Historical Places and Popular Individuals in Bor, Jonglei State
10 min readBy Majak Garang, Bor, Jonglei State
April 12, 2018 (SSB) — Below are some of the historical places and popular individuals in Bor, Jonglei State. The list is necessarily not complete and exhaustive as some of the well-known places, and popular individuals might be missing in this list.
Version 1: Historical Places and individuals popularly known in Bor
| Names | Location | Reasons for being famous/popular |
| Thoon long (Resting Tree) |
It is located at Duk-agal, few meters away from Aduwar |
“Resting tree” popularly used by many people on long journey when they wanted to rest. The tree became famous or popular in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s down to 1990s, when means of transport was only by footing. It was frequently used by those who were traveling to Mac-deng, Gook or Bor town for social activities such as wedding, marriage settlement, schooling and pastoring. The travelers could take break under this tree and rested for a while before they continued with their journeys. Reason was due to its strategic location; being in the middle of the journey. The tree is still there up to now but not in use as before due to frequent use of vehicles which has shortened distances. |
| Langbar (long nem tree |
Located in Bor town on Bor-Cemetery Road |
It was the longest neem tree in Bor town in 1970th and 1980th. Because of its popularity, the area has been named after this tree. Also it was, and still a meeting and reference points for people who were coming to Bor or leaving Bor town for rural villages. |
| Pan Deng Kut |
In Biong Western part or area of Makol-cuei. |
The place which is about 20 km from Bor town, became well known after Deng Kut built his huts/houses in the strategic location. It became popular because anybody coming to Bor town or leaving Bor town for rural villages in the northern part (athooc, Twic & Duk) was passing through this place. It was also a referent and/or convergent points for those who want to meet and proceed with or on one journey. |
|
Pan Maketh Reng |
It’s also found in Biong area of Makol-cuei |
It’s was a cattle camp which was later established by Maketh Reng as his home residence. He became famous for the reason that he has been the only one who was residing with his family in the place. The place was locally known as grazing corridors for the cattle camps which were seasonally moving to grazing zones or ranges in the location. |
| Akony Jalle (Jalle Tree) |
Was located in the center of Jalle but got destroyed during the 21 Sudan Civil War |
Known for its oaths taking. People in Greater Bor were sent to Jalle to take an oath under this tree. The decision to send the parties to the place “Jalle” was always reached when one of the parties appealed the ruling passed by the traditional courts. In this mystical way, it was believed or assumed that the person/party who was not right would experience bad lucks in his/her personal life & family. Bad lucks were expecting in the form of death of family members, loss of properties/livelihood and deformation/defamation. |
| Waath or Hon Nyok Agaany (also known as pan Nyok Agaany) |
One of the ports in Bor town next to the ministry of Finance and economic planning |
Nyok Agaany was one of the government employees at the government guest house located next to the port of River Nile in Bor town. The port next to the guesthouse was used by public for swimming, washing clothes & utensils. When security situation changed in the country (emerging of Anyanya 1 & 2, and the SPLA), the security apparatus of the then government took over the control of the facility, where it widely believed to have been used for executing those who were accused of collaborating with rebels. If one was spied to be against the Khartoum government, s/he was taken to the house (Nyok Agaany’s house) for summary execution. No one has ever claimed to have come back alive from the house. |
|
Makuach Ajak |
Hailed from Biong in Makol-cuei Payam, and was known for his generosity. |
Makuach Ajak was known for his generosity. He was giving out all had to visitors who were transiting through his house/home. Because of his generosity, he was bankruptcy and unable to cater for his families. So now in Greater Bor, a lesson was/is learned from him, and those who do not want to be broke materially, are quoting this lesson “I’m not Makuach Ajak”. Meaning s/he cannot give all s/he has and remain with nothing like Makuach Ajak |
| Agook de Pakwau “monkey of Pakwau” | Was found in the maize garden of Pakwau in Anyidi land. |
There was a group of monkeys residing around Pakwau Maize Garden managed by Netherland. These monkeys were eating the maize from the garden, despite an attempt by the owners of the garden in deploying guards to scare the animals which was unsuccessful. Later, one of the monkeys was sedated substances that put it on asleep, and then painted the monkey with white paint. The animal regained its consciousness and wanted to join the rest of the colleagues in the bushes but was not welcome by the group as it was seen to be a stranger. Because of this all the monkeys are driven away leaving the garden without any monkey to eat or destroy the maize. |
|
Pan Wel Abirial |
Located in Chuei-keer on Bor – Juba Road. It’s about few Km away from Pariak on the way to Juba |
MR Wel moved to the place in 1960s or 1970s and established the location as family farm and residential. The area lost it original name (Anueet) and the newly acquired name (Pan Wel) became popular because of his interactions with nomadic people who seasonally migrated or moved to swampy areas across/along the River Nile with their cattle for grazing & water. |
| Pan Machuor |
Currently known as Hai Machuor in Bor-town and it is located on Airport Road. Machuor hailed from Duk, and was a famous pharmacist who owned a pharmacy shop in Bor. |
Mr Machuor who hailed from Duk owned a pharmacy shop at the junction of Malualchaat (currently a roundabout of Hai Machuor). He became famous because people who were sick in Bor town or nearest rural villages were able to get medicines of their choice. This had made him more popular, hence resulted in the naming of the area “Hai Machuor” for his recognition. |
Version 2: Historical Places and individuals popularly known in Bor
- Name and location of the place/individual: Thoon long (Resting Tree) is located at Duk-agal in Alian, few meters away from Aduwar.
