South Sudan body for History and Heritage
By Luke Kuth Dak
July 21, 2007 — In the United States Of America, Historians atop all other Professionals in public recognition and appreciation. The members of both Houses, have at some point or another, studied History. Americans are History lovers, and they tune in to a commercially free History channel [twenty four seven].
The African – Americans, spend millions of dollars each year on DNA testing
in their diligent quest to trace their historical roots to specific
Countries in Africa. Among a host of many, the latest to learn their origin,
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Louis Sullivan, the former head of US
Department of Human Services. Mayor Franklin learned that her maternity line
traces back to the African Country of Sierra Leon. She later confessed that
she had visited many African Countries ” but not this one”. Having known
their historical roots and connections to the Mother Land, today, more than
ever, African – Americans are more prouder of who they are as a people.
In my part of the World, South Sudan, you have to dig deeper into your guts,
to find that hidden courage and strength necessary if you were to reveal to
your family that you would major in History when you go to college. Chances
are you will be denounced and perceived as a loser at best. The attitude
here is that, your worthiness and success are measured by the ability to
become a medical Doctor or an Engineer. Sadly, the same attitude continues
to this day. Respectfully, the World’s ruled by Historians, not Doctors.
Lawyer, not Engineers. Generals, not computer scientists.
The current Sudan history book is derogatory, degrading, demeaning and
insulting to the people of South Sudan. It’s authors, the Northern Sudanese,
wrote it with such bad intentions, hatred and bigotry enough to make it an
illegal, and therefore,ought to be taken off the shelves and out of the
class rooms.
Ironically, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, which fought for over a
couple of decades, for justice and equality, is literally stand still, as
far history is concerned. The government of South Sudan, has created many
commissions, but shamefully failed to name one for History and Heritage,
therefore, leaving our past vulnerable to remain a mystery, and our future
to soon follow suit. Our ancestors, who have lived on this land for
generations, deserve to be remembered . Their dignity needs to be restored.
Likewise, our children need to know where they came from and where they go
from here. We need to make them aware of our history- both good and bad- so
that they may learn from the good and never repeat the bad.
A solid case can be made that if Southern Sudanese people were to know their
historical linkages and roots of origin, the venom of tribalism that engulfs
the region, would have been lessen or diminished altogether.
There is a moral calling on the leadership of South Sudan – both Executive
and political- to urgently create a commission for History and Heritage,
from our own Historians and Lawyers, to not only write our History book of
our own, but also to see to it that those who are behind the distortion of
History, must be held responsible and brought to justice. Consequently,
there is a need to designate a month each year as a History and Heritage month, to celebrate and honor our ancestors and our fallen Heroes, who fought for what they really, really believed in.
* Luke Kuth Dak is a former Anchorman@ Radio Juba and can be reached at: [email protected]