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87-662: Tonj is one of the largest towns in Warrap and the oldest town in South Sudan, home to various tribes such as Dinka , Bongo, and Luo people. The town is divided into three counties—Tonj North, Tonj South, and Tonj East - and has undergone further subdivisions. Tonj was under the jurisdiction of the Jur River (Luo River) during the colonial period of British rule. During the Second World War , Tonj served as an area of economic strength for

174-575: A Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan . The Dinka mostly live along the Nile , from Mangalla-Bor to Renk , in the region of Bahr el Ghazal , Upper Nile (two out of three Provinces that were formerly part of southern Sudan), and the Abyei Area of the Ngok Dinka in South Sudan. They number around 4.5 million, according to the 2008 Sudan census, constituting about 40% of the population of that country and

261-585: A Catholic missionary, priest, doctor, teacher, and mentor to the people of Tonj. He worked at the leper colony . Lee Tae-seok was responsible for the introduction of a school, the Don Bosco Hospital, as well as forming the nation's first brass band which brought fame to the town. In memory of Lee Tae-seok, who died of cancer in 2010, the Korean TV network KBS and the South Sudanese government are working on

348-553: A chain of lesser shrines in the former Nyarruweng Dinka region in what has now become the territory of the Gaweir Nuer. Around the shrine and within a few miles of it reside a small section of Rut Dinka who have settled back and live there by agreement with the Nuer to tend the shrine. Luak Deng has become a shrine of great significance for both the Dinka and Nuer people. The pyramid of Pwom Ayuel

435-455: A common ground of the wish for peace in Sudan. The collaboration represents a vision for the future, as two Sudanese men, a Christian and a Muslim, unify and pave the way to overcome differences peacefully. Both musicians endured unimaginable adversity to become important figures, not only in music, but in the future of a country. They accentuate the differences between them and their musical styles, as

522-558: A cultural heritage influenced by Nubian practices. Additionally, 13th-century accounts by Ibn Sa'id al-Andalusi describe the Damadim, who were engaged in conflict with the Alodians, highlighting interactions between Nilotic groups and Nubian territories. Archaeological evidence, including the tradition of king-killing, links the Dinka to later groups who lived in Alodia's successor state Fazughli where

609-442: A day. Adults also eat two meals a day. In Dinka territory there exist a number of mounds, described by the Dinka as “pyramids,” which have religious significance to those who tend them. These mounds were built in the form of a cone and the material used was cattle ashes, cow dung, cotton soil, clay, and debris. In all cases the history of the origin of each mound is connected to a prominent Dinka priest who ordered its construction by

696-537: A joint project called "Smile, Tonj" to rebuild Tonj. Musician, actor and activist Emanuel Jal was born in Tonj. Humanitarian James Thuch Madhier was born in Tonj. Medical Doctor, Thomas Taban Akot. Tonj has continued to send its children to school but still faces limited access to education, especially in rural areas. Notable Tonj schools include Don Bosco Primary and Secondary Schools, Bakhita Primary and Secondary Schools, and Makerdit Primary School, among others. Some of

783-547: A mean height of 176.4 cm (5 ft 9.4 in). Southern Sudan is "a large basin gently sloping northward", through which flow the Bahr el Jebel River, the White Nile , the Bahr el Ghazal (Nam) River and its tributaries, and the Sobat, all merging into a vast barrier swamp . Vast oil areas are present to the south and east on the flood plain, a basin in southern Sudan into which

870-579: A record in the Sudan School Certificate of Secondary Education by being the tenth best in the entire Sudan. He has gone to study at the University of Juba , a premier University in South Sudan. Three main roads lead out of Tonj: Tonj is inhabited by two tribes, the Bongo and the Dinka. Dinka is divided into the following communities: Dinka people The Dinka people ( Dinka : Jiɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ ) are

957-467: A symbol of co-existence. The album preaches in four languages, encompasses every type of music in one, in an effort to transform the sound of hope into musical form. Ceasefire is not only the sound of two men collaborating on a musical project, but more symbolically, two-halves of a divided nation learning to trust each other. This album's version of "Gua" was played on the American television series ER at

