Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
By John Actually
February 26, 2011 (BOR) – Hundreds of returnees from Khartoum who have settled in Twic East, Duk and Bor counties of Jonglei state organized a cultural show at Bor secondary school, February 26, through Bor Youth Association, to show they were still in touch with their ethnic roots, in order to win the a acceptance of local people.
The Bor Youth Association (BOYA) was formed by South Sudanese living in Khartoum in August 16, 1994 to unit people and keeps Dinka Bor cultures alive while in exile. Sudan second civil war (1983-2005) saw four million people displaced. Many fled to Sudan’s capital, where many lived in settlements and camps on the outskirts of the city.
South Sudan voted to become independent in July as part of the 2005 peace deal that ended decades of conflict. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have returned to the South in the last five years and have had to adjust from living in an urban to rural or less developed environment.
Different groups of women and men performed cultural dances of various kinds and wrestling. Wrestling was recently commercialized by the government of South Sudan in Juba in January. Jonglei’s ‘Freedom Stars’ were the winner of the South Sudan wrestling competition, beating Central Equatoria and Lake state teams.
People from South Sudan and Jonglei in particular fled their homes between 1983 and early 1990s when the war between Khartoum government forces and South Sudan rebels, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), was at its worst.
Bor was under heavy aerial bombardment in 1989, after it was recaptured by northern forces, killing many people.
Most of the returnees arrived from Khartoum ahead of January’s plebiscite in which South Sudanese overwhelmingly voted for independent South Sudan, which is soon to be in July 9.
Young women who have returned from Khartoum have received little or no courtship and have found looking for husbands difficult. Men who have returned from East African countries have also found there to be cultural differences upon their return. Language barrier is one of the main problems.
One young woman, Ayor Akech Kuai, told Sudan Tribune she has been shocked by the lack of engagements among young people. She urged young men to forgive girls who had bleached their skin while living in the north.
Having lighter skin is popular in the north and many girls use creams to make their skin lighter. The politics, media and culture of promoted by the Khartoum government is predominantly pro-Arab and Islamic.
Kuai said that young men should look past their whitened skin, saying that the girls will regain their original black color as time goes by. Identity was one of the issues that caused Sudan’s north-south civil war.
The commissioner of Bor county, Maker Lual Kur, welcomed the returnees to get reintegrated into their families and clans. He urges them not to commercialize marriage. Marriages in South Sudan often involve valuable dowries of cows and livestock.
The minister for Jonglei state local government, Diing Akol Diing, a disabled former member of the SPLA expressed his gratitude to returnees for voting for independence. He also called upon the government to give returnees residential plots in the state to make them feel at home.
(ST)
Omoni Atari
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
Look at our beautiful and rich culture in southern sudan,these are peace loving people, but Athor and kuol disturb them everyday.Maybe God bless you .
H5N1
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
Intellectually malnourished Dinka reporter, has got nothing else to talk about.
Foolish Majority AKA Food Warriors
Life Without Food/Dinka Will Suffer (LWF/DWS)
Bol Deng
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
H5n1,
I thought that you might have depressed otherwise you would appreciate the culture of Southerners.
If not then there might be something that bother you in your dwelling. thanks
Jeti
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
Dinka-Bor, I’m very proud of you for you are the only community still keeping Dinka culture. Ayor Akech Kuai, thanks for admitting that bleaching is not liked in Bor. I know it wasn’t your interest to bleach but it was due to arabization. Natural skin is beautiful.
unityfirst1
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
Welcome back to your own ancestral land,i love your dancing style and the way you have preformed your culture.keep the good spirit highl and enjoy the everlasting freedom.
Aristotle
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
Dinka bor, your greatness is beyond appreciation from within and outside, your only problem is that you are sharing the state with monkeys.however it is a burden given to you by nature, you have to do much to correct their lifestyle of robbery,child abduction and reckless defecation. Aristotle, is an european expert in southern Sudanese socio-economic and political arena.
Liberator
Jonglei returnees organize cultural show to help reintegration
Dengcol Malual
I know exactly what’s you were tried to say, even though, the article talked about raped and tortured…
I wanted you to reveals yourself, since I know that you’re from United States Air force reserve(may be active now).
So, you’re defending Gier Chuang about the report provided by the same people who are facilitating the training of South Sudan police forces.
Please this isn’t U.S Army, Air force or Marines boot PT/ and did you psyc-opt training.
The police isn’t only PT but tactical training which involves various law enforcement techniques.
But this isn’t U.S Navy special op elite(Know by only their ACRONMY(SEALS) where a potential candidate goes through a rigorous training i.e swiming in negative degree temperature..or Marine Force Recon, Army Rangers,,or the Delta force of Air force..in each of this they goes through rigorous training according to the needs of each branch’s need.
So, Please don’t mixed orange with apple..stay in your profession or go back home and help build a professional air force..but with such comment from you, you’re degrading yourself.