Honoring the President, Seeking Real Peace…

Evangelist John Odhong Mayik, my friend and research collaborator, arrived at our home around 6:30am. I had been waiting all week for this day. John helped me put on a lawo, the traditional dress of the Chollo people. John also brought for me a staff, a cultural instrument assigned to older Chollo men, used for walking but also carrying the symbolic value of dignity and status. My friend Dylan arrived and John also clad Dylan in lawo. Juma, our rickshaw driver, had arrived, Kristi quickly snapped a picture of the three of us, and we were off!

John Odhong, Dylan and I 

By half past seven there was already a flurry of activity at the John Garang Mausoleum. People were finding their seats, groups practiced their marching and preparing themselves for the big day. Looking up into the elevated seating we saw two friendly and familiar faces; we were promptly escorted to sit together, up with them. His Excellency, the President, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, did not arrive until almost 11am, so we had plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere. Two things were clear as we waited. The Chollo people are a well-organized people, and they are serious about their culture. Different Chollo clans and groups from different regions wore matching lawo as they marched in preparation. The energy and excitement of the day were palpable. As we waited, we witnessed the arrival of foreign dignitaries, political leaders, the king of the Anyuwaa and a representative of the King of the Azande and his retinue. Then, the organizer and instigator of today’s event arrived, Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet, king of the Chollo kingdom. Songs were sung about Padiet, the grandfather of the current king, and how people were happy during that time as there was peace and people were able to cultivate, having “food in hand.” Songs continued, from one song-leading group to the next, songs celebrating the legacy of this royal family.

Arrival of the Representative of
the King of the Azande People

Arrival of the Ambassador of the Netherlands

Arrival of Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet
King of the Chollo People 

Today’s event was billed as an opportunity to promote unity, peace, and cooperation amongst the Chollo people of Upper Nile, South Sudan, and by extension, to promote peace and unity among all peoples of South Sudan. The event was also promoted as a day for the king of the Chollo to honor His Excellency, the President of the Republic. The king of the Chollo had been recently rescued by the President as a marauding militia from a neighboring state who had “called for the head of the king” as they invaded the heartland of Chollo land and killed innocent civilians by the thousands. The king was evacuated and brought to Juba until it is same for him to return home. Normally, the king would not abandon his people; in this case, however, circumstances became such that his temporary removal became necessary.

A day to promote unit and peace from within the Chollo people, 
A day to promote unity and peace for all South Sudanese peoples 

As the sun raised her head higher and higher, as late morning approached, it became clear to all that the most important person of the hour was on his way. We were told to put down our phones and to not take pictures. Military vehicles, heavily armed, arrived ahead of the motorcade of white SUVs carrying the President. A stillness and silence in the air carried the weight of anticipation. Entering from the other side of the large pavilion, I did not see the President until he appeared walking together, hand-in-hand, with Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet, king of the Chollo kingdom.

Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet (King of the Chollo) and 
His Excellency, President Salva Kiir 
Photo credit: Office of the Presidency 

For the next hour we watched a colorful parade of troupes from different parts of the Chollo kingdom march before the king, sit in reverence before him, and then continue marching. It was not only the Chollo who paraded before the king. They were followed by the other tribal groups of Upper Nile and then by several different tribes from different parts of South Sudan. The marching and dancing was a marvel, a demonstration of the unique strength of the peoples of South Sudan. When the marching ended, prayers for the day were offered by a Christian pastor and a leader from the Islamic community.

Some images of the Parade
(marching, kneeling in honor, dancing) 

 

Speeches then commenced, starting with a member of the organizing community, and then from the representative of the king of the Azande people, the king of the Anyuaak people, the Governor of Upper Nile State, and the Governor of Central Equatoria State (the host). After these short speeches, the central moment of honoring the President and his wife with songs and gifts was conducted by the king of the Chollo kingdom while the Chollo Nyikang Okwa band led a song, singing “God will bring peace, and everyone will sleep and be happy because there is peace. The God of all places will bring peace.” 

Gifts presented to the President and his wife on behalf 
of the King and the Chollo people

Traditional songs calling for peace led by Mr. Thomas Aban 
and the Chollo Nyikang Okwa band 

Finally, we heard directly from Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet of the Chollo kingdom, and then from the President of the Republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit. Both speeches echoed the great themes of the day, peace, unity, reconciliation, and the development of the peoples of this great land. My friends and colleagues encouraged me to attend this event for the purpose of observing traditional dress, music, and dancing of the Chollo people, and how these cultural components have been introduced into the church, an important component for my doctoral research. As important as this reason was for me to attend, what other significance does such an event signal?  

What comes to mind is the story of Esther from the Hebrew Scriptures. When the Hebrew peoples were slated for death by King Ahasuerus who ruled a diverse kingdom of more than one hundred twenty-seven provinces spanning from India to Cush (Esther 1: 1), Queen Esther organized two banquets to honor King Ahasuerus. It was during the second banquet that Queen Esther revealed to the King the truth of the situation concerning the decree to exterminate the Hebrew people, which included Esther. The King listened to Esther and redacted the decree to kill the Hebrew people. Thus, Esther successfully intervened on behalf of her people. We remain in hope that such an honorific event for the president of South Sudan, intended, it seems, as a humble and magnanimous plea, will help move the country towards real actionable peace, a peace not intended only for the Chollo people of Upper Nile, but for all peoples in South Sudan.

“People of South Sudan, you must accept peace…the God of everywhere will bring peace. South Sudan will be a good place. Then the orphans will benefit from that peace. South Sudan needs peace, and everyone must go to his village. South Sudan must be united because of peace.” (from Thomas Aban and the Chollo Nyikang Okwa band)