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1044-463: A world music vibe. He begins with telling his story through powerful lyrics; "I'm a war child / I believe I've survived for a reason / To tell my story, to touch lives." He continues the song with the narrative of his life and the pain inflicted upon him. "Written in English, Jal's second language, the new album [ War-Child ] may lack the poetic gymnastics of hip-hop's more fluent stars, but the plainness of

1131-421: Is a South Sudanese - Canadian artist, actor, author, former child soldier , and political activist. His autobiography, War Child: A Child Soldier's Story , was published in 2009. Jal was born to a Nuer family in the village of Tonj , Warrap State in the Bahr el Ghazal region of Sudan (now South Sudan ). He does not know exactly when he was born, and records his date of birth as 1 January 1980. Jal

1218-445: Is acquired when a man and his family produce a small surplus of crops which they convert into a more stable and valuable resource, cattle. In turn, this enables a man to acquire more wives, more children, and thus more economic and political power. In Dinka society cattle acquired by the wealth yielded from agriculture are considered a more stable form of "property." If a Dinka couple divorce the cows given as bridewealth may be returned to

1305-543: Is challenging others to "lose" something to help others less fortunate to "win". He himself will be giving up his home and living as a modern-day nomad for the duration of the challenge. Jal completed a 661-day "Lose to Win" fast to build a school in Leer, Southern Sudan , in Emma McCune's honour. From December 2008 to October 2010, the musician ate one meal per day, skipping his breakfasts and lunches to raise funds and awareness for

1392-562: Is for Gua Africa, a charity that he founded. Besides building schools, the nonprofit provides scholarships for Sudanese war survivors in refugee camps, and sponsors education for children in the most deprived slum areas in Nairobi. The organisation's main mission is to work with individuals, families, and communities that have been affected by war and poverty. Based in both Sudan and Kenya, Gua Africa focuses on providing children and young adults with an education that would otherwise be unavailable to

1479-670: Is located north of the Paliang region in the Bahr el-Ghazal, and local Dinka estimate that it pre-dates the Egyptian colonial period (1821) and hence is at least over 200 years old. In Padang territory in northern Dinka territory east of the Nile among the Dunghol Dinka and north of the city of Malakal, the pyramid of a great ancestor and prominent priest, Ayuong Dit, is located at the holy village of Rukcuk. It

1566-400: Is more honored. However, no one has all cattle that are free of ties." Because of the link between agriculture, wealth, and marriage the Dinka grow a wide variety of crops. During their migrations, the Dinka introduced a new variety of sorghum into southern Sudan. Caudatum sorghum is drought resistant and produces well with very little care. This variety of Sorghum was not grown by tribes in

1653-457: Is powerful. It is the only thing that can speak into your mind, your heart and your soul without your permission." Asked in an interview in a New Statesman magazine article if politics and art should mix, Jal answers: "When there is a need, they should mix. In times of war, starvation, hunger and injustice, such tragedy can only be put aside if you allow yourself to be uplifted through music, film and dance. It can be used to communicate messages to

1740-400: Is said to be the burial place of Ayuel , the culture hero of the Dinka. It is found in what has now become Nuer territory on the southern part of an island formed by the Bahr el-Zeraf and Bahr el-Jebel Rivers (Zeraf Island). Some Dinka myths suggest that Ayuel was killed by external forces beyond his control. Aliab Dinka Parmena Awerial Aluong recounts a different oral history that suggests that

1827-466: Is still entwined with gang culture, drugs, sexual violence, and greed. It's a battleground." His song " 50 Cent " speaks to the successful American rapper to change his violent messages, which have a destructive influence on children, as exemplified through his Bulletproof videogame. "You have done enough damage selling crack cocaine/now you got a 'kill a black man' video game/We have lost a whole generation through this lifestyle/now you want to put it in

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1914-603: Is subdivided into Aguok , Kuac , and many other things, but they speak the same language; only the pronunciation is slightly different. The number of Dinka sub-divisions is contested, as the border between groups, sub-divisions, and sections is blurred and often difficult to determine. The Atuot people can be divided into Apaak and Reel, Bor, Twic, Nyarweng and Hol and Panaruu into Awet and Kuel and Jieng into Ador and Lou. The Dinka people have no centralised political authority. Instead their clans are independent but interlinked. Some traditionally provide ritual chiefs, known as

