My brothers, I read this article by Ngugi and felt fasinated by it. I am sure you will like it. Does this apply to us in south Sudan? Please tell me.
Characteristics of African Big man (leader) by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o
"His face is on the money. His photograph hangs in every office in his realm. His ministers wear gold pins with tiny photographs of him on the lapels of their tailored pin-striped suits. He names streets, football stadiums, hospitals and universities after himself. He carries a silver-inlaid ivory mace or an ornately carved walking stick or a fly whisk or a chiefly stool. He insists on being called "doctor" or "conqueror" or "teacher" or "the bigh elephant" or "the number-one peasant" or "the wise old man" or "the national miracle" or "the most popular leader in the world." His pronouncements si reported on the front page. He sleeps with the wives and daughters of powerful men in his government. He shuffles ministers without warning, paralysing policy decisions as he undercuts pretenders to his throne. He scapegoat minorities to shore up popular support. He bans all political parties except the one he controls. He rigs elections. He emasculates on courts. He cows the press. He stiffles academia. He goes to church.
His off-the-cuffs remarks have the power of law. He damands reaching changes in the constitution. He blesses his home region. with highways, schools, hospitals, housing, projects, irrigation schemes and a presidential mansion. He packs the civil service with is tribemen. He awards uncompettive, overpriced contracts to foreign companies which grant him, his family and his associates large kickbacks. He manipulates price and import controls to weaken profitable businesses and leave them vulnerable to takeover at bargain prices by his business associates. He affects a commitment to free-market economic reform to secure multi-million-dollar loans and grants from teh World Bank and International Monetary fund (IMF). He espouses the political philosophy of whatever foreign government gives him the most money.
He is-- and he makes sure that he is known to be-- the richest man in the country. He buys off rivals by passing out envelopes of cash or import licences or government land. He questions the patriotism of the few he can not buy, accusing them of corruption or charging them with "serving foreign masters". His enemies are harassed by "youth wingers" from the ruling party. His enemies are detained, or exiled, humiliated or bankrupt, tortured or killed. He uses resources of the state to feed a cult of personality that defines him as incorruptible. all-knowing, physically strong, courageous in battle, sexually potent, and kind to children. His cult equates his personal well-being with the well-being of the state. His rule has one overriding goal: to perpetuate his reign as Big Man."
I could say the politicians or leaders in that matterwe have in southern Sudan, non them haven't met what I have quoted here "He blesses his home region with highways, schools, hospitals, housing, projects, irrigation schemes and a presidential mansion. He packs the civil service with is tribemen. The areas where our politicians/leaders come from are in dire of the above services. Soutern Sudan don't even have one highway leave alone things like housing projects.
The writer is a Kenyan and he might be referring to one of his country man.
Thanks
Tong Deng
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This article is not about leaders of south Sudan, it is not about Kenyan leaders either, it concerns all leaders of the "sick continent of Africa". We don't have leaders in south Sudan yet, but when we get them, they will not be immune from the common sickness of our continent. They will in fact be worst than leaders described here because tribalism is at its peak in South Sudan. Take example of John Garang, though he was just a rebel leader, he made sure that majority of SPLA top men came from his home district of Bor. He made sure that all fat positions in the SPLA/M are held by men from his home district of Bor, he made sure that every song sang in south Sudan including children songs has his name mention in it, he made sure that he makes long speeches than any other south Sudanese, he made sure that he is the right in every situation, he made sure that his opposers are portrayed as nyigats or enemies of people. What are you telling me brother Tong? Do you think I am new to Southern Sudanese affairs or what? Southerners will soon crown John Garang into an invincible king, you will see what he will do to his home district in ten years time. If you don't find national universities and other national stuffs such as hospitales in his home town, I will not be uncle-Dengdit again. I give you my words my brothers, we shall both be in Mading Aweil. If John Garang continues to lord his ideas on southerners without interruption, I tell you, five years from now the entire civil services will be packed to the brim by is home mates, believe me. Why must it be that? Because he is a leader in African country where personal rule is order.
