Chief Ngantho on origins of red chiefs and Ngaroti clan

Post prepared by Johnson Kengen Ababal guzul zɔna ee aze guzul zarɛ Akun rɛna ee akunai zɛɛm ci baba ee bal azi baba nɛ alam guzul ci loro o baba nyumur ee anyek kidoŋ korok o tobak kidoŋ cava This song, by the late paramount chief Ngantho Kavula from Dorongwa age-set, is about a hyena… Continue reading Chief Ngantho on origins of red chiefs and Ngaroti clan

A brief life history of Sultan Ismael Konyi

Sultan Ismael Konyi is for many people the greatest Murle leader that has ever lived. He was one of the most prominent political, military and spiritual leaders of the Murle community, until he passed away age the age of 80 in Juba on the 10th March 2021. Over his long life, he successfully drew upon… Continue reading A brief life history of Sultan Ismael Konyi

Murle proverbs and popular knowledge

Cattle grazing in Kong Kong River, Pibor May 2015

Proverbs are windows into the popular knowledge of a society. Several Murle language everyday expressions reveal the intrinsic importance of cattle in Murle society. This post, continuously updated with proverbs, presents and explains some of these expressions, related to cattle but also to other popular knowledge. When an elder greets youth, he will often say… Continue reading Murle proverbs and popular knowledge

Former paramount chief ŋantho Kavula on Murle origins and unity

Ngantho Kavula was the paramount chief for Pibor until his death in December 2013 in Juba, a victim of what was to become a civil war affecting all of the country. Originally from Kongor in Likuangole, he was a respected leader from Dorongwa age-set. In the recordings below, he shares his thoughts on the origins… Continue reading Former paramount chief ŋantho Kavula on Murle origins and unity

The power of Murle song and of pastoralism

The significance of cattle and resilience of pastoralism ‘When I was born I found cows around. The keeping and dying of cows is as important as human beings, there is no difference. The cow was sent by God from heaven to us, it was thrown down to us from heaven. The colour of the first… Continue reading The power of Murle song and of pastoralism

Laango age-set dance

This video clip shows a small group of boys and young men from the Laango age-set dancing in a cattle-camp along the Kong-Kong River, Pibor county May 2015. This video is not the popular style of Murle dancing, nor do Laango themselves often dance this way. This dance style is used along with a song… Continue reading Laango age-set dance