2001-631: The British Empire in Africa . The British government built the first colonial school in South Sudan , called Princes School, in Tonj in 1944 as a gift to the Jur River (Luo River) chiefs who contributed smoked meat for ally forces during the war in North Africa . This school was headed by Eric Daniel, also known as Makerdit. Additionally, Tonj District was reported to have provided significant support to

2088-418: The British Empire through food logistics. Thousands of bulls and cows were collected from the area to be sent to the war front. Tonj has produced many leaders during the colonial period and after the independence of Sudan and South Sudan , such as William Deng Nhial , Dr. John Garang De Mabior , and Omer Hassien Bashir, who have studied in some of the schools in the town. The town is also ranked as one of

2175-452: The Gezira , reinforcing the significance of their interactions with Nubian cultures. Collectively, these factors support the argument that the ancestors of the Dinka were closely connected to the kingdom of Alwa, shaping their cultural practices and historical trajectory. The Damadim, a group of Africans mentioned by various medieval Arab writers during the 13th century, may have been ancestors of

2262-555: The Nubian traditions of medieval Alodia. These conflicts between the Dinka and the Funj are well-documented in Dinka oral histories, with stories of fierce battles where the Dinka eventually forced the Funj northward, allowing them to establish their sultanate as Sennār , which the Dinka would also raid in the following centuries. Over time, however, the Dinka and Funj developed more complex relations, with Dinka warriors serving as mercenaries in

2349-605: The SPLA and taken to military training camps in the bush in Etwas disguised as a school in front of international aid agencies and UN representatives, but behind closed doors the children were training to fight. Jal spent several years fighting with the SPLA in Ethiopia, until war broke out there too and the child soldiers were forced back into Sudan by the fighting and joined the SPLA's efforts to fight

2436-621: The Tutsi of Rwanda , they are the tallest group in Africa. Roberts and Bainbridge reported an average height of 182.6 cm (5 ft 11.9 in) in a sample of 52 Dinka Agaar and 181.3 cm (5 ft 11.4 in) in 227 Dinka Ruweng measured in 1953–1954. However, the stature of Dinka males later declined, possibly as a consequence of undernutrition and conflicts. An anthropometric survey of Dinka men, war refugees in Ethiopia , published in 1995, found

2523-465: The "Anag", a term used by Spaulding to describe eastern sudanic speaking peoples who were a part of the kingdom of Alodia. Linguistic studies support the idea that the Dinka resided in the Gezira , which was under Alwa's influence before their migration southward, likely due to political upheaval and increased slavery following Alwa's decline in the 13th century. Shared Nilotic traditions, such as human sacrifice and ceremonial regicide, further indicate

2610-479: The "masters of the fishing spear" or beny bith , who provide leadership and are at least in part hereditary. Davies, K., Riddle, T., Johnson, A., & Xiong, C. (2023). Chitin and its derivatives: A review of their applications and potential in various fields. University College London. Retrieved from https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10090610/1/Davies_Kay%20et%20al%20final%20submission.pdf Emmanuel Jal Emmanuel Jal (née Jal Jok , 1 January 1980)

2697-447: The 13th century, with the disintegration of Alodia, the Dinka began to migrate out of Gezira, fleeing slave raids, military conflict, and droughts. Conflict over pastures and cattle raids has been happening between Dinka and Nuer as they battled for grazing land. Dinka migration from Gezira & Alodia The Dinka presence in Alwa suggests a significant historical connection between

Tonj - Misplaced Pages Continue

2784-519: The Christian Kingdom of Alodia's capital, Soba , around 1220 A.D. During this period, they were referred to as the "Tatars of the Sudan" due to their simultaneous raids with the Mongol invasions of Persia . Archaeological evidence from Soba indicates significant destruction, including the looting of burial sites and the destruction of two major churches, possibly tied to the Damadim conquest. Despite

2871-563: The Dinka a large advantage when they introduced them in their southern migration. There was a long series of droughts that plagued Southern Sudan during this time period intensified the reliance on cattle for the people of the region, since livestock are indispensable in bad years when crop failure occurs. The introduction of this new breed by the Dinka was a significant causative factor in the spread of modern patterns of Nilotic pastoralism in Southern Sudan. Eventually these cattle replaced all of

