Nele: The Great Daughter of Nyaribang Atillo
By Awuol Gabriel Arok, Juba, South Sudan
–
Nele daughter of the famous Nyaribang Atillo of the Abingic Kingdom
You emerged out of your mother’s womb active and healthy
Mischievously you dived in and out of Re-pon falls
Sprouting to the surface with your peculiar pala sound
Ooh! Great daughter of Nyaribang Atillo
There you are!
Niggling into the backyard of your babyish lover-Pac-wach
*****
Slogging eyed natured bushes and spirited rocks of the kind jungle
You the exhausted couple of Awiya plain arrived with jolly victory!
At the playful Fukula falls of beautiful Nimo
Where the great whisperer-the Akaro of Panyidier Kingdom dwells
Hungry for your honeymoon;
While waiting for your hunting moon.
The monarch of the kingdom has something to share with you,
Convivial salutes from ayomo Elephants and hippo of the Nyarakodik valleys awaits you.
*****
You the amorous couple from the Avumalaya Empire
Will have a missionary visit to Awakora dynasty
On your way to the trendy dynasty of Nyaarakac-the piper of hollow bamboo
And after receiving pious blessings from Ajawa the King of love we know;
You the two delectable couple will prefer the way southward to the Valley of Keri keri
Where the bitter trees of motherhood are in abundant
The evil eyes of the forest hunters and roamers
Will make you daughter of Nyawaya tie your belly with Akusi-chang from Akusii tree
*****
On your way to Jubi the home of Ajubak King for visit pass to Kondukereu.
To see the gigantic nest of Vuluvulu-the birds’ king;
The availability of wild adakidano honey from Ajaagera jungle
Will make you trek to Moga-langa Island where the sacred labour pain will start.
Anyerdit the great and popular mid wife is in Terikako Island.
Stretch your journey further eastward to Terikako Island,
There you will be blessed with twin boys
*****
At Terikako Island the twin will grow and Aruma-the Crocodile teeth
Will adore a young beautiful girl by name Nyiru-the plaiter of papyrus
And the other twin Arimi will love Awic the daughter of Aturugung-the Black smith.
You will be blessed with more children while living with Anyerdit the holder of pure blade.
Boribor the possessor of lion-headed spear,
The only demon hunter within the twelve Islands of Surimadang Kingdom
Will snatch the love of Ajuro your second daughter
*****
She wills secretly leave Terikako Island by boat at night to Sukumata Island
Where Boribor the jungle seer dwells
On arriving at the Sukumata gate of purification;
Boribor will send his beefy men to welcome and protect her
All the way to his reverence homestead
With complete instruction from Ajakajak the father of Boribor,
Twenty men will be sent to you Pac-wach to convey the arrival of Ajuro at Sukumata.
And how the Great Boribor Ajakajak fixed his eyes on her for marriage
*****
When that time comes, you the great son of por-achien
Must welcome the visitors with cool and listening hear;
All will be done according to your wish;
And finally Ajuro-the papyrus plaiter
Will traditionally be given to Boribor-the elephant teaser
Years later in Terikako Island
You Pac-wach son of Ayomo of Par-akuach lineage
Will leave behind lineage rod to your children
*****
Back to you Nele offspring of Nyaribang Atillo
When your husband meets the roaming evil
While fishing in Ker-hok River.
Be daughter of the Awuli lineage;
Guide your children out of their father death-bed.
Console them at the family ritual house near the Amukuk tree
And let them mourn their father for three months.
Toward the end of the third month Ajikabol the twin follower
Will announce a fierce battle against the crocodiles
The riders of your husband death
*****
While on the plan to attack the Crocodiles,
Let them know Ajaba the gossip carrier
From Tokurou Island cannot be trusted with secrecy.
And if you fail to deliver the warning message
Ajaba-the roamer of gossiping world
Will prematurely deliver the message to the crocodiles
At Fukobori port
*****
And if his wind sticks reach the crocodiles;
Your gloomed children will be assailed and chased toward chamcham port
Where they will fortuitously meet Mapurgung their long vanished uncle
Back at Ber-ke-ben port a cluster of angry crocodiles
Will be clutching at any living creature with hostility and enmity
Advice them not to return to Ber-ke-ben port
*****
With teary eyes and exhaustion you must rows through Shemshem Rivers to Mar-kalic.
When you have no space to settle in mar-kalic
Don’t falter to proceed with your children to the home of your sister Achir Nyaribang Atillo in Reke.
While there you the daughters of Nyaribang Atillo and your children must move out from Reke.
To Rumbuur where you will meet your aunt Abul Atillo;
*****
With broken heart and boredom you will move through Nuya desert;
While there!
Don’t forget to sprinkle the greyest sands with spiritual water
To protect you against attacks and biting from desert insects;
Keep on doing that until you reach the Egilo desert.
While there you must appease the desert king;
Until you steal your way into the Mediit Sea;
*****
As the wind of fortune pass over the magical sea
Ketket-the protector of sandy sea will appear with a brown gourd
Crammed with blameless blood of Pac-wach;
And on your right hand lie the big accukaram rock,
Behind the rock are Pac-wach bones buried under the sand,
Extract them without fear.
*****
When you are done daughter of Nyaribang Atillo
Bulbul the dragon of life will appear,
Beg him for s spiritual journey to Abingic Kingdom;
The land of your ancestors
Bulbul the dime-eye traveler will not turn down your request.
Thee Farewell to Majesty the Nile.