Photo exhibition on Murle culture and heritage in Juba and Pibor – 2022

Photo exhibition of Murle agesets and scarification at the University of Juba, October 2022.

Photo exhibition on Murle age-sets and scarification in Juba British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr Diana Felix da Costa recently organised a multi-sited photo exhibition on Murle culture and heritage in South Sudan’s capital Juba and in the eastern town of Pibor in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).  The photo series entitled ‘Stories on the… Continue reading Photo exhibition on Murle culture and heritage in Juba and Pibor – 2022

What can the changing tastes in body scarification tell us about the lives and aspirations of Murle youth?

Young man from Kurenen age-set, and from a nyakeno called Koliyam (SPLA) represented by 'South Sudan' inscribed on the body, along with SPLA symbols such as the sign for Division 2 and Division 8. Manyirany, June 2022 (photo by Lauryen Oleyo).

This blog post posted in the Rift Valley Institute’s (RVI) website discusses how the Murle social institution of age-sets (sometimes known as generations) has, in recent years, been fragmenting and is becoming increasingly militarized. Body scarification is a valuable lens through which to view these transformations, as well as a way to better understand individual… Continue reading What can the changing tastes in body scarification tell us about the lives and aspirations of Murle youth?

Murle understandings of friendship – a personal account

Friends from Lanngo age-set on their way to a dance, Lotilla River, April 2015

Written by MK, contributor from Pibor Murle are very proud of their rich culture and will go miles to maintain it. Friendship, in Murle language known as ‘langotizet‘, has always been central to Murle culture and that can be seen also through how the very important social institution of the age-sets is experienced and lived.… Continue reading Murle understandings of friendship – a personal account

Introduction to Lanngo Age-set

Lanngo youth with scarifications of AK-47s, to reflect his sub-group. Kong Kong River, Pibor May 2015

By Lauryen Oleyo Lanngo Age-set is one of the Murle Age-sets that emerged from Bothothnya Age-set in 2005-2015. The defection of Lanngo Age-set first started from Irit village/Boma in Greater Kubal region (Gumuruk County) and spread to other Bomas within Greater Kubal from 2005-2007. They were firstknown as Nuknuknya and later they had to change… Continue reading Introduction to Lanngo Age-set

Introduction to Bothothnya age-set

By Lauryen Oleyo Bothothnya age-set first emerged in 1999/2000 and spread through Greater Pibor over those years eventually reaching the last place of Boma in 2006. The idea of forming a new age-set was first discussed secretly in 1998 by some of the younger members of the younger part of Titi, known as Jiri, from… Continue reading Introduction to Bothothnya age-set

Introduction to Kurenen age-set

By Lauryen Oleyo Kurenen (meaning deer in Murle) are currently the youngest age-set in Murle that emerged in 2013/14 in Kongor and spread to other areas and was eventually accepted in Pibor 2017. They are not yet present in Boma. The age-set chose the giraffe (Thagot) as their token animal, for its beauty, humility and… Continue reading Introduction to Kurenen age-set

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