2958-520: The Dinka and other Western Nilotic groups like the Luo peoples . They were reported to live southwest of Alodia, possibly in the Southern Gezira or around the Bahr al-Ghazal and Sobat regions of South Sudan. Stephanie Beswick suggests that the Dinka's ancestors could have been based along the White Nile in the Gezira plains . The Damadim were known for their raids and conquests, notably their sacking of

3045-562: The Dinka and the Kingdom of Alwa . Cultural practices, such as beer-drinking rituals during sowing and harvesting dhurra , reflect similarities to Nubian traditions noted by Ibn Selim el-Assouani, indicating a continuity of influence from Alwa. Historical accounts, including manuscripts from the 18th century, reference the Dinka's ancestral ties to the Alwan Nubians , with early modern Sudanese manuscript writers noting that they are derived from

3132-403: The Dinka are often seen as only pastoralists, they are actually agro-pastoralists. Agriculture plays a very big part in their livelihood, with Sorghum being their most important crop grown. The Dinka also grow okra, sesame, pumpkin, cow peas, maize, cassava, ground nuts, different types of beans, water melons, tobacco and millet. In Dinka society, both genders engage in cultivation, and on big farms

3219-426: The Dinka. The adoption of Sanga and Zebu hump backed cattle was invaluable to the expansion of the Dinka throughout South Sudan. Hump backed cattle were considerably stronger than the previous humpless breeds in southern Sudan and are capable of withstanding long-distance transhumance patterns. Even more importantly, they were less affected by drought. The tribes of south Sudan did not possess these cattle, which gave

3306-581: The Funj provinces, and Dinka merchants engaging in the regional slave trade . Despite these evolving relations, the Dinka continued to expand into western and southern territories, solidifying their presence and dominance in much of modern South Sudan . The Dinka's religions, beliefs, and lifestyle have led to conflict with the Arab Islamic government in Khartoum . The Sudan People's Liberation Army , led by Dinka Dr. John Garang De Mabior , took arms against

3393-654: The Lost Boys include The Lost Boys of Sudan by Mark Bixler, God Grew Tired of Us by John Bul Dau , They Poured Fire On Us From The Sky by Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak and A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park . In 2004 the first volume of the graphic novel Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan was released in Dallas, Texas . This list of Dinka tribal grouping by region. Note that these divisions are further divided into several subdivisions; for example, Dinka Rek

3480-474: The UK. Through his music, Jal counts on the unity of the citizens to overcome ethnic and religious division and motivate the youth in Sudan. After escaping to Kenya, he fell in love with hip hop in the way that it identified issues being faced by the neighbourhood, which he was able to identify with in a unique manner. Although he lacked any music background or knowledge of its history, he felt that hip hop could provide

3567-511: The aged, ill, and nursing mothers migrates to semi-permanent dwellings in the toic for cattle grazing. The cultivation of sorghum , millet , and other crops begins in the highlands in the early rainy season, and the harvest begins when the rains are heavy in June–August. Cattle are driven to the toic in September and November when the rainfall drops off and graze on crop remnants. While

Tonj - Misplaced Pages Continue

3654-518: The capital was to be located in Warrap. Tonj Region was a very large constituency out of which Gogrial emerged, and Abyei Region before 1905 was part of its administration. In the early and late 1990s, the SPLM/A movement fighting the Khartoum regime was in the Tonj Region, around the areas of Thiet, Yinhkuel, Ngabagook, and Mayom Abun. Tonj and Rumbek were used during the war as logistics centers in

3741-592: The cities to rural areas. Some were Christians who had been converted by the Church Missionary Society . Among them were ordained clergymen who began preaching in the villages. Songs and praise were used to teach the mostly illiterate Dinka about the faith. Most Dinka converted to Christianity and are learning to adapt traditional religious practices to Christian teachings. The conversion took place in rural villages and among Dinka refugees country. The Lost Boys of Sudan were converted in significant numbers in

