Speech by Ador Thon-maketh during Lith payam's thanksgiving ceremony in Kenya
9 min readAdor Thon-maketh moved the crowd during the Lith Payam’s thanksgiving ceremony in honor of Kuer Dau Apai, on the 4th of June, 2016, in Githurai, Nairobi, Kenya
June 8, 2016 (SSB) — During a ceremony courtesy of Kuer Dau Apai on 4 June 2016, this speech was delivered in a mixture of English and Dinka with proverbs and figurative demonstrations to the Bor Community in Africa Inland Church at Githurai, Nairobi. “The speaker has told us what I have never heard from my own community elders. I am moved!” said Deng Jok, the Lith Payam Leader and organizer of the event in Nairobi.
THE SPEECH
On my own behalf and on behalf of the community of Duk and the rest of Greater Bor, I am happy to be here and convey my sincerest greetings to and solidarity with Lith Community in this wonderful occasion organized by the Payam Leadership in Nairobi, for thanking the rest of Twic East County, Jonglei State.
Let me start by thanking God who has given us this day to celebrate the victory our son and brother, Kuer Dau Apai, who ascended to this county’s leadership in Australia recently. I greet you all in the name Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace.
I am particularly glad to add my joy to celebrate the expansion of peace and unity in our communities, of Borland, especially the trust the organizers bestowed in me to be their chief guest today. I am Ador Thon-Maketh your neighboring brother from Duk County. Being also as student, like most of you – though aged, I have a message of peace and unity to you as part of my academic course (Peace and Conflict Resolution, St. Paul’s University, Limuru).
This gathering demonstrates the oneness always featured in our local community songs. For example, I want to do what Deng Kur-agat-Beek did one time when he found people from other communities in a crazy dance using his song: ‘Wai yee ci wong guo thou, Ci raan wong Agatbeek nok tong e yook ci wong guo thou ee…!” He stepped on the drum (Loor) and ordered, “Everybody out there, come here. All of you!” When the dancers came towards him with anger, he said, “I just wanted to come and tell you, I am the owner of that song. So, thank you, and now you can go back to your business.”
As neighbor to Lith People, I claim the ownership of this occasion. It is about peace, and peace is my own song. So thank you. And keep remembering that Kuer Dau is a servant leader for peace and that is why God confirms him to this humble leadership position. Victory and success in everything is blessed by God.
“For whoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4
I appreciate the leadership of Lith Payam in Nairobi under the stewardship of Deng Jok-agut-Makoi and Deng Chol Manyang, who invited all of us from different subtribes and Sub-communities, thus proving by this great turn up that they are an enemy of conflict and a friend of peace.
For a historical piece of assurance to you, especially the young generation under this roof, the oneness said earlier on back for our peaceful coexistence dating back to the 1960s famine (Paweer). Lith Community settled together in Panyang (a Payam in Aborom) of Duk area. Those of Kuir Ateak and Kudior Gut-Aja inhabited the village called Thiai-ayom and nobody disturbed them for being from another community (Adhiook), As well as (Peom Kuir Kuol), (Peom Kuek Malok) and Peom Panaweer both in Ajueny village Duk county areas.
– Assurance of good relationship on security matters, known in some attacks in Duk 2008/2010, young men from Lith Payam and Kongor participated and lost lives in defense of their neighbor. The same was reciprocated by the Duk Community when Wernyol was attacked by Militia of Cebetek in 2009.
– Another evidence of oneness even during Duk County brainstorming over creation of new county in 2003, Lith Payam community was on the lead to approve the right for the Duk people to be given their county in Panyagoor.
– Assurance the oneness seen in some village in Nyarweng named after the Lith elders e.g. ‘Peom de Kuir Kuol’, ‘Peom de Kuek Malook’, Peom Pan Aweer’ as found in Ajueny and Liadit of Dukland. That means Lith community acts as a buffer community in between Twii and Duk to avoid the so-called border conflicts that are rocking our communities of today.
– Also, our oneness is seen in our intermarriage relations, which raised a population of more than 100 sons and daughters whose mothers belong to Lith and Duk.
– This long-term unity made our Son and former Commissioner of Jonglei District (now the state), the Johnson Malual, contributed to the establishment of Adhiok and Abek court centre for conflcit settlement between 1979 and 1980.
LITH HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
To the present generation of young men and young women, as far as I can remember in Lith history, the name combines sub-clans of Dachuek, Ayuaal, Awulian, Kongor and Abek when the court center was still one in Pawel under our past prominent chiefs: – Ajang Dout (Kongor), Manyok Duot (Ayuaal), Ajang Awai (Adhiok), Deng Biar (Awulian), Dhieu Thon (Dachuek), and Kuek Dut (Abek).
Owing to administrative expansion, three clans of Ayual, Awulian and Dachuek became Nyuak, while Kongor, Adhiok and Abek remained as Lith till recently in 1980. This current Lith Payam separated in around 2,000 under Adhiok and Abek. For this reason, Abek and Adhiok deserve congratulations for keeping the name of Lith in crown without conflict and internal jealousy.
In connection to that, let me remind you of the divine decree in the words of Ayiik Kuot in the 1950s during the wrangling over the Toic pasture lands. He said, “Let Adhoik and Abek unite so that when there would be any competition over the Toc and pastures with other communities of Twic, they would not lose it. This is also sung by Abek. “Na cok atiaam ke ka nyic Adhiok Man Deng.”