It is true the writer was a Kenyan, his descriptions of an African's big men resambles that of his countrymen. In fact the south has ever had anyone who made his/her home more developed compare to other areas of the south Sudan, as you correctly put it. The south with its all regions or states is still Languishing on poverty, and still at it best on top of the most remote and underdevelop areas of the world. However, we do in fact have people that would fit the descriptions given here and can even beat this description, if they stand any chance to become soverign in their own rights. The South, may even have more dangerous than the characters discribed here. But, there is only one hope - South Sudan is a wrong country for anyone to adopt this characteristics. Yes, one can serve 15 yrs in power, name the roads, bridges, schools, universities, hospitals etc. after himself, like Kenyatta of Kenya. Another, can serve 24 yrs after the natural death of the mortal father of the nation, do the same as the former and name the leftovers after his name, build his own burial place to beat the computerised burial of his predecessor, try to hand-pick one after another to safe the party from waning (if the constitution says you cannot stand for fith term), wait for humilating defeat in the elections, and whatever that suits cowards. But, all these practice if it were to repeat itself in the South Sudan, I bet it would take less than 39 years to correct.
Deng, I think id didn't say that you and anyone else are new to southern Sudanese affairs. What I said is clear that southern is in dire of the things that were mentioned by author and thank God that it was confirm by Ateny Wek his statment quote here "The south with its all regions or states is still Languishing on poverty, and still at it best on top of the most remote and underdevelop areas of the world". I am not fighting or forcing anyone to accept what I am saying, it is the realities that exist on the ground and you may prove me wrong if we have all the best developmental things that were mentioned by author. Let us not promote ourselves to the level that we don't deserve. We are in need for changed to come then let us be focusing on how to do it rather than assuming things we never had in Southern Sudan. If John Garang develop is home area well and good but let him do it first otherwise what we are discussing here is what the Dinka called Menh Akaja.
Best wishes
Tong Deng
-- Edited by Tong Deng at 22:47, 2005-01-25
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All our debates had nothing to do with John Garang, or will never have anything do with him. Let us be free peoples who are able to discuss things freely without even thinking of how God had created the world (if we don't see the devil arround preaching that the world was not of God creation). Again, if there is anything people are not judge for their future wrong - Dr.John is yet to become a soverign president of the soverign State, so that he can develop his home or not. So, the description given by the author, cannot be expected to have included John Garang, so as to bring this controversy. The character of an African big men (if existed in the south) it may be because of the way things have gone in the past. Abel Alier has done something that could have suited the author's description, had he were a soverign head of state. But, my hope is every body hope - in the south, such things as implied by the author, may happen, neverthelss it won't take long before its put to order. I hope we don't mistake the head of state, for that of a rebel movement? It was not in the purpose of the author to write about the movements' leaders I reckone. So why us then?.s
Thank for you wise advice, I will adhere to them and I totally agreed with you. The article of the author had a pure description of certain government in certain state of Africa according to the best of my knowledge. It has nothing to with any rebel movement southern Sudan included. And I haven’t said anything to do with John Garang at all. The name of John Garang and his home area appeared in the replied of Deng to me. So in my first posting I put clearly that what appeared in this article don’t apply to southern Sudan in any case. I answered it due to the fact that Deng asked the board with the question quoted here “Does this apply to us in south Sudan? Please tell me”. I felt that I was part of the board may be my answer did not met his expectation. But that normal we don’t expect difference people to give us the answers according to the way we want them.
So brother Wekdit I don’t carry any hatred toward any person and his community in southern Sudan.
Best regards,
Tong Deng
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Thank you for your understanding - I understand your concerns. Deng Santo, could have not asked you that question, because south Sudan is yet to be soverign so as to have a big man of that description.
Thank you Ateny Wekdit, you have understood what the author is saying.
Brother Tong Deng, it is clear that you are just ready to defend John Garang. To be honest with you my brother, this man called John Garang is worst than most dictators Africa had had in the past. I don't know what is wrong with your eyes brother. But you are still my homy even if you don't see his mistakes. I don't mean that you should see him the way I see him, but try to open your eyes a bit bigger, you will see what you don't see. Thank you brother.
Thanks a lot for your response. I like your last posting that was good, it has made up my morning. Thank for you that.
Deng let me tell you that I am not defending John Garang but I knew what that author is talking about. you will be shock to let you know in this quote of his article “He sleeps with the wives and daughters of powerful men in his government” the author himself was affected. I hope by now you believe my eyes are opened beyond what you can see. Otherwise I do believe that we are brothers Dengdit.
Best wishes
Tong Deng
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