3828-614: The collapse of the Alodian Kingdom and the establishment of the Funj Sultanate in 1504 by Sultan Amara Dunqas, the Dinka, alongside other Nilotic groups like the Shilluk , moved further south, clashing with the Funj and other local populations. Oral traditions and archaeological evidence suggest that the Dinka displaced and absorbed various groups in their path, including the remnants of the Funj people, who were themselves possibly linked to

3915-488: The current state of hip hop culture in the United States. He sees hip hop as a vehicle to communicate an authentic message, rather than a space to pursue street credibility. "As well as simply being great songs, people are really getting into the lyrics, really understanding his message, and he is a great role model." He has expressed concern about the message being sent by American hip-hop artists, saying "American hip hop

4002-498: The custom persisted into the 19th century. The political instability of Alwa coincided with the rise of slave raiding , creating social pressures that may have prompted Dinka migration south. Linguistically , the divergence of the Dinka language from other Western Nilotic languages at the end of the first millennium suggests an established presence in the region prior to major migrations. Lastly, Dinka oral traditions recounting southward migrations align with their historical narrative in

4089-590: The easiest and most effective vehicle to express his story and lobby for political change. He went on to produce his first album, Gua , a mix of rap in Arabic , English, Swahili , Dinka and Nuer . The symbolism of unity is expressed in the title, meaning both "peace" in Nuer and "power" in Sudanese Arabic . His lyrics illustrate the desires of the Sudanese people to return to a peaceful, independent homeland. Although

4176-496: The few Tonj students that shocked South Sudan and East Africa, include: Tito Yak Kuol shocked Kenya in both Kenyan Primary and Secondary Leaving Examinations. Tito Yak attended Harvard College, making him the first south Sudanese to have gone to Harvard College . Emmanuel Malou Deng shocked South Sudanese with his unparalleled performance in the South Sudan Secondary National Examinations by being

4263-426: The fifth best student countrywide. Emmanuel has gone on to attend Columbia College (New York) . Mary Nyanbul Gum shocked both Sudanese, South Sudanese, and Tuony by being the first female South Sudanese to occupy the second position in the entire Sudan in the 2013 Sudan School Certificate of Secondary Education. Nyanbul went on to attend Brown University and graduated College in 2020. Albino Akol Atem also made

4350-605: The fight against the Arabs . Dinka (Muonyjang) communities across South Sudan are well-versed in Wanhalel Dinka Customary Laws (Ganuun Wanhalel); all those laws that are now used to govern Dinka Communities were first drafted and formulated in Wanhalel , Tonj South. Economically, Kalkuel is a very rich region. It has plenty of oil underground waiting to be exploited for the benefit of the general South Sudanese, and most of

4437-439: The forehead with a sharp object. During this ceremony, they acquire a second cow-color name. The Dinka believe they derive religious power from nature and the world around them rather than from scripture. Men and women eat separately. When milk supply is low, children get priority. Children are fed milk from 9–12 months. After about one year, children start eating solid food (porridge). After children turn three, they eat two meals

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4524-488: The former husband. However, those Dinka male members of a clan who possess animals bought with grain, rather than acquired by way of marriage payments, are more honored and given more respect because their wealth is perceived as being more stable. Thus: "this cattle is not returnable and does not have external links and cannot be taken back easily, for example, by divorce. It therefore represents ‘pure property’ derived from labor and this kind of man has much more stable wealth and

4611-645: The game for a little child to play..." "The Roots and Jal set the hip-hop bar higher," wrote The Washington Post in 2008. Emmanuel is a spokesman for the Make Poverty History campaign, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and the Control Arms campaign. In 2008, Jal also got involved in the musical movement of spreading awareness about current slavery and human trafficking by performing various songs for

4698-471: The government in 1983. During the subsequent 21-year civil war , many thousands of Dinka, along with non-Dinka southerners, were massacred by government forces. Since the independence of South Sudan, the Dinka, led by Salva Kiir Mayardit , engaged in a civil war with the Nuer and other groups, who accuse them of monopolising power. In 1983, due to Sudan's second civil war , many educated Dinka were forced to flee

