Lend me your ears
By Steven Wöndu
January 15, 2011 — I wish to add a point to the debate on what present Southern Sudan should be called after independence. We must avoid the word ‘Sudan’ altogether. I am more interested in the present and the future than in antiquity. The word ‘Sudan’ in the current world is associated with terrorism, genocide, rape, bigotry, violence, sanctions and all the undesirable traits of the modern world.
This morning I was denied access to an anti virus software because my lap-top is in Sudan, a country under sanctions. Two months ago, a bank in New York froze funds I had remitted to my daughter because it originated in Sudan. When I was Sudan’s ambassador in Japan, I had to use my local employees to send money to relatives because the banks would not transact money transfers with the Sudanese ambassador. Even my Sudanese-American wife was not allowed to wire funds because she had been ‘contaminated’. I have used my personal family experience to sharpen the focus on the matter. In the broader picture, the word ‘Sudan’ will block or at least slow the flow of trade between us and those countries that fear the word ‘Sudan’. Those ‘Junubin’ who are nostalgic with the word ‘Sudan’ can argue that South Sudan will not be the same as ‘Sudan’. That is true in theory and international law. But to the bank clerk in Tokyo, New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, London and Paris, that distinction is elementary geography.
The second hazard comes when you need to travel abroad. It is near impossible for a Sudanese to obtain a visa even to our neighbours in the region. If one does succeed, the treatment by immigration officers is humiliating. The word ‘Sudan’ on the passport sends you to a special room for stripping. Please tolerate my use of personal experience again. While in Japan I applied for a visa to Britain. Normally ambassadors treat each other with utmost diplomatic respect. They issue each other multiple entry visas ‘gratis’ without having to appear before a consular official. Poor me, I had to go to the British embassy in person, appear before a junior Attaché, and had my fingers printed. In Heathrow airport, I was searched in a manner no ambassador should be. Call our country South Sudan and the immigration officers and their computers will identify us as a Sudanese.
On a positive note, I wish to associate myself with Professor Ali Mazrui’s lament. Why is the name of the great Nile not adopted by a state? Those of Uncle Gordon Mortat did use the name ‘Nile Republic’ in their time but luck was not on their side. Our generation has been honoured and blessed by history to be the founders of the youngest nation in the Nile Basin. By the stroke of good luck and divine design, the name of the mighty river is available. If we pick it quickly, we shall be the envy of our neighbours. Having picked my choice, I need not entertain other antiques like Kush or Cush or whatever.
If the Republic is the Nile, what then do we call its citizens? Nilots or Nilotics could have been nice except for their exclusive association with some ethnicities. My spouse has suggested a more inclusive version; let us call ourselves Nilons.
The author is the former Sudan’s ambassador to Japan
maroof
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I beg to disagree with you, Mr. Steve. Sudan is called Sudan because of us (Southerners). Naming our new country “South Sudan” is fine and will not affect anything. You know very well there are two Koreas, South and North, and the U.S. and the reset of the world have good relations with the South and North Korea is saddled with sanctions. Hence, I do not see any reason as to why South Sudan will not be like South Korea. I understand your frustation, however, our issue has never been the name “Sudan”: Late Dr. John was working for “New Sudan” and I never heard you talking against the idea.
Thanks.
James Okuk Solomon
Lend me your ears
You Have said it all Maroof in abrief manner. I totally support your valid argument and would like to add that Ambassador Steve Wondu should not mix his own tiny family and Embassy problem/troubbles they had with US and UK immigration department with the expected name of bigest South Sudan.
Even Nigerians, Iranians, Syrians, South Koreans, Somalians etc., including their Ambassadors and Ministers face the same immigration problems in visa offices and airports of US, UK and other countries.
Likewise, the so-called Nile Republic of Ambassador Steve Wondu supported by his wife could also face the same problems/troubles if its leaders messes up with human rights civilization and invite sanctions upon themselves and their citizens in future. Ambassador Steve Wondu could still be prevented to wire money to US or UK or get a gratis visa when sitting in his office in his Nile Republic Embassy any where. The problem/troubles is not about the naming of countries but the manner they govern themselves in accordance with the civilized standards of respect for the dignity of human persons.
The name South Sudan is historical. It did not begin with the NIF/NCP regime who invited the US, UK and others’ sanctioned and alerts on the citizens of the Sudan. South Sudan was there even before the Sudan was still a sweatheart to US, UK and other countries. Also the struggle which has landed us in the land of independence was done in the name of South Sudan. Even the self-determination was given to the people of Southern Sudan and not the people of the so-called Nile Republic of Ambassador Steve Wondu and few others.
The separation of South Sudan could also be a blessing to the lifting of sanctions in the Sudan and for a better relation with it as a good neighbour. We should even work hard for these sanctions to be lifted quickly because of some interests we have with the Sudan regarding the agreement on four freedoms for our citizens there.
The hatred attitude Ambassador Steve Wondu want to implant between the South and North after the separation is undesirable and unacceptable by all measures.
The name of the separated Southern Sudan from Northern Sudan should be the Repubic of South Sudan for history sake and for the honour of the 4 million lives and blood spilled to achive its independence and dignity.
