In South Sudan, Ngundengism is almost the equivalent of Marxism in the West
“To wage a revolution is to annihilate what is bad, and build what is good…our revolutionary work is, therefore not yet completed, because these evils still undermine and sabotage the constructive process of the revolution’’ Ho Chi Minh, 1952
By Dak Buoth, Nairobi, Kenya
July 23, 2016 (SSB) — You may have heard ideologies such as Nyayoism in Kenya, Fidelismo in Cuba, Garveyism in Jamaica and Moaism in China and so on and so forth. Ngundengism is an indigenous political thought. If you listen keenly and look at the prevailing circumstances and the ongoing events in South Sudan since we attained independence five years ago, one must come to an agreement that ‘Ngundengism ideology’ has evolved from simple African religious faith to a complex political ideology whose cardinal objectives include inter alia; to restore or to change the present regime by all means available at their disposals.
This radical notion conform with Frederick Watkins suggestion that ideologies comes entirely from the political extremes, that ideologies are always opposed to the status quo, and they tend to proposed an abrupt change in the existing order; therefore they’re ever militant, revolutionary, and violent to some extent.
In any event, political change is very complex subject, and we must all learn four things about change, First we must understand its direction whether it will take us forward or backward, in other word, is it progressive or retrogressive change. Progressive change simply means a change from status quo to something new in society whereas retrogressive change means return to old policy or institution of the past.
The irrefutable fact here is that, as we converse now, the name ‘Ngundeng’, is well known in the south Sudanese society, and perhaps what some nationals may not be well verse with, is the ‘Ngundengism ideology, and thus, the aim of this excerpt is partly to; shed some light on this contemporary political ideology and to further persuade other compatriots to partake extensive research on the same with a view to find out what this political thought entails. You would probably concur with Leon Baradat who says, Ideologies are normally used to persuade people to accomplish the goals of the state; and that without theory and ideologies; political policy can be shortsighted and inconsistent.
Back then, I did my primary certificate at Ngundeng primary school in Turkana District, this school was built and named after Prophet Ngundeng Bong who lived around 18th and 19th century, he was Nuer Spiritual and political philosopher whose reflections, ideas and prophecies continue to influences many people s’ perceptions regarding the current socioeconomic and political landscape in South Sudan. Those who had mastered Ngundeng’s work always says, most events including the fighting which took placed at Presidential palace and its environs on 8th July 2016 which killed 500 soldiers was said to have been prophesied by Ngundeng in the past.
Just two hours ago, a colleague by the name Kuany Madol alias Mangang Kee wrote a well written post on his Facebook timeline regarding last night dismissal of Taban Deng by Riek Machar, he says and I quote, ‘‘the defection of SPLM-IO to SPLM in Government does not means the movement has ended, it can still moves on. And we expect more progress this time around! Let them go in peace; let’s see who shall get loss, or who shall gains something. Ngundeng has already prophesied this scenario in the past. Don’t ignore and if you do, you get yourself in a world of no return’’
In Kenya, if you trek one afternoon to Simmers Restaurant opposite six Eighty Hotel within the Nairobi central business district, you will find mini August-house session made up of Ngundengist Scholars nearly every day. These discussants comprised of middle age South Sudanese historians and intellectuals giving in-depth analyses to the current political crisis in a sober and decorum manner. If you asked them, they will explain to you lividly that, what happened in 2013/2016 was in Ngundeng prophecies. When you find them sitting, they take nonalcoholic stuff, and they don’t entertained roaming harlots.
Some misguided bystanders and passer-by fellows do call called them idlers, gossipers and or rumors mongers. In my view, they are just concerned patriots who gather to brainstorm on critical matters affecting them and their country. I do join them there occasionally to learn and to reinvigorates my ideas on wide range of issues. The last time I was there was in May this year, I went and found them discussing a latest political Book authored by Prof. John young entitled ‘‘A Fractious Rebellion, inside the SPLM –IO’’.
Anyone who wishes to attend that session at simmers restaurant should carry few Kenyan shillings to purchase himself a soft drink for his sitting and small sums in the pocket to ferry himself home when evening approaches. The minor challenge which other non Naath speakers may encounter is that the debate is normally conducted in Naath mother tongues, however, should the non Naath speakers request to have the talk nationalize or internationalized, I’m sure those guys will modified and moderated the discussion.