4785-415: The government in the town of Juba . "Many kids there were so bitter, they wanted to know what happened to them. And we all wanted revenge." When the fighting became unbearable Jal and some other children decided to run away. They were on the move for three months, with many dying on the way, until they reached the town of Waat , which was the headquarters of a small group that had separated themselves from

4872-502: The land of their non-Dinka neighbors. According to the Balanda Bviri politician Bandindi Pascal Uru: "The Dinka are good cultivators; they cultivate slowly but surely for hours. When the Dinka leave the business of cattle they take the hoe very seriously." The connection of agriculture and economics to Dinka marriage is important. Grain as well as cattle have been and continue to be used in both bartering and bridewealth payments. Wealth

4959-542: The largest ethnic tribe in South Sudan . The Dinka refer to themselves as Muonyjang (singular) and jieng (plural). The Dinka originated from the Gezira in what became Sudan . In medieval times this region was ruled by the kingdom of Alodia , a Christian , multi-ethnic empire in Nubia . Living in its southern periphery and interacting with the Nubians, the Dinka absorbed a sizable amount of Nubian vocabulary . From

5046-406: The limited sources, the Damadim's movements and activities provide a potential link to the later (western) Nilotic migrations into South Sudan that would occur post-1000 A.D. and are linked with the introduction of humped cattle . The Dinka migrations southward during the 15th to 18th centuries played a crucial role in shaping their territorial dominance in what is now South Sudan . Following

5133-681: The main SPLA. In Waat, Jal met Emma McCune , a British aid worker married to senior SPLA commandant Riek Machar . Jal was only 11 years old then and McCune insisted he should not be a soldier. She adopted him and smuggled him to Kenya . There he attended school in Brookhouse International School in Nairobi . McCune died in a road accident a few months later, but her friends (Madeleine Bunting and Anna Ledgard) helped Jal to continue his studies. However, after McCune died, her husband Machar did not agree with Emmanuel staying with him, and he

5220-433: The mainstream and entering a conformist territory of hip-hop, Emmanuel says ""I'm not turning away from the world-music audience which has supported me," Jal says. "There's still an African influence in my music. I don't try to sound American. I rap like an African, because that's what I am. In the song 'Warchild,' I say I survived for a reason: to tell my story. I believe that. I feel a responsibility to do these songs and tell

5307-517: The majority. In April 2008 Gua Africa was granted full UK charity status and also received an NGO registration in South Sudan. In April 2011 they received NGO status in Kenya. Gua Africa is also one of three beneficiary charities of Emmanuel Jal's 'Lose to Win' challenge, with the other charities being the Africa Yoga Project and MyStart. As a musician, activist and general inspirational figure Emmanuel

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5394-438: The masses and create awareness, to influence the people positively. A perfect example is Bob Marley : his message is still being heard today." Through his heartfelt lyrics, he opens the world up to the corruption and greed of the Sudanese government; central to the themes of his songs is the campaign for peace of opposing sides in Sudan and the clear message that children have no place in wars. He has also passionately criticised

5481-525: The mound remains a center of great sanctity, but is no longer attended with communal gatherings and ritual operations." Dinka refugees were portrayed in works such as Lost Boys of Sudan by Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk and God Grew Tired Of Us , Joan Hechts' book The Journey of the Lost Boys and the fictionalized autobiography of a Dinka refugee, Dave Eggers ' What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng . Other books on and by

5568-410: The mound was built on the orders of Ayuel Longar himself. According to historical accounts there were many years of toil in the early days during which Ayuel, who had reached the Nile and Sobat Rivers, ordered his people to construct a large monument. Some people died in the building of this structure, their bodies adding to the rising edifice. Some Dinka say this mound was built after Ayued's death. Today

5655-543: The oldest and most historical cities in South Sudan. An influential politician from Tonj District, Veteran William Deng Nhial , was among the first ideological South Sudanese intellectuals to have argued for South Sudan's right to freedom. In 1996, when the Arab-based government wanted to create a state for the Gogrial and Tonj Communities, they called it Warrap State . Warrap is another small urban center within Tonj Region, and

5742-591: The only hip hop Jal had ever listened to was American, while he was in Kenya, the beat to "Gua" is not the usual American hip hop, but rather is strongly African. The title track, also called "Gua", was a number one hit in Kenya and featured on The Rough Guide to the Music of Sudan and Help: A Day in the Life , bringing together some of Britain's best known on a CD in aid of children in conflict zones (produced by War Child). His next single, "War Child", mixes rap with soul to produce

