Ngok Lual Yak

Ngok Lual Yak is a sub-tribe, within the Jiëŋ (Dinka) group. They are mainly found in Malakal, South Sudan and inhabit the land along the confluences of the rivers Nile and Sobat. It is believed that there are about 95,000 Ngok Lual Yak members. They are very devoted ethnics and believe in Deŋdit as their provider.

Brief history

Early history

In the 17th century, it was believed that the People of NgokLand, the Ngok Lual Yak came to the shore of River Nile from the other side of the Lower Nile River. Coming from the west moving to east, they came to control the whole region of the Upper Nile River, Pushing out the Funj and Jur, the Achol Eliot (Acholi?). In 18 centuries with the arrival of the Nuer, Lual Yak together with his Generational Age-group and Ngok at large was forced to evacuate some areas, like Gaak-yuom in Bor, Jokou in Gajaak, Pakoop in Ayuaal, Pabiech in Kongoor and Piny-Wuut. Push by Nuer along River Sobat into the mouth of River Nile in Malakal, the people of Ngok Lual Yak became the native owners of the land which runs from Malakal to Dome (Dömë), Dini and Abwong (Abɔ̈ŋ) Cheng Nyankiir along the River Sobat into River Nile in Malakal. The NgokLand People lived in two systematical Division groups, namely Yom and Weny. With each group being further divided into Section and again into subsections together they form a group of people known as "Ngok Lual Yak". Ngok Lual Yak People Owned NgokLand as their distinct soil, they had a skillful traditional culture and a close spiritual bond with the land they thrived in. Early NgokLand settlers were experts in hunting, fishing, farming, grazing and were skillful in spear and stick fighting. NgokLand ownership was for the people, by the people of Ngok Lual Yak.

People, land and early immigration

Ngok Lual Yak as a group is an olden Original Jieng Group. Jieng before expandable become today was in a one family form of a one-man name Deng with his wife Abuk. One of the myth tells that Deng after his mythical death turn to be an unreasonable phenomena, thus deriving jieng to be worshipping Deng as commonly known today as Dengdit across the categories of Jieng. Another myth also explains that Deng as a rain is regarded as the main source that generate water, which cause the crops to grow, in which the Jieng People feed on deserve to be honored thus turn out to be the God which the Jieng worship. Facts about the Dengdit as God who jieng worship is yet to be known, but Likewise to the biblical story of a human being named Adam and Eve. Deng and Abuk are the twin Zygote of Husband and wife of Jieng Origin. Deng and Abuk are also the very immediate family where Ngok People came out from. After a period of many years, the groups came into being. Emerging out from the family blood line as a group, Ngok Lual Yak as a tribe branched out of Jieng group as one of the blooded family and stake out its own historical line. Expanding far from its existence under circumstance of it Rulers, Generations and Spiritual norms, Ngok Lual Yak converged into the following groups. The NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak are categorized as Follow;

Ngok Lual Yak groups

• Yom
• Weny

Yom group

Tol

• Awier
• Baliet

Yom

• Duut
• Balak
• Dhiaak

Weny group

Paan Man Gok

• Ajuba
• Adong

Paan Man Weny

• Abiei
• Ngaar
• Achaak
• Jook
• Diing

Other Ngok groups

Ngok as the name is linkingly used by the NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak. However, it is part of the biggest chain of the other Groups of Ngok. Other group like Ngok de Jook. Historically Ngok is an umbrella name for the other different group, including the NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak. Following are the other group of Ngok.

The following Ngok Groups are either Historical related or partly blood related Group. Out of these Groups, some are commonly known as the Pan Ayuel Jeel Family.

Earlier Ngok group, according to history of immigration

Ngok de Jok Group

• Ngok de Jok

Ruweeng

• Paanaruu
• Aloor
• Paweny

Dongjol

• Nyiel
• Ageer
• Abilang
• Padang Hol
• Nyarweng

Marbek

• Hol
• Luac
• Duaar
• Angaach
• Rut & Thoi

NB; Ruweng, are presently counted as independent Groups due to their population expansion but as far as their history goes back, it is a long times century Group which emerged out from Ngok. So originally, Ruweng are part of Ngok Groups.

Geographical Map of Ngok Group resettlement distributions

Ngok Lual Yak 2011 - 2013

People, Land and Distributed Residency

Geographical Sites

NgokLand is an area on the River Sobat from Dome to Baliet and from Akoka to Renk on the eastern side of the white nile including Melut and Paloc. The Geographical Landscape of NgokLand runs from to the eastern part of Sobat River. Majority, and mostly People of the NgokLand lived along River Sobat than along River Nile in Baliet. These daily of living along River Nile was so due to recent civil wars of 1955 and 1983. The NgokLand also include Baliet, Dakjur (Adong), Tubuu, Gel Dhiaak, Abwong (Abɔ̈ŋ), Gel Achol and to Dome (Dömë) up to Abwong Cheng Nyankiir. NgokLand features are easy to go around them; they have a lot of many broad tree lines and a surrounded pastoral grassland within Central area. As it is along the River, there are a lot of many tributaries dividing the Land. And like there could be River Sides, most People of NgokLand are living on the Western bank of the River. Traditionally, most part of the Western bank of the River was the domain influential for the earlier NgokLand Settlers. It is also the most olden prestigious heritage of the NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak.

