Traditional Leaders Profiles
Owor Ngot Ojang Odol, Assistant to the King of the
Anyuak
‘We can’t talk
about unity of the South when our own tribe is scattered.’
Unlike the other members of the delegation, Owor Ngot Ojang
Odol is not middle-aged, and not an authority of any kind;
nor does he live in Sudan. In ordinary life, he is a university
student in Johannesburg, studying theology and law. But for
the moment he serves as a member of the household of the Anyuak
king, assisting His Majesty while he is away from his court.
‘The King’s father and my father were very close,
and it is an honour for me to serve.’
As a displaced Sudanese, Owor’s story is sadly familiar.
He’s unsure of his exact age, with official records
indicating his birth in 1972. The youngest of 9 brothers,
7 have passed away; 3 during the war, 4 others of natural
causes. Originally from Pochalla, Owor went north in 1984
in pursuit of education. ‘I attended evening school
at St. Peter & Paul [in Khartoum]. I worked during the
day and went to school at night. It was hard,’ he recalls.
Greater challenges were ahead. ‘I objected to [compulsory]
military training, so I decided to go to Ethiopia during my
school holidays. 2 people died on the back of that truck.
My family insisted I should go to Khartoum, but along with
everything else it was too much to live in Khartoum. The radio
news was abusive. There was no freedom, I felt bad.’
An able student, Owor managed to get a scholarship from the
Presbyterian Church. ‘But they said I should go to teach
in a refugee camp. I didn’t like them dictating what
I should do, so I left the sponsorship.’ 3 months later
he was in South Africa.
By proxy, Owor is frustrated by the lack of opportunity for
young Sudanese like himself. ‘What is the fate of all
of us – let us just go to school!’ And so he did,
and is now in his 2nd year of an LLB degree.
By 2005, Owor wanted to return to Sudan to see for himself
the situation in Pochalla. He taught for a month in a church
leadership training program, and returned again in 2006 to
participate in further training sessions. He recognizes the
position from which he starts. ‘Even the ox-plough is
not there yet. We need the assistance of other educated Anyuak
to build relationships.’ Does he feel different, having
lived outside the Anyuak community? ‘What I can say
is good about the Anyuak today is unity, unity in suffering,
in good time or bad time. What is bad is hostility in the
Anyuak, our pride that we are the chosen people, that other
tribes are unclean – low rates of intermarriage. I am
torn about whether to follow the traditional way of marriage.
What is oppressive, to do away with?’
And how does he feel about the monarchy, the king? ‘He
has to bring the unity. Sometimes, I feel he feels isolated.
How will system conflicts be resolved – devolving power?
Peace has come. What should we do?’
‘For me the issue is not having independence or unity.
Rather, how can we have a system of opportunity for all? I
think if we can get better lawyers in South Sudan, or better
theologians…we don’t need a chaotic freedom. My
interests are to get my being a human being.’