5829-401: The pain of what he had experienced. He also became very active in the community, raising money for local street children and refugees . With the encouragement of those around him like Gatkuoth Jal who has also gone through the same experience, Jal became increasingly involved in music and formed several groups. His first single, "All We Need Is Jesus", was a hit in Kenya and received airplay in

5916-444: The people as a monument to his name. A pyramid of stones known as Alel exists in the territory of Western Luaic Dinka in the town of Makuac. This pyramid entombs the body of a prominent Eastern Twic Dinka priest named Kuol Alel who led his people across from the banks of the eastern Nile and in the process of migrating west died in this region. Every year there is a celebration held ar Aled in honor of this prominent leader. The pyramid

6003-454: The periodic flooding and dryness of their surroundings. They begin moving around May–June, at the onset of the rainy season, migrating to their settlements of mud and thatch housing situated above flood level, where they plant their crops of millet and other grains. These rainy season settlements feature other permanent structures such as cattle byres ( luak ) and granaries. During the dry season (beginning about December–January), everyone except

6090-437: The previous humpless breeds. The domestication of caudatum sorghum along with the more durable breeds of cattle introduced into this region of Southern Sudan an economic system of the greatest efficiency in Sudan and East Africa, giving the Dinka a military and political advantage over all other tribes in the region. These integrated systems were able to support population increases in the Bahr el-Ghazal and later expansions towards

6177-651: The profits made from the album will of course be used to support Jal's charities. On 25–27 April 2013, Emmanuel Jal was a featured speaker at "Lessons of the Birmingham Movement: A Symposium on Youth, Activism and the Struggle for Human Rights", hosted by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. Jal will discuss the role of youth activists in current human rights struggles across

6264-426: The refugee camps of Ethiopia . Forces led by the breakaway Riek Machar faction deliberately killed an estimated 2,000 civilians from Hol, Nyarweng, Twic east and Bor and wounded several thousand more over two months. Much of their wealth was destroyed, which led to mass starvation deaths. It is estimated that 100,000 people left the area following the attack. Dinka are noted for their height, and, along with

6351-467: The region and during the 1300s to 1600s great droughts were occurring all over east and southern Africa which caused many former tribes of south Sudan like the Luo to migrate southwards (this drought is recorded in Luo oral history as the "Nyarubanga" famine). The tribes that did not migrate had only the option (if their crops completely died) to be in service of their incoming wealthier Agro-pastoral neighbours like

6438-411: The rivers of Congo , Uganda , Kenya , and Ethiopia drain from an ironstone plateau that belts the regions of Bahr El Ghazal and Upper Nile . The terrain can be divided into four land classes: The ecology of the large basin is unique; until recently, wild animals and birds flourished, rarely hunted by the agro-pastoralists. The climate determines the Dinka's migration patterns, responding to

6525-630: The rockumentary, Call+Response. A documentary about Emmanuel Jal called War Child was made in 2008 by C. Karim Chrobog and Interface Media Group . It made its international debut at the Berlin Film Festival and its North American debut at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the Cadillac Audience Award. An autobiography under the same name was released in 2009. Despite his accomplishments in music, Jal's biggest passion

6612-417: The school, called Emma Academy. Emmanuel Jal's most recent project is a Global Peace campaign called We Want Peace 2012. The project is a steady effort to inform the world that peace is a possibility. That genocide can be prevented through the power of music and activism. His message of peace is cleverly being promoted alongside his second studio album See Me Mama , released 2 October 2012. A percentage of

6699-655: The swampy areas fall within this region between them and Unity State . Toich areas extend from the Konggor area, Lou Ariik, Apuk Padoc, Lou Paher, Thony Amoun Marol, and Luanyjang swampy areas. Tuony also keeps a lot of cattle. When war broke out in 2013, the people of Tonj participated in bringing peace back to South Sudan and defended the constitution and the sovereignty. 1. Mayiik Ayii Deng 2. Awut Deng Acuil 3. Nhial Deng Nhial 4. Gen. Akol Koor Kuc 5. Gen. Alieu Ayieny Alieu 6. Gen. Bol Akot Bol 7. Gen. Magok Magok Deng South Korean Fr. John Lee Tae-seok worked as

