they reached their final destination,they (Migrants) settled in many places along the shore. The first area that they spent some days in was Bukteng. In the days spent in Bukteng, one of the famous hunter, 'Bidit Biliew' was died, and buried at Tithpuok, near to the tall tree (Thow), located within the center of Bukteng highland. That tree may either still existing or being cut down, but should be known well by those who are now dwelling there.
As we know that, in ancient time, people do migrate mostly to look for satisfactorily grazing land and fertile soil for cultivation, migrants left Bukteng due the grazing land and again settled in Yakuach.They were staying in Yakuach and spent some years there. Within that period spending in Yakuach, many children were born in which, some were called with the area name. among them was Yakuach Ruot Dim, 'The grandfather of Chie-Yakuach(Yakuach lineage) whom their present Homeland is now Lony in Walgak payam.'
Life in Yakuach was also not favourable as expected; however, people migrated from Yakuach, heading Eastward to Ethiopia, and again settled in Räwmän-Nyang. 'Räwmän-Nyang' is now present in Ethiopia. They were also spent some years there and later came back to the shore to proceed moving Southward.
On their way Southward, they were settled in many places before reached the present Akobo land. Makak was also one among the occupied places; at their arrival to Makak, Nyal Biliew, one of the people in charge of the migrants met with mermaid (Nyanjut) at Nyakang's shore (Watch Nyakang) and suddenly killed the mermaid. 'Nyanjut' is now believed as earthly god by Chie-Biliew, 'the ancestral offspring of Nyal Beliew.'
Thus, the migrants were not satisfactorily contented to settle on all areas being acrossed. So, they were proceeding up-to Akobo and settled along the river bank. When they arrived in Akobo, Key Dhil Kuayie was immediately eaten by crocodile while tried to bath. However, the incident was utterly discouraged people to settle in Bielkey, the present Akobo land, and decided to move to another area that might be safer for them to live. And for the memorialization of the deceased person, the area was just named, 'Bielkey' and the intention was to memorise, (Key Dhiel Kuayie) who was eaten at the shore by crocodile. In Nuer language, 'Biel' mean, 'highland' while Key is the name of the person eaten. And in detail, Bielkey is a compuond noun of combined 'Biel' the highland and Key, 'the name of the person eaten.' As a result, people left the land and created only the name of Bielkey while other areas around it left without being named. Then people moved toward the present (Pibor) area, and settled in Buongjack, located between Pibor and Akobo. As time goes, there was an outbreak of pandemic disease that was by then called, 'Guol in Nuer language' and recently had been discovered to be called Ebola. Guol (Ebola) was so contagious and killed people in big number. People in the first place tried to cope with it but in the midst realized that, the disease is fatal and wouldn't be managed to resist. Instead, the survivors escaped from Buongjack, and retreated back to Bielkey land that was first abandoned.
Note! All those areas mentioned above like: Bukteng, Yakuach, Tithpuok, Räwmän Nyang, Makak, Akobo and Buongjack were neither created nor occupied before.
As people returned to Bielkey, general meeting was conducted, and its main agenda was to decide what to do next, after all those endeavored settlement interrupted. In the meeting, people came up with a lot of suggestions; Some were recommended the permanent in the areas along the Bielkey river, despite the existence of the dangerous beast (crocodile) in the river. Others suggested the sending out of the professional hunters to explore the land to be occupied rather than the occupation of Bielkey land with its known mortal beast.
However, too much discord arose on these two contradictory suggestions; nevertheless, in the meantime, the general assembly was concurred on the suggestion of sending out the hunters for exploration. After some days, hunters departed and spent some months in the wilderness, explored the conducive environment that maybe good for permanent settlement. Therefore, the explorers found Padoi lake as one of the bigger lake in the area assessed, and that it may sufficiently accommodated all the migrants, and also their cattle; but one of the biggest condition found was an existence of dangerous animals in the lake. Those animals were: crocodiles, hippopotamuses, snakes and other living things that may threaten the lives of the people.
Then Hunters came back and narrated the whole story of what they have got to the people. There, another argument uprose in which, some people objected the migration. Among those who rehearse opposed exodus was the elder in charge of the migrants 'Beach Chuol.' He said, "instead of going to Padoi where there is present of all those dangerous animals, we better stay here in Bielkey because, what might led us out here is also the same to what is there in Padoi; again, the land will also be incestuous to us because, the lake will be shared by fathers-in-law, son-in-law, mother-in-law, daughters-in-law and the sisters-in-law. In the other hand, majority were emphasized for migration, claimed that, the land is fertile and also appropriate for animals grazing as narrated by the hunters.
On that point, people disagreed, in which, some people decided to remain in Bielkey (Akobo east), while other assented to go to Padoi (Akobo west). Among those who remained was Koang Dungdit from Wech Koang, Gang Lual from Wech Thoah Gang, Puot Dol from Wech Puot, Jany G*i from Wechthoari Jany, Both Wanjang from Wech Both, Pech Ruach from Wech pech, Lual Nyanthoan from Wech Lual, Luak Pech from Wech Luak and Kok Diang from Wech Kok; Nying Chamjock was also remained from Lol Thayian. Those areas were inhabited by those mentioned individuals with their families, while some part of the land remains unoccupied because, people were few and not able to occupied the whole surrounded land.