Populations and resettlement

The exact Population number of NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak is not realistically known, but with approximation, it is to be estimated at 80-95, 000 (not confirmed) back in the 1950s. Long before the war, Weny was believed to be Majority but now between Yom and Weny no one knows who are the Majority. By resettlement, the NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak are categorized as Follow;

Ngok Lual Yak Groups

• Yom
• Weny

Yom group

Tol

• Awier
• Baliet

Yom

• Duut
• Balaak
• Dhiaak

Weny group

Paan Man Gok

• Ajuba
• Adong

Paan Man Weny

• Abiei
• Ngaar
• Achaak
• Jook
• Diing

Climate

NgokLand seasons are different to the Southern hemispheres'. February, March late April are the hottest months and are called the Summer Seasons. The Rainy Season is from Mid May to the full month of October. And from August to Earlier October is an Autumn (not confirm). Spring is from May to July (not confirmed). Winter is in early November, December to late January.

Government and politics

• (i) - South Sudan National Government

The government of South Sudan is on Central System with ten states and a Headquarter in Juba. The SPLA/M's dominant ruling party is a transforming Rebel Group. Emerging from the War of 21 years, the ruling is under a Leadership of a Jieng man named Salva Kiir Mayaardit. From all ten states of South Sudan, the SPLA/M owned the majority number of seats in the State as well as in the National Government. Currently under the Leadership of Salva Kiir, the NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak have one MP in the National Government and many Ranked Generals within the Military, the SPLA. Logically, SPLA/M was not a formidable rebel group. People like Salva Kiir, the current ruling president is just a pure product of random undirected event.

• (ii) - South Sudan State Government

Before November 2011, NgokLand People were well off represented at the State level of Upper Niles. However, during the 2010 election, then falls apart and the representation of the NgokLand People drop, Leaving them no any MP at the Upper Nile State level in Malakal. Hopefully, if the election occurs again, they may reach and gain back the representing seats.

Religion

Statistically the most majority numbers of People in NgokLand are Christians. Protestant Churches emerged a long time ago in 1900. Among of them is the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, PCOS. Also Catholic and Trinity exist plus minor non-believers who adhered to their traditional deeds.

Language or dialect

Specifically Jieng do not have a language, but a dialect, hence whatever dialect each & every group of jieng speak, it term as their language. The NgokLand People of Ngok Lual Yak speak in Jieng language in their own vocals. Since from the time the first NgokLand settlers arrived, Jieng as a Language was being used. Verbal speaking was a mean of communication. By 1930s, the writing mean of letters in Jieng came into being with the arrival of Europeans Settlers. Characters like ŋ, NY, Y & NH were represented as Jieng letters. Thoŋ de Jiëŋ as a language's now becoming unintelligible due to its poor teaching to the kids and the influential use of other foreign languages. During an earlier days, Jieng language was spoken on a regular basis and accurately taught to children as an identity of the next generations.

Currency

Before South Sudan seceded, the Dinar currency was in use in NgokLand. But after the printing of South Sudan currency, Dinar was phased out and the pound becomes the currency in use. There are different types of pound currency e.g. 100 SSPd, 50 SSPd, 25 SSPd, 20SSPd, 10SSPd, 5SSpd and 1SSPd. No 5cts or 50cts but price can be set at these odd currency. Sellers price up or down to avoid 5cts or 50ct value. "This is very cunning, but work in a business market within South Sudan"

Telephone networks

The area code for South Sudan is +211. You can dial this number when calling from outside NgokLand. +09 is a Regional code to call elsewhere within South Sudan or to NgokLand. A Zain owned Company is the phone network system operating in NgokLand. Zain offered Regional, National and international call services within NgokLand. According to competition pressure over other phone system. Zain Network offers distinctive specials to various destinations. In terms of Receptions compare to Vivacell, MTN and Gemtel, Zain's coveragable to any area in NgokLand. Thus be on Zain!

References

• Composed Traditional Songs
• Ngok Lual Yak History - 2001, Kakuma
• Chol Kiir Akol Malakal interchat - 2012, NgokLand
• (Ethnics Distribution) IMU OCHA South Sudan - 24/12/2009
• Common Traditional Tale History of Origin - NgokLand 2012