Indeed; it has been my first time to be and to experience this night mare with a group of my friends and brothers at the river bank of Khor Rumla, Juba 18/Dec/2020. This happened due to a task entrusted to all Lohutok Youth in Juba by the elders (Monyiemiji) to soak hides for drums making. It was a great command and orders for every youth around or else, one may have to pay 10,000 SSP in his absence, this therefore gave a panic to some of us to at least be there in person.
However; it’s seemed to be like a picnic, where all every drinks were organized where big fire was set and people had to sit in a circle around the fire. This therefore recalled of a one time picnic we had in with my white friends in Lohutok. But what makes difference from this is because there was no food but all (soft and hard) drinks.
However; it’s seemed to be like a picnic, all kinds of drinks were organized where big fire was set and people had to sit in a circle around the fire. This therefore recalled me of a one time picnic we had in Lohutok with my white friends. But what makes difference from this is because there was no food but all (soft and hard) drinks.
At 8:00pm Before every things were done; two delegates were sent by the monyiemiji (elders) so to confirm and witness the number and how we have deepened the hides in the river to wet up. We started our first brief meeting where everyone was called around the big fire at around 10:00pm. The delegates sent emphasized mostly on security Matters on how to peacefully stay through the night, check one another, taking turns in sleeping, avoid fighting, avoid noise through all the dark night and regular checkup of the hides in the water after every an hour, to avoid drowning and being eaten by the crocodiles.
Rules and regulations were also collected in order for everyone to know in case if one is mistaken or violated the gathering principles. It was so amazing to witness encouragement speeches from different friends, others were young and others were old, But what United us was a common activity as youth of the same community and the call for the task.
11:30pm; There! Drinks were supplied according to choices and preferences, about three quarters of us based on hard (hot drinks) of different types and taste, while a quarter were for soda. Therefore! Drinking goes as noise increases, those who were for soda came close to another to interact and share stories, what a beautiful night to look at the fire and its sparks. The stories from one another becomes interesting despite the interruption from the other brothers who got a bit drunk, otherwise; it was harmonious because they accepted to play according to rules of the gathering (no violence).
Just more and more visits to the river and swimming at 2:14am; it became more and intensely cooler that it was, I shivered and my teeth gnashes. This reminded me of some pieces of blankets that I brought in my bag, I had to go next to the fire while my body cover in the blanket in order to get warm.. As around the fire, I could not bare the too much hums of discussions and mostly slangy talks. I had to pull my mat and moved fifty meters away with some sober brothers to sleep.
As I felt sleepy; I asked my prayers for the night protection all through the remaining time. Meanwhile; the shouting increases that made the rule of no shouting broken, tongues after tongues near the fire, too much self challenges to wrestle one another. I could not even continue sleeping added with too much mosquitoes bites. Just thirty minutes later; One of the Elder brought a mosquito repellent which rescued us. I went into deep sleep till 5:00am. So a friend came and woke me up to brash and go for another swimming till 5:47am. Exactly at 6:00am we gathered together to finalize with a closing meeting of thanking one another for the effort well done. Finally; a preparation to carry out the hides from the water and to be relocated to a nearby big tree for the monyiemiji to come and continue with their work during day time. We immediately left and gone to our various residents, up to 4:00pm, the work was done and drums were made..
Thanks to Lohutok Community-Juba
Will-Iam Brown
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