By Chantelle Tindall
An interesting evening of nostalgia was held at the Chuck Gallery by the organisers of the Manchester Sudanese Tree Development Community. One immediately sensed the immense feeling of pride and joy from founder Mr. Daniel Yupet who gave a talk on the Manchester South Sudanese Oral History Project. The aim is to educate young people about the environment and also to teach them about their African heritage. The project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.
According to him, the idea for this project arose because he and other elders in the Southern Sudanese community realised that their culture, history and tradition, if not kept alive, will be lost. It appears that the younger generation is not aware or interested in knowing their ancestral origins. They do know about their country of origin and they visit now and again but have no idea how their parents lived before moving over to the Western world.
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The perfect venue with the right ambiance set the pace for a lecture with not just talk but also visual artefacts from South Sudan itself. Step by step, the host took each one of us on a journey through time. Each artefact had its own story and uses. He explained that they symbolised the beginning of life and how information is passed on to members of the community. In describing how these artefacts were used, he sometimes aroused fits of laughter from the audience, or surprise, as it was all fresh information that was worth being informed about.
Artefacts were wide ranging. The wooden sticks (Lofraga) were used for stirring food like fufu and porridge, the staple food of the people. The Ku'bi is a woven raffia instrument which doubles as a sieve for rice, maize etc., and is also used as a shade to protect children from the sun. On display were arrows, spears, talking drums, African xylophone and much more. It was very clear to see the parallels between South Sudan and other African cultures. The xylophone is a musical instrument synonymous to the Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom people of Southern Nigeria. The Lofraga also serves the same purpose as it does in all Nigerian homes. Not just for cooking but to discipline naughty children as well. The talking drum has the same purpose in Ghana. Both used for entertainment and to capture people's attention for important meetings and announcements.
Furthermore, Mr. Yupet explained the use of arrows and spears. One immediately assumes that arrows are only for hunting or used as weapons during war time. However, he was keen to explain that arrows and spears were very vital in the payment of bride prices as this had been the tradition of his people. He also stated that 500 arrows of different sizes were the equivalent of 10 cows. Presently these arrows are very rare to find due to the war - as most historical objects were lost. He also stated with joy, narrating how his eldest sister's bride price was paid with arrows which was a complete change to what is obtainable today.
Fire has always been very important to humans and it was no different back in South Sudan. It was important for cooking as well as social gatherings of the community at night time. Families gathered around the fire to not only keep warm but to listen to folk-lore told by the elders. The elders in the community are well respected and regarded for their in-depth wisdom - especially their knowledge of the forest. Listening to the elders’ advice is very important when in the forest as they not only know which trees, leaves, and barks that can be used for curing illness; but can also decipher those that are poisonous and harmful to human lives. Treating the elderly with respect is a must in all African cultures.
Mr. Yupet also explained the mode of transportation in bygone ages. They had boats for fishing and transportation. They also used elephants for the same purpose and surprisingly for wars. He was keen to note that Africa was already advanced. In the 1800's, members of the Ugandan community were already using cesarean section to deliver babies. They used banana wine to sterilize instruments used as well as an anaesthetic to help numb the pain.
Corruption, de-centralisation, falsified stories, political autonomy, warring tribes against each other: the Dinkas who are the majority and the Nuers; all define the modern era that caused displacement and hardship on the people.
He further discussed about South-Sudanese authors notably, Professor Peter Tingwa who was a colleague, to other well-known African writers like Chinua Achebe and Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Not only was he an author but an artist also. He was so vocal against the government and its treatment of the people that he was forced to escape the country. He is still alive today.
The young participants took part in the Q&A that was organised by Mr. Chukwudi Onwudiwe the owner of Chuck Gallery. There was the positive message for the youth to be proud of their heritage no matter where they find themselves. The importance of close knit families was also touched upon - as it seems to be slowly getting lost in the busy Western world.
Mr. Alex Rama Muka spoke about the effect negative images of Africa have on the youth. Stating that the news does very little to help and this in turn makes the youth shy away from being proud of their heritage. Furthermore, he spoke of the loneliness: stating that in Africa "a problem shared is half solved," but in the UK, it is sometimes more difficult to share problems because of loneliness. He intimated the young audience on the fact that back in South Sudan and other parts of Africa, one's problems is not theirs alone. There are always people in the community who help mediate and settle issues in times of trouble whilst his experience in the UK is the opposite. One could sense the feeling of nostalgia and longing, in his voice. He advised that events such as the Oral History Project should be held frequently not just for South Sudan but all across the African community in the UK to keep the youth more informed about their heritage.
The Q&A session got the youth engaging, speaking about their own life experiences between two continents. Sophie shared her childhood with us. Where most people believe Arabic languages are synonymous with the Middle-East, she said it was the general spoken language in South Sudan. She attended school and church services all conducted in Arabic. It was only after leaving South Sudan that she studied the English language and Swahili in Kenya.
Young Grace Foni Josephine on holiday from Finland spoke of her lack of confidence due to being very dark-skinned but she was encouraged by the adults to be proud of her looks and most especially her heritage.
Another youth, Safwat who moved from Kenya to the UK at the age of 7 spoke of his inability to let go of his memories of Africa for over 7 years after he arrived the UK. He spoke of childhood memories very dear to him and of a longing to go back. Whenever he goes back, he hopes that his Africa is just the way he left it. All bottled up and brought back to the UK with him. Dressed in African attire, it is clear to see he is one young man proud to be African.
The Manchester South Sudan Oral History Project gave a great account of itself. Everyone present shared in Safwat's pride upon leaving, all feeling a little more connected to Africa and looking forward to projecting the continent and her heritage to the world.