‘A death of a civilian is better than that of a soldier’: remembering the struggle for South Sudan, and living in it now

On 22nd December 2018 I left Wau for my home village in Gogrial State. It is about three and half hours’ drive on rough road to the nearest market to my home, and then another twenty minutes’ drive to my father’s home. Upon my arrival I met an old spear master (bäny bith) who was paying a courtesy visit to my father. Bäny bith are powerful, spiritual, Dinka authorities who can heal and curse. My father and his bäny bith had a long history of friendship and are also related through a shared ancestor seven generations ago.