6786-741: The very end of the Season 12 episode "There Are No Angels Here" (aired on 4 May 2006). Among other places he performed at the Live 8 Concert in Cornwall in the summer of 2005. He was awarded a 2005 American Gospel Music Award for best international artist. Jal's third album, Warchild , was released by Sonic360 Records in the UK on 12 May 2008. Jal, along with an all-star line-up featuring Amy Winehouse , Eddy Grant , Will Smith and others, performed songs at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday concert at London's Hyde Park on 27 June 2008. Criticized for being steered into

6873-491: The west. Dinka religious beliefs and practices also reflect their lifestyle. The Dinka religion, like most other Nilotic faiths, is polytheistic , but has one creator, Nhialic , who leads the Dinka pantheon of gods and spirits. He is generally distant from humans and does not directly interact with them. The sacrificing of oxen by the "masters of the fishing spear" is central to Dinka religious practice. Young men become adults through an initiation ritual that includes marking

6960-556: The women brew beer and everyone is involved. Before the Sudanese civil wars each household cultivated an average of two acres of sorghum around their homestead along with other crops. An estimated 87% of total calories and 76% of protein by weight are provided by crop production compared with 13% of calories and 24% of protein derived from livestock produce. Today, 83% of all available labor is estimated to be employed in agricultural activities compared with only 17% in livestock husbandry. In recent times, some poor or cattleless Dinka have farmed

7047-452: The women." Today this mound is known as Yik Ayuong. The pyramid of Luak Deng is said to be the "Mecca" of the Dinka and Nuer people and contains the shrine of their deity (and possibly real historical figure) Deng Dit (Deng the Great). It comprises a palisade standing on higher ground near a picturesque pool of water surrounded by ardeiba and suba trees. This pyramid is connected in mythology with

7134-408: The words – half-spoken, half-chanted over a mix of hip-hop and African-flavored choruses – keeps the focus on the story." His second album, Ceasefire , was released in September 2005 and includes a re-recording of "Gua". This album is a collaboration with the well known Sudanese Muslim musician Abd El Gadir Salim and brings together opposing sides of the conflict, and different music traditions, to

7221-469: The world what is happening in my country." Emmanuel Jal's album, See Me Mama , was released on 7 August 2012, via Jal's label, Gatwitch Records. See Me Mama was distributed by Universal Music Canada. His newest album, Naath , a collaboration with his sister Nyaruach , was nominated for the 2019 Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year . Jal aims to protect the childhood of others through music. "Music

7308-532: Was a young child when the Second Sudanese Civil War broke out. His father joined the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). When Jal was roughly seven years old, his mother was killed by Sudanese government soldiers. He then decided to join the thousands of children travelling to Ethiopia seeking education and opportunity. Along the way however, many of the children, Jal included, were recruited by

7395-458: Was cleared of grass, more earth was added to it, and the surface smoothed by women who made stripes along the pyramid with large quantities of durra (flour). This was in preparation for the annual ceremony yairunka baiet, which took place at the pyramid. During the celebrations the people gathered together for communal offerings to the spirit of Ayuong Dit and a “new fire” ceremony was performed in which eight bulls were sacrificed to bring fertility to

7482-469: Was constructed on the site of this priest's luak. The mound was built over the body of this priest who, with his wife and eight bulls, was locked up in their cattle byre by his express orders. District Commissioner Ibrahim Bedri who served during the British colonial period noted that the pyramid "was seventy-five paces in circumference and twenty-six paces along the slope. During the harvest season of each year it

7569-539: Was forced to live in the slums (maybe before he came to Kileleshwa). He stayed in Kileleshwa with other refugees while attending Arboretum Sixth Form College. With the help of a British aid worker (Emma McCune), Jal escaped into Kenya. But even that came with hardships as he lived for years in the slums. But Jal eventually stumbled upon hip-hop and discovered the genre harboured incredible power, both spiritual and political. While studying in Kenya, Jal started singing to ease

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