Those who consented to go to Padoi (Akobo west) were briefed by Beach Chuol (the elder in charge of the exodus). He said, ' I agreed to go with you but what you can do is to carry me while turned my head backward to Bielkey land (Akobo east).' The interpretation of what (HE) elder mean was to tell people that they should one day come back to this land. He also cursed all the life threatened living things in Padoi lake, and said, 'all those hippopotamuses in the lake will disappeared, crocodiles will turned to be geckos, snakes will be toadpool and harmless to us. Therefore, they were eventually migrated and occupied all the areas around Padoi lake.
(2) THE QUESTION THAT MAY ARISE TO MANY PEOPLE IS, "WHERE DID THE NAME 'AKOBO' EMERGED"?
Well, this question is expected to be asked by many people, since it is the main hub of this statement, and to respond it accordingly, therefore will makes the whole narration clear and convincible. As we know that, Akobo land is very mickle, bordered with Murle from Kachyaktiet, Tuny and Pulkuoth Nyandiet and to the east extended to Buge and Parewang, bordering Pochalla county, thus make it difficult for few families who were remaining in the land to control it and prevent it from other occupants, coming from other regions.
By late 1890s, Anyuak migrated from Anyuak land of Pochalla,Buge,Jioor,Pignido and Parewang, and invaded Akobo through southeastern part. They then found that the land was partially occupied. As we know how difficult it's for few people to reject the invasion and occupation of their land, however, those who were found in the land has no options rather than to allow the Anyuak to settle.
At their arrival in the land, they were just starting to divide the land without consultation being made. However, Rine, Nyikang, Wech Dibole,Dilule and Wech Mawär were given to Bhär Chiejaak (Chiejaak sections), while Kobe, Nyikan, Dima, Chan, Okalnga,Wangduar and Tiergol were given to Bhär Chielual (Chielual section). Other areas like Onthil, Ogin, Länge, Olual,Obear, Obor, Chikol, Pany, Orik, Meer, Kony, Burmäth, Olam, Okäw and many others were randomly occupied. Those areas are up to date called in Anyuak language, and in fact, the blame should not be imposed on Anyuak because the areas were not named by the first occupants,(Lou Nuer community) since the time they came from Fangak.
When Anyuak had already settled, they then started to contact the indigenous people who were found in the land. Several meetings were held, discussing of how people could solved their main heated issues, (communal and personal differences) that may bring quarrel or else lead to the mass brawls.
Notwithstanding, the resolution of all those meeting was to nominate the Chiefs, Sub-chiefs and headmen in both sides to enforced the law and order. This was done in accordance with the British policy used in the Sudan by then. Among those nominees was, Chief Gang Lual Thian from Lou Nuer side and the chief Othir Jiok from Anyuak community. Sub-chiefs and headmen were also appointed. when you committed a crime, those chief have some police men that could apprehend you and brought you to book. If you are found guilty and convicted in the court, they could fine you with either cow or goat as way of punishment, depending on how big or small the crime is.
However, this was actually helped the two communitiea to live in harmony and maintained peace among themselves. When Onthil Ogin and Gang Lual Thian's term ended, another people were nominated, in which, Jiok Jiok and Mawar were nominated respectively from the side of Anyuak, while Kueyne Long, Yik Gatluak, Makuach Ruon and Ruach Bongo were also appointed in the Nuer side. As you know that Sudan got an independent in 1956 from British, Akobo was also one of the areas under the Sudan government, though there was an existing of Anyanya I in the bushes. Government established checkpoints all over the country. In Bielkey, the first area that was chosen and established as a check Point was Kobe Gidim, but due to the flatness of its land, leading to the regular flooding of the area therefore, forced the government to relocated the checkpoint from Kobe Gidim to Bielkey, and there, the sign post that was written as Kobe when Checkpoint was in Kobe Gidim did not change. It was just taken and posted again in Bielkey, 'the new established Checkpoint. After some years, the name 'Kobe' on the sign post became familiar, and the area was gradually changed from Bielkey to Kobe, and recently has been modernized as Akobo. The meaning of 'KOBE' in Nuer language is an imperative word of, 'Cook it as dry rolled food'!
In 1970, many people returned from Akobo west due to their various circumstances, and therefore, leading to the population increment, and as a result, crime rate goes higher, whereby made it difficult for chiefs to control. Murdered, cattle raiding and communal fighting become rampant. Jurisdiction exercised by chiefs was automatically seized to ethnic line, whereby, the conviction in the court was utterly so bias, prejudice and unfair.
By 1972, fighting broke out between the two communities, and as the results, Anyuak were totally expelled out, and the land was eventually liberated.
In my conclusion, I am kindly requesting all those who will read this article to share it with their Facebook friends, and house whom I will not manage to reach.
The reason why I wrote this article is to deeply explain why Akobo is said to be Lou Nuer land, and not possibly be claimed by the neighbors Anyuak, since the Anyuak community used to raise this concern on regular basis.
May God bless you and bless South Sudan!!
The author of this article is the Chairman of Greater Jonglei FDP Youth league, the would be Author of the book titled as ' Life in Protection of Civilian Site, and also English to Nuer Dictionary lexicographer.'
Therefore, you can reach me @ ,[email protected] or with Tweeter, Khan Banguot Gok, the same to Facebook. Beyond that, you will even call with the following numbers: +211917065509/+211924685259.
