Bortown Through a Pinhole

Suspicion and declining trust. The civil population of South Sudan is subjected to unconditional conflict through politics of interest by political elites. Despite the suffering, South Sudanese are still humbly resilient.

Chol Mayol Jok is the pride of Bortown Source: Peter Ajak

Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and Bortown of Jonglei State are distinctive. The former is engulfed by fear of government agencies and the later more restless but with a sense of community. You can walk at night in Bortown, whereas, in Juba, second thought is a wise decision. Bortown is a promising place with potentials to be a most liveable city in South Sudan. That is, if development is given a chance.

Business precinct in Bortown Source: Peter Ajak

Modernisation is a threat to people of Jonglei State and among masses of South Sudanese. The semi-nomadic Jiëëng tradition is at intersection and could fall in the hand of ill equipped modernity.  It is incapable of transition South Sudanese to a self-sustaining communities, this is the case in Bortown and in the Capital, Juba. 

 Resilience among South Sudanese is enticing. Chol Mayol Jok. A Tuony Geu farmer, at outskate of Bortown, is literally a pride of Bortown. The man is loved by his chickens and doves. This is Chol Mayol  feeding his birds. his hard working habit is threaten by political and tribal unrest. only peace will bless his determination.

 

Chol feeding his birds at home Source: Peter Ajak

Sense of humour Jis fundamental to Jiëëng. Dogs and cattle are the two domestic animals Jiëëng people give name to. Cattle names are humbling whereas dogs’ names are quirky and jaw-dropping.

  Cattle are prestigious and normally pampered with humbling names of shared wisdom, reflective of life style.

 Here are few names:

     Paanadhëng (Home-of-humbles)

       Gëlbuur (Preventing-poverty)

Chol Mayol Jok at his farm Source: Peter Ajak

Not all cattle names are humbling. It is tempting for an owner to have a go at others by giving their cattle names such as Nyinrier, (Shameless as an encoded meaning. Or, could literally translate to fearlessness).

 Dog names are insightful. They range from self-pity to shaming others.

Here are the few:

• ŋa-cie-bɛny (who-is-not-a-leader)
  
  
• Cïn-tiɛl-wut (Hatred-had-no-community)
  
  
• Ŋa-dhɛ̈l-nhialic (who-is-looking-down-on-Good)
  
  
• Cië-tiɛl-gut (Hatred-end)
  
  

  You just can’t be in Bortown and not visit Wath-Nyok-Agany, a Bortown harbour. Across the Nile River is beautiful scenic view beaded by wild papyrus plants.

Wath-Nyok-Agany Source: Peter Ajak

Bortown is a wonderful place, not yet developed (a city of dirt roads), but with a lot of culture. It is simply a wonderful place to capture with pride and peace at heart even at difficult times.