Before I go further, I would like to define to us the term ‘ideology’. First and foremost, you would know that ideology is a political term, though it is often applied to other contexts. In the past, dozen definitions had been given by past thinkers, and each definition has been challenge and contradicted again and again. Sir Terrance Ball coined a simple definition which captures my consent, he suggests that ideology is refers to as an agenda of things to discuss, questions to ask, hypotheses to make, and that ideology is use when considering the interaction between ideas and politics, he says one of the outstanding features of an ideology is that it offers hope; and it is action oriented. It gives specific directions about the steps that must be taken to attain its goal; also Ideology is directed toward the masses. Karl Marx, Benito, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong had one thing in common: they directed their appeal to the masses, and they uses simple language that can be understood by ordinary people in society.
In reference to the above concept, me being the original resident of Upper Nile region where Ngundeng Bong hails, and me having interacted with the staunchest proponents of Ngundeng‘s ideas, I examined and realized that Ngundengism is almost the equivalent of Marxism. There are few superficial differences between the two; first difference is that Marxism was formed out of German philosopher’s ideas Prof. Karl Marx while Ngundeng Bong was Nuer prophet from South Sudan, the former was University Professor and the latter was Nuer traditionalist, spiritual and political leader.
The other significant difference is that Marxism prefers an Atheist society, according to Karl Marx, he says, ‘‘a communist society was supposed to be an Atheist one free of the ‘superstition’ that working people would find their ultimate fulfillment in the higher work, unlike Marxism, Ngundeng Bong believed in superstition and divine power, Its says people should portray their total respect and loyalty to Kuoth Nhial (God) through their political leadership.
On the other hand, the two ideologies have many things in common: first these guys (Marx and Ngundeng) were freedom fighters in their respective societies at the time, and they were politically oriented, their followers are reactionary and radicals in nature. Philosophically, they tend to cherish equality of all members of the society and wish to live in a classless society.
In addition, they are extremely frustrated and dissatisfied with governing system in society; as such they favor radical, immediate and military violence as way of changing system in place, Marxists insist that ‘’no change without violence can be valid, that war is good in and itself’’ Lenin further added that ‘‘no meaningful change could occur without violence’’ Recently, one Ngundengist General Gatdet Yaka who opposed the 2015 Addis Ababa peace agreement spoke exclusively Khartuom Sudan saying, ”they will collect firewood and continue lighting fire under that puppets SPLM regime in Juba, that they won’t laid down their guns soon until SPLM regime is ousted militarily; and he was calling on the downtrodden (Naath) to rise up and be counted so as to rescue the suffering masses who are frying in scorching sun at internally displaced camps across the country”
In Karl Marx‘s view of leadership, he says dictatorship of the proletariat (workers or peasants) is better and just, and that ‘‘he expected the proletariat would create dictatorship; that the purpose of dictatorship of the proletariat would be to eliminate and install classless society’’ On the other hand, last year 2015. I went to the office of Refugee Affairs in Nairobi Shauri Moyo Estate, along Jongo road to process certain document, I was with Mut Giel aka Ariel Giel then, we met one colleague call Stephen Liep who cherish Ngundeng prophecies, he told us that the conflicts in South Sudan including the 2013 one had been prophecies by Ngundeng already, and the victory is certain.
According to him, he says if they ascend to power, all citizens will get all their needs at their doorsteps and the country will be restored to peaceful path. When I asked him about how they will transfer power and their take on democracy, he replied that there would be no need for elections or new leadership because everyone will be part and parcel of national cake and south Sudan shall be country for all. On hearing that, i again reminded him about the Libyans situation where Col. Gaddafi was murdered by his own people despite how he tried to give them every services they need, he replied that no one can attempt or imagine to go to forest with an aim of overthrowing government runs on Ngundeng policies; that will be suicidal act and affront to Prophet work, he say there should be necessary dictatorship.
The Writer lives in Kenya, he can be reached for comments via eligodakb@yahoo.com
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