Viva the Republic of South Sudan
Dr. James Okuk
Garang Ajak
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Dr Okuk,
I don’t think you understand Ambassador Steven Wondu point at all. What he was saying and I suggest you should read the article again. He was simply pointing out the consequences of keeping the same name, the name Sudan has been blemished by the NIF/NCP regime of Khartoum. It’s associated with terrorism, genocide, rape, bigotry, violence, sanctions and all the undesirable traits of the modern world as Ambassador Wondu mentioned in his article and I didn’t read or analyst any hatred attitude toward the north you are excusing Ambassador Wondu of implanting. If anything he was rather humorous, he gave interesting details about his family and the hardship he had faced as an ambassador of current Sudan.
Ambassador Wondu, I think naming the new country and the Nile would win my voting if I were to vote. Cush/Kush that is currently being debated is somewhat inconsistent or messy to my thinking. Nilons however would be cheesy. I think we should just keep it South Sudan.
Best wishes to you both Ambassador Wondu and Dr. Okuk
maduel Anok
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Well, let me shade some light in the topic Amb. Wondu intiated..
Bad infliction associated with Sudan:
Yes, the fact that Sudan has undergone bad tripulation under the secessive Islamic Arab regime which indeed tarnished our image to the world is known. Now, the point is, we need to clear that doubt to the world not by nicknaming our newest state but sending the message to the world that sudan is not an Arab country but for Africa, not Islamic country but for all religions that inhabit the country, not for one race but for all the races in the country…
In the event of naming our country south sudan, it’s worthmentioning that we need a name that includes all the southern sudanese, Nuba mounts and the southern Blue nile people as they will be part of the upcoming independence..
The name however shouldn’t be Nile as Amb. suggested, but it should be that name which unites the rest of the regions that will join south sudan in the match to freedom..
What is wrong with Kuch? some tribes which are not associatated with Nilotes dispute this name for they fear that adoptivng Kush’s name excluses them their identity. this is wrong and we need to refrain from it.. now, the fact is that, many people in the south never want others intiating things, for they are better in arguing than proposing.. Kush is not associated to Dinka or Nuer or Chuluk, but for the land that people are inhabiting.. Take a situation of Uganda which was named after Baganda.. is it not a country now? I suggest that people should adopt the name Kush instate of looking other names which are not historical and have no value at all..
Okel
Lend me your ears
Dear Mr. Wondu thanks for your eye opener. I agree with you on the subject of changing the name of the region in this part of Sudan to a name that is befitting. The Nile is a mighty river flowing through our land from south to north. Picking the name Nile and the citizens Nilean or Nilese will make a clear distinction between our current status (Southern Sudanese in bondage with the Afro-Arabs in the northen part) and when we became independent, which is about six months away.
Kush or Cush is a vague name; it is blanket name for people in a certain geographical area referred to during the biblical times. Events, names, etc occuring during this time are shrouded with ambiguity and legends. Kush or Cush, like the Sudan is general name; we do not have an exclusive ownership to it. We in the Southern part of the current Sudan happened to have been christened as such. Sudan or Soudan means black in Arabic as you may be aware. We in the southern part of the Sudan are not the only black people in the country let alone Africa. Some people are already saying that ‘it is because of us in the south that the country was named Sudan’what a pitty. That is naive thinking.
Look across the africa for names like Niger or Nigeria and river Niger; Congo and river Congo, amongst others. The Nile is a great river. For our nascent state, it will be a good name as it will connect the agrarian in the southern part of the country with the nilotic cattle herders in its northern part.
I read somewhere somebody harshly querying Mr. Wondu’s capability as an ambbasador when he put his view in this forum. Much as I do not know him personally, it is not modern to reserve some fora for a few select individuals to decide. This practice of letting ‘our leaders’ work out things for us while we wait; without us even knowing what is being ‘cooked’ shoould stop. Mr. Wondu has expressed his view, give us your own opinion.
Okel John, Juba
Jamjamez
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Gentlement! give it a break,what is the rush in naming the newly founded country? We should not rush things with unfounded reasons or becuase we are in jovial mood at this time.
Forgive me but as a Southerner myself,I will have to say that I like the debate but lets not rush things. Lets not forget this is history and history will stay forever. Any tiny mistake will remain for ever. I wish we could take our time to reflect on who we are, how far we have come and where we need to steers our country.
I do acknowledge the witful arguments put forward by everyone on this topic. Amb. Steve, while your experiences are real and frustrating, you should have not ensnared yourself in the name NILE REPUBLIC. We know clearly that we have Nile but we have to know we are creating history, we should not just settle with Nile because Prof. Ali Mazzurui said so. And to those who Jump to criticism on CUSH! Please hold your rage and reason out. ITs time we critically reasoned logically from our senses and not from preconceptions.
Please take your time everyone and lets reflects on ourselves, who we are and who we wants to be or where we wants to go from here.
Thank you all,
James Okuk Solomon
Lend me your ears
“Nile Republic” Means “Kiir Republic” in Shilluk and Dinka Langues: It is becoming clear that the more we propose a name to change the historic known name of South Sudan, the more some complications pope up. For example, the Nile River in my indigenous Collo (Shilluk) Language is called “Kiir” and we share this name with some Dinka group as well.
Now, if I come up and say the new republic should be called “Kiir Republic”, surely dust will be raised up in the middle of water by those who connect this name to that of H.E. Salva Kiir Myardit, our Joshua President who stood strong to cross us safely to the “Promise Land”. President Kiir is our hero now, isn’t he.
Ok, if people are finding something wrong with the great name of South Sudan in this last hour of our history, let them call it “Kiir Republic” in order to avoid the colonialist English term of “Nile Republic.” Ambassador Steven Wondu and those who love the Nile (Kiir), are you there?