Therefore, let me give you another natural wisdom over this community teamwork, the bees produce honey when they work together.– meaning, the unity of Adhiok and Abek makes their members of community to visualize the future with hope like the one we have seen today. This enables them to lead a fulfilled and fruitful life now and tomorrow.
Lith Payam maintains the consolidation of unity that is depicted in their traditional wisdom and leadership through proverbs and songs teaching by Pathiem Sub clan — “Patiem da anang Kony yen ee ke yen ya thon nyin”– meaning ‘Our Pathiem Clan is cooperative, that’s it’s all powerful. This translates to the success of Kuer Dau Apai as an example to save people in deeds.
Furthermore, this order of setting examples and success in of their sisters’ sons in other Communities in faith leadership as seen in the following personalities in our communities whose mothers come from Lith:
– Bior Aguer, Kongor – Mother is called Lou Lual Dual
– Ageer Arok, in Nyapiny – Mother: Alek Lou
– Garang Wieu Abiong (Abiong), Mother: Aluat Lou
– Duot-madoot (Kongor headchief), Mother: Ayen Aleu
– Gen. Manyok Barach (Abek),
– Nyan Bul Manyang that gave birth to Pan Ajuong Barac e.g. Gen. Manyok Barac Jurkuch who military leadership dates back to the first war and to the current roles in the December war in the SPLA divisions in Greater Bahr al Ghazal and Greater Upper Nile.
This ethos of great leadership should be equally assigned to Kuer Dau. And this should be seen in the way he will multiply peace and unity through the examples of Hon. Atem Garang-Buong, who represented the South in the Parliament in Khartoum five years ago.
– Among the youth are: Kuir Garang Kuir whose book is the embodiment of Karl Marx and other prolific writers in history, Deng Lueth Mayom, who is the Chair Greater Bor in USA, Garang John Deng Ajok-manyuom of SSTV/SSBC, Rev. Mathew Madit Riak who opened the first theological colleague among the young people of Jonglei, and many others from Lith Community.
– Part of this history of ethical leadership is seen in the long-serving appointment of Chief Ayiik Bol, who was nominated in early 1960s to date.
3- Ladies and gentlemen, let’s celebrate this victory or thanksgiving over Kuer Dau while acknowledging that success and prosperity do not come as a miracle or witchcraft. Let your hustle for victory, and leadership reflect true goals not only for Twii or Lith, but also for Jonglei and South Sudan at large. The Late John Garang de Mabior said that the Jesh Asuod (Black Army) would liberate the nation and Jesh Ahmr (Red Army) will build it. Those prophecies are fulfilled today among you, guys. In the Bible, the book of Gen 1:28 says,
“Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.”
4- I want also not conclude without recognizing our especial nurture of woman authority invested in every man. I mean to say, the victory we are celebrating in this church today originated from Achie Manyok Duot and Mabior Apai. This name ‘Mabior Apai’ may be new to you but is the biological father who bore Kuer to his brother Dau Apai. I mention this personal part of Kuer to emphasize the importance of our culture of inheritance, without which we may not have leaders like Kuer and the rest.
LAST WORD TO KUER DAU IN ABSENTIA
– On the basis of brotherhood, the most important request for your leadership is to build up the community in the original unity mentioned before, especially anything that promotes peace within Adhiok and Abek. This healthy community growth can be nurtured by discouraging old grudges and negative histories from the minds of the people and their families and sub-clans.
– Lobby for scholarships and other supports to the children of the heroes like the Late Dau Kuir Maror, Archdeacon, Rev. Joseph Mabior Garang-ayok, Chief Mac Tor Mac, Deng Gut-ngok, Mabior Goch Ajang, Anyuon-malieljok, among others who have lost their lives in defense of that great land you are proud of.
To conclude:
Let me step out of this occasion to the wider community and nation in general. This message goes to those people who are anti-peace in our midst. For example, let them not embrace the evil heart of a coffin dealer always stationed near cemeteries who pray for more accidents or death for their market.
I cannot end this speech without mentioning that unfortunate incident in the Emmanuel Church in Juba. As that humiliating chaos in front of Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth and the whole community of elders and Christians, it is important for those youth to remember this Biblical wisdom: “Ater du we raan de aye Nhilic guor pei. Or ‘The revenge is the Lord’s). For example, a woman from Agaar Community once said in reaction to her granary being looted by the soldiers during 1988 famine, “My SPLA sons, what was the message given by Dr. John Garang to you in the training centres?” One honest soldier answered that they were told to fight Arab and defend their people. Then the woman said, “Ke thok Aci bene waac. Dhuoka roth Garang bi we lo ben lek det.” Meaning: “Go back to Garang to repeat the message.” Here we are taught as Christians and children of God, but some individuals still fail to pick the right message and turn the church of God into a battlefield.
Finally, this warning goes to Twii in general in relation to the current political confusion in the newly created Jonglei State. ‘Hok cine ke doot cuate kem ke thon lieet’. I mean ‘We are like fighting bulls whose stone is thrown in between…to make them charge quicker into each other.’ Having seen it afar as such, we will not accept to be tricked into conflict with each other till we receive our rightful share in a sincere way.
Thank you very much. May God Bless you and bless South Sudan.
Yrs in Solidarity,
Ador Thon – Maketh. Student at St. Paul University.
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