A Balance sheet of the name debate
By Steven Wöndu
January 27, 2011 — Southern Sudanese, our brothers in the region, and friends in the world are interested in the name of the emerging state. So far the following points have been made:
For South Sudan
1. It means land of the blacks, which are us.
2. Has been in use for a long time.
3. Retains our links with our brothers in north.
4. Keeps the door open for future reunification with the north.
5. There is nothing wrong with two countries sharing the same name distinguished only by the prefix ‘north’ or ‘south’.
6. Change of name is not a priority.
7. The ‘Sudanese’ nationality sounds great and familiar.
Against South Sudan
1. The name carries the baggage of association with international crimes.
2. It was not given to us by our ancestors.
3. Slavers gave the name to their hunting fields from Senegal to the Red Sea.
4. The meaning of ‘blacks’ were intended to demean us, just as ‘niggers’.
5. Foreigners not familiar with our issues may not distinguish a ‘Northern’ Sudanese from ‘Southern’ Sudanese.
6. What happens if Northerners refuse to call their part ‘North Sudan’?
7. Trade and foreign travel for innocent Southerners would be adversely affected.
For Kush
1. A fantastic name from the Holy Bible itself.
2. Describes the people accurately as tall and smooth skinned.
3. Describes the land accurately as full of minerals and ‘spoiled’ by rivers.
4. Speaks about an ancient Kushite civilization sending ambassadors to Jerusalem.
Against Kush
1. The biblical source excludes those who do not embrace the Bible.
2. The territory described in the Bible includes peoples in other nations in Africa.
3. The territory described in the Bible excludes other peoples in Southern Sudan.
4. Some tongues in Southern Sudan can only pronounce ‘Kush’ as a three letter word ending with an‘s’.
5. Some tongues in Southern Sudan can only pronounce ‘Kush’ as a three letter word ending with a ‘c’.
For Nile
1. The great river that unites all the people of Southern Sudan.
2. The Nile and its tributaries are the source of livelihood for almost all the people of Southern Sudan.
3. Many countries have honoured their rivers like Niger, Zambezi, Gambia, Senegal, Misssissipi, Arkansas by naming their states after them. Lakes like Chad and Malawi have also been similarly honoured.
Against Nile
1. What would the citizens of Nile Republic be called? The names suggested so far are either exclusive of some communities or simply unattractive.
Conclusion
The debate and exchanges are exciting. There is much sense in the argument that we need not rename the new country immediately. Those in favour of early severance of the code, like me, also have a point worth listening to. Let the conversation continue. Please, let us be civil and avoid irrelevant references to a contributor’s red teeth, large ears, or symptoms of ageing. In the end, when all is settled, we shall all accept the outcome and pledge our undivided loyalty to the motherland. Maybe we can consider a compromise name for the citizens of the Nile Republic. How about Nilese?
The author is the former Sudanese Ambassador to Japan
Abuoi Jook
A Balance sheet of the name debate
Oops!
I am so shoked by thinking of the so-called former sudanese ambassador to Japan. Mr Wondu you should be ashamed of yourself as National symbol in Japan and think shallowly as such.
James Okuk Solomon
A Balance sheet of the name debate
It seems that His Excellency Ambassador Steven Wöndu loves the Nile fantastically. No remorse for this affinity. However, there is something he shied away to mention regarding some arguments put forward against his “Nile Republic” proposal:
When translated into Shilluk or some Dinka Group indigenous naming, the Nile means “Kiir”. In other way, the proposal of Mr. Ambassador could be named “Kiir Republic”. This alone will generate dust in the middle of water for some people who may connect this indigenous name to that of the GoSS President, H.E. General Kiir Mayardit.
Regarding the name Republic of South Sudan, it could be said that it is automatic. If you go to the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan (2005), specifically article 208, the people have already been named “Southern Sudanese.” Also in the post-refererndum arrangements, the negociators are already talking of North-South borders of the Sudan not Nile-Sudan border.
H.E. General Kiir in his recent adress in the SSLA cited one of the challeneges that shall face the South as “forging a commn identity for all Southern Sudanese”. Also he said that “South-South dialogue provides a critical road map for nation building.”
H.E. General Kiir in all his adresses did not cite any other name of the emerging country devoid of the sufix “Sudan.” I thought Mr. Ambassador Steve was following. I don’t know why he still cocludes his article on unballance sheet by swiming deep into the Nile again. Will the Ambassador be comfortable with “Kiir Republic” if all decided to swim in it as he would like?
Lokaku
A Balance sheet of the name debate
All the tribes along the Nile have a different name for it. The Bari call it Supiri. We are not asking for the new country to be called Supiri, NEVER. Nile Republic is neutral enough. I and you will be called Nileans and one of us alone a Nilean. Does that satisfy everybody?
Nhomlawda
A Balance sheet of the name debate
Dr. James
Your argument is shallow. Ambassador Wondu did not say Nile should be translated into a Dinka or Shilluk Language. He is using English name – Nile.
North Sudan is to maintain Republic of the Sudan. How can we name our country South Sudan without North Sudan?
if you are suggesting names such as Democratic Republic of Sudan or Democratic Federal Republic of the Sudan for our new country than you might be right. South Sudan without North Sudan is a useless thinking.
Nguetbuny de Luelpiny
A Balance sheet of the name debate
No names be describe in foreign words anymore.
names of the country should come from our own local langauges.
Like @Kiir = mean Niles and how souther tribes call it in their African meaning.
Not english and Arabic meaning anymore etc.
We ourselves “Koch” which in others “Kush” Cush.
in our local we have word “Koch” that come from unknown time that mean people.
we have many tribes in sudan that sacrify to give offer to the Nile= Kiir. Bulls are slaughtered to offer to the Rivers and Rain, the “Deng”.
Offering to “Nyankiir” “Nyanwiir” “Nyanweer” And God of Rains. Moon and the Sun.
Tone of liberators
Nguetbuny
Southern_Stocker
A Balance sheet of the name debate
I like the part “Some tribes will pronounce it Kush with out “h” or Kush with out “sh” instead use “C””…
Im just wondering if we call the currrent southern Sudan South Sudan where is North Sudan?…..For ne it sounds like South Sudan will be understood as still a part of The Sudan in Case Northern Sudan is not called North Sudan (e.g the to Korea).
Keep the arguement hot….I like the motives.. but please be educated andcivilized and try to avoid tribal mentioning…..Keep it national and clean