Reasons for popularity/famous: “Resting tree” popularly used by many people on long journey when they wanted to rest. The tree became famous or popular in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s down to 1990s, when means of transport was only by footing. It was frequently used by those who were traveling to Mac-deng, Gook or Bor town for social activities such as wedding, marriage settlement, schooling and pastoring. The travelers could take break under this tree and rested for a while before they continued with their journeys. Reason was due to its strategic location; being in the middle of the journey. The tree is still there up to now but not in use as before due to frequent use of vehicles which has shortened distances.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Langbar (long nem tree) is located in Bor town on Bor-Cemetery Road.
Reasons for popularity/famous: It was the longest neem tree in Bor town in 1970s and 1980s. Because of its popularity, the area has been named after this tree. Also it was, and still a meeting and reference points for people who were coming to Bor or leaving Bor town for rural villages.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Pan Deng Kut is located in Biong at the Western part or area of Makol-cuei.
Reasons for popularity/famous: The place which is about 15 – 20 km from Bor town, became well known after Deng Kut built his residential huts/houses in this strategic location. It became popular because people who were/are coming to Bor town or leaving Bor town for rural villages in the northern part (athooc, Twic & Duk) were passing through this place. It was also a referent and/or convergent points for those who want to meet and proceed with or on one journey.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Pan Maketh Reng is found in Biong area of Makol-cuei. The area was initially a grazing land as well as the grazing corridor but was later used by Maketh Reng
Reasons for popularity/famous: It’s was a cattle camp which was later established by Maketh Reng as his home residence. He became famous for the reason that he has been the only one who was residing with his family in the place. The place was locally known as grazing corridors for the cattle camps which were seasonally moving to grazing zones or ranges in the location.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Akony Jalle (Jalle an Oath Taking Tree), was located in the center of Jalle but was destroyed during the 21 Sudan Civil War between SPLA led by Dr.John Garang and the Khartoum Government.
Reasons for popularity/famous: Known for its oaths taking. People in Greater Bor were sent to Jalle to take an oath under this tree. The decision to send the parties to the place “Jalle” was always reached when one of the parties appealed the ruling passed by the traditional courts. In this mystical way, it was believed or assumed that the person/party who was not right would experience bad lucks in his/her personal life & family. Bad lucks were expecting in the form of death of family members, loss of properties/livelihood and deformation/defamation.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Waath or Hon Nyok Agaany (also known as pan Nyok Agaany) was located on Bor Port, next to the ministry of Finance and economic planning.
Reasons for popularity/famous: Nyok Agaany was one of the government employees at the government guest house located next to the port of River Nile in Bor town. The port next to the guesthouse was used by public for swimming, washing clothes & utensils. When security situation changed in the country (emerging of Anyanya 1 & 2, and the SPLA), the security apparatus of the then government took over the control of the facility, where it was widely believed to have been used for executing those who were accused of collaborating with rebels. If one was spied to be against the Khartoum government, s/he was taken to the house (Nyok Agaany’s house) for summary execution. No one has ever claimed to have come back alive from the house.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Makuach Ajak who hailed from Biong in Makol-cuei Payam, was known for his generosity.
Reasons for popularity/famous: Makuach Ajak was known for his generosity. He was giving out all had to visitors who were transiting through his house/home. Because of his generosity, he was bankruptcy and unable to cater for his families. So now in Greater Bor, a lesson was/is learned from him, and people are referring to this quote when they are materially broke, “I’m not Makuach Ajak”. Meaning s/he cannot give all s/he has and remain with nothing like Makuach Ajak
- Name and location of the place/individual: Agook de Pakwau “monkey of Pakwau” was among the notorious and a maize eater monkeys found in the maize garden of Pakwau in Anyidi land.
Reasons for popularity/famous: There was a group of monkeys residing around Pakwau Maize Garden managed by the Dutch (Netherland) company. These monkeys were eating maize from the garden, despite several attempts by the owners of the garden through deployment of guards to scare the animals away which were unsuccessful. Later, one of the monkeys was sedated or injected with substances that put it on asleep, and then painted the monkey with white paint. The animal after that regained its consciousness and wanted to join the rest of the colleagues in the bushes but was not welcome by the group as it was seen to be a stranger. Because of this all the monkeys were driven away from area; leaving the garden without any monkey to eat or/and destroy the farm (maize).
- Name and location of the place/individual: Pan Wel Abirial is located in Chuei-keer on Bor – Juba Road. It’s about few Km away from Pariak on the way to Juba
Reasons for popularity/famous: MR Wel moved to the place in 1960s or 1970s and established the location as family farm and residential. The area lost it original name (Anueet) and the newly acquired name (Pan Wel) became popular because of his interactions with nomadic people who were seasonally migrated or moved to swampy areas across/along the River Nile with their cattle for grazing & water. Now the area is being contested by the two communities of Abii.
- Name and location of the place/individual: Pan Macuor, currently known as Hai Machuor in Bor-town is located on Airport Road. Machuor hailed from Duk, and was a famous pharmacist who owned a pharmacy shop in Bor.
Reasons for popularity/famous: Mr Machuor who hailed from Duk owned a pharmacy shop at the junction of Malualchaat (currently a roundabout of Hai Machuor). He became famous because people who were sick in Bor town or the nearest rural villages were able to get medicines of their choice from the shop. This had made him more popular, hence resulted in the naming of the area “Hai Machuor” for his recognition.
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