Rod of Nuer prophet to arrive Juba by mid-May
By James Gatdet Dak
May 8, 2009 (JUBA) – The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has confirmed that a historical cultural artifact taken from South Sudan to England in 1920s is expected to be brought back to Juba by mid-May.
The rod, known as dang in Nuer language, belonged to Ngundeng Bong who was believed to be a prophet by many in the region.
Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar confirmed to the GoSS cabinet meeting on Friday that it would be brought to Juba on 16th May next week; a ten-day delay after the previous announcement of 5th May by Ngundeng’s family members.
Ngundeng Bong, who was born in late 1830’s and died peacefully in 1906, was believed to have connections with divinity among the Nuer and some other tribes in South Sudan because of his foretold prophesies which they believed to be divine and being fulfilled.
Machar explained that the dang (rod) was taken precisely in 1927 by the colonial British administration and ended up in London where it was kept since that time.
He said it was recently put on sale in England, but was recovered after the British national, Professor Douglas Johnson, alerted the Government of Southern Sudan about the fate of the historical artifact.
Dr. Douglas Johnson, who lived and worked in Sudan for the last 40 years, is the author of the book, ‘Nuer Prophets: A History of Prophesy from Upper Nile in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries’ in which he wrote about Ngundeng’s birth, lifetime and some of his prophesies.
He also served as consultant for the semi-autonomous GoSS on demarcation process of the North-South boundaries.
It was not clear whether the Government of Southern Sudan bought back the artifact or the British government simply agreed to give it back to South Sudan.
Dr. Douglas is expected to bring the dang in person to Juba. The artifact will be received by the Minister of Culture, Albino Akol Akol, among other senior government officials and community elders.
GoSS officials also discussed the location in which the rod would be kept for safety reasons until a concrete permanent national museum is built.
The Prophet’s headquarters called Bieh (pyramid) in Waat, Jonglei state and Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, were suggested as possible locations.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Luka Tombekana Monoja, further explained that the Prophet’s dang is a national historical artifact for the people of South Sudan and should be kept at the Government headquarters in Juba.
A celebration would later on be organized at Bieh in Jonglei state by Ngundeng’s family where many clans elders from the Nuer community in particular and other South Sudanese communities in general would be invited to